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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to be shocked at the violence towards women at the Reform conference?

297 replies

ILikeDinosaurs · Yesterday 11:03

Another video showing the violence against a woman at the Reform conference. They are actually PULLING A WOMAN DOWN ON THE FLOOR and KICKING HER.

A man in a suit and a man with a lanyard both kicking her. The man with the walking stick in the other videos (identified as Stephen Cooling) looks like he's pulling her down and possibly kicking her too. Women are just watching with no care for the victim.

This is Fascism. Given Nigel's horrifyingly GLEEFUL response to this, this violence will become the norm under Reform.

How can people defend this?

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dc6q8iAuUzi/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&stkn=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Mods please don't take this down, this mustn't be allowed to be ignored.

Joshua ABD on Instagram: "I’ve now seen a third clip from Reform’s conference. It appears to show another so-called “patriot” kicking a female heckler while she is already on the floor. Three clips. Different protesters. Different attendees. Repeated...

1,718 likes, 438 comments - joshualabd on September 5, 2026: "I’ve now seen a third clip from Reform’s conference. It appears to show another so-called “patriot” kicking a female heckler while she is already on the floor. Three clips. Different prote...

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dc6q8iAuUzi?stkn=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D

OP posts:
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13
ilovesooty · Yesterday 13:34

Auspiciousminds · Yesterday 13:33

We ought to be shocked but just look at how the women in that video clip were behaving. Those that weren't taking part were standing there laughing at the woman being assaulted. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if some of them are posting on this thread right now.

Show quote history

It wouldn't surprise me either.

TemperanceWest · Yesterday 13:34

LuckyHazelFox · Yesterday 13:30

Not at all. Fascism changed course way back.

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True. It has sadly become acceptable with the rise of Reform, Restore, NR, AfD etc.

TempestTost · Yesterday 13:35

It's a bad look, and their damage control is very much the wrong approach. I'm surprised ' no big deal' is the way they've decided to go with it.

They make much more hay by having events where outsiders are welcomed and dealt with appropriately by security if they are being a problem.

Their response should have been that these people may have been well meaning but their response was not correct nor reflective of Reform in any way.

Obviously the individuals who were involved are the ones who bear thf most blame, but I think they will look back on this response as a bad move.

Greenseacat · Yesterday 13:35

The police have been calling for the women who were assaulted at the conference to come forward and I hope they do.

Members of the audience assaulting women for heckling and Farage gloating from the stage is truly appalling.

I don't think any decent person can look at this footage and think it is remotely OK.

There are often hecklers at events and this is for security to deal with by calmly escorting them out, not for some audience members with faces full of hate to beat them up...

SartiSpritz · Yesterday 13:36

I felt a few things when I read about it, not one of those feelings was shock/surprise.

LuckyHazelFox · Yesterday 13:36

TemperanceWest · Yesterday 13:34

True. It has sadly become acceptable with the rise of Reform, Restore, NR, AfD etc.

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It's also become associated with milkshake throwing, party conference gatecrashers. Talking of suspicious minds, I often wonder if Steve Bray is posting on MN. It does work both ways.

Monty36 · Yesterday 13:40

Not all staged but some disruptions I suspect may well have been.

Nigel was not a happy bunny at the conference. He even ticked them off. ‘You were a bit subdued yesterday’.

localnotail · Yesterday 13:41

How is this so difficult to understand?

Non-violent protests - including heckling, shouting etc - is acceptable and allowed. If you are so fragile you cant deal with hecklers or having an odd egg thrown at you - you should not be a politician.

Assaulting someone physically (not restraining, assaulting!) is an illegal criminal act. Group assault of a female is fucking shameful and shows a certain mindset and gives strong Iran or Afghanistan vibes.

Original poster
ILikeDinosaurs · Yesterday 13:42

Butchyrestingface · Yesterday 13:22

Why was yesterday’s thread taken down, @ILikeDinosaurs ? Were you given a reason beyond the generic message that appeared when I tried to click ok thread?

I'm guessing it was reported by certain people who didn't want this publicised.

OP posts:
SevenYellowHammers · Yesterday 13:43

I’m saddened but not shocked. Reform are fascists, that’s what fascists do.

TemperanceWest · Yesterday 13:46

ILikeDinosaurs · Yesterday 13:42

I'm guessing it was reported by certain people who didn't want this publicised.

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Someone is busy with the report button on this thread too, so we should all be careful with our words.

Namechangewegovyjune26 · Yesterday 13:47

What a strange headline. Not “woman protestor beaten up at reform conference” which is what happened. No apparently it was a “row”?!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyznj31l3no

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage delivers his keynote speech on the second day of Reform UK Annual Conference at NEC in Birmingham, Britain, 04 September 2026.

Police appeal to woman after Reform UK audience incident

A video circulating online has shown a protester's head being pulled during the Birmingham event.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyznj31l3no

Marycontrarygarden · Yesterday 13:50

LuckyHazelFox · Yesterday 13:30

Not at all. Fascism changed course way back.

