to think that it's unacceptable to frighten someone's DC even if you think they're a nasty bigot?

[OTheHugeManatee]

I just saw this story about protesters forcing Nigel Farage and his family out of a pub where they were having lunch.

I don't really like Farage's politics. But I support his democratic right to hold those views. AIBU to think hounding him and frightening his DC during a family lunch is unacceptable, illiberal and frankly nasty, whatever you think of the things he says?

More grist to the UKIP mill I'd say - presumably not the intention of the demonstrators, but there you go. They don't seem like a particularly politically astute lot.

Would it be ok for someone to follow Farage, go into a pub where he was and shout, heckle him with lots of other people and disrupt him and others?

That's freedom of speech. They have a right to express their views. But when you express them this way, it does not help your argument. It makes you look like bad.

They do have the right to express their opinions - but if they were serious about expressing their political views then they should have used a political forum as opposed descending on him and his wife (and family?) having Sunday lunch. They ended up looking like complete idiots (which is saying something, when you remember it's Nigel Farage we're talking about) who have played very nicely into the hands of people who are voting (or considering voting) for UKIP.

^^ yyyyyyyyy

should have appeared under sinisters

I've done lots of protesting in the past. But I would not protest at something like this when it affects innocent people.

When I've protested, the target has been the people actively involved.

The report in today's G2 is by someone who was actually there.

I couldn't care who was there or not.

If you go to a pub (not the one you've booked a function room in) to seek out and protest to someone about their politics and force them to leave, you are not helping your cause.

A cause I believe in. But these people do not speak for me in their actions.

Affects innocent people?

Everything affects innocent people.

Anyone not directly involved in anything going on ever could be called an innocent person.

It's a nonsense.

I very much object to innocently going about my business in London and being affected by large groups of protesters with roads closed off, transport affected etc etc.

For example.

They didn't "force" him to left. He left at the sight of the bare breasted breastfeeders in case he was photographed with them.

And was rude and abusive to them. Because tits are very threatening and offensive.

Did they shout and heckle?

I agree that the way they went about what they did was pretty daft. I also think that the reports circulating have been very odd and that we don't have all the facts. Above all, regardless of whether it just isn't cricket, Nigel Farage's right to free speech does not mean he should be protected from being exposed to other people's (contrary) free speech in public spaces, because then that's putting his right to free speech above theirs.

I think that ensuring everyone (including Nigel Farage, including pantomime donkeys!) has the right to express their views is more important than an undisturbed lunchtime.

so hullygully

Do you think it's acceptable for a group of protestors to walk into a pub where Farage is to make their political point?

If someone came and ruined my lunch, I'd be rude and abusive to them.

From the organiser:

"Nigel had other plans unfortunately. After learning that he was sitting in another pub across the road, we took our all singing and all dancing conga line over to the pub where he was drinking. He was not interested in engaging with us, and soon drove off in a hurry."

Can't blame him for not engaging.

There's a time and a place to make your political (or whatever) views felt. Descending on someone having a family meal is not one of them - unless, of course, you're trying to improve their chances on voting day.

Exactly sirchengin

A time and a place. There are plenty of opportunities to make a protest. Especially when the press are there. This was not one of them.

You have the right to expect an undisturbed lunch in your own home - anyone you don't want there would be breaking the law by coming in without your permission. You don't have the right to an undisturbed lunch in a pub, where other patrons are entitled to be (as long as the landlord is happy with them being there) and to express their right to free speech.

As hullygully says, and as I said earlier, there are many examples of protests impacting on 'innocent bystanders'. But if the alternative is saying they can't happen? That's tricky.

Do you want to know the worst effect of this protest?

It's made me have sympathy for Farage

And yet I hate everything he stands for.

If you don't respect the need for a time and place, then it leaves everyone in the public domain open to abuse imo. By all means make your point, but that has to be in a respectful way. This was just a mob mentality 'wittily' disguised as donkeys and serving no purpose whatsoever.

I don't agree Provisionally. There has to be respect for 'off time' for people in the public domain.