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Explain, so we can determine just how intellectual your argument is.

dreamiesformolly · Yesterday 13:51

Slightyamusedandsilly · Yesterday 11:15

I don't think anyone is surprised that the neo fascists are violent thugs.

Was just about to say the same.

SevenYellowHammers · Yesterday 13:55

Fluffyholeysocks · Yesterday 11:21

Awful. I remember that poor 82 year old man manhandled out of a Labour Party conference a couple of years ago. There absolutely is no need to treat people like that. It's a Party Conference fgs.

Thinly veiled whataboutary @Fluffyholeysocks . The man was manhandled, it was a dark day for the LP for sure but he wasn’t beaten up. Blair, for all his faults, had the chair publicly apologise and the gentleman was given a standing ovation when welcomed back to conference the next day. If you wish to express your support for Reform, have the guts to do so.

TankFlyBossW4lk · Yesterday 13:56

Fluffyholeysocks · Yesterday 11:21

Awful. I remember that poor 82 year old man manhandled out of a Labour Party conference a couple of years ago. There absolutely is no need to treat people like that. It's a Party Conference fgs.

This is simply NOT the same.

alifesizefoamversionofapopularfrozenfoodstuff · Yesterday 14:00

The audience felt compelled to shut her up as she was highlighting the donations scandal apparently . . .

The party leader's speech was disrupted shortly after a banner was displayed during his deputy Richard Tice's address. It referenced the scandal around a donation to Farage.
He reportedly laughed during the disruption and said: "We've got a screamer. Oh dear."
Addressing the conference hall, the Reform leader said: "That poor young girl, she looked like she was going to do herself an injury", before adding, "boring, boring, boring".

What a slippery slimeball he is.

A shot of Dan Jukes and Nigel Farage

Farage senior aide filmed suggesting way to avoid donations law

A film broadcast by Channel 4 shows senior Reform UK figures discussing donations with an undercover reporter.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr50ddzl97qo

SevenYellowHammers · Yesterday 14:01

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Dahliasrule · Yesterday 14:04

BlueSherbet · Yesterday 12:05

Bear in mind we live in an era where nothing is safe - MPs have been murdered at their surgeries or in their own home. There are random attacks on innocent people in the street. Even an ariana grande concert was blown up.

All these things results from two sources - islamism and leftist violence.

And so if an aggressive malcontent suddenly reveals themselves at a crowded gathering, its only right to ensure they are quickly and effectively subdued in the interests of public safety.

You cant take any chances with safety in this day and age.

They were being dealt with . She was being taken out by security guards when the man used his walking stick and the woman pulled her hair.

letsallchant · Yesterday 14:07

SamTR1 · Yesterday 12:30

The left has a recent history of murdering political opponents. They don’t get to claim the moral high ground, quite the opposite in fact. I hope all the protesters get charged with causing a breach of the peace.

Please give up your examples to support this claim @SamTR1 . Bear in mind that Anne Widdicombe's murder has not yet gone to trial and conviction, and that as @NotAtMyAge points out further down the thread, Jo Cox' s murderer was far right.

Speakeasier · Yesterday 14:10

GreyCarpet · Yesterday 11:29

Quite.

This is the reality of a lot of thugs, unfortunately.

All the 'protect women' stuff is nonsense. They're not interested in protecting women. Its just a convenient vehicle for more racism.

Just look at the woman who talked about her experience of being a victim of a grooming gang. All in support of her until she revealed the men were white then she had her microphone pulled from her and was forcibly removed from the stage.

Be shocked at violence against women, yes, but I'm not shocked that these were the people committing it.

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This!

Dahliasrule · Yesterday 14:10

I cannot find any report of this on the BBC website. Is it just me?

LuckyHazelFox · Yesterday 14:12

Marycontrarygarden · Yesterday 13:50

Explain, so we can determine just how intellectual your argument is.

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I don't need to justify my intelligence to anybody, especially when they can't even be civil.

Speakeasier · Yesterday 14:13

Somethinggg · Yesterday 11:29

I actually think security manhandling people out isn't necessarily an issue. It's legitimate for attendees at a political conference to want to gather and get on with party business. If the women had just been removed by professional security without being attacked by attendees, Reform wouldn't have half so much of a problem.

Yes but that’s the point. They didn’t want to leave it to security. It was a chance to aggressively attack someone they didn’t agree with and you can see they were relishing it. Appalling bullies. They wouldn’t have picked on a six foot five man would they? Or even pick on this woman on their own; but very brave in a mob.

gillyflower2 · Yesterday 14:14

How are 19% of voters saying this is unreasonable? Whatever your political stance, the way that woman was manhandled and attacked was disgusting. Reform are absolute scum who are giving confidence to the most prejudice, disgraceful views in society. I have no idea how they’ll justify this but they’ll try. Because they are vile.

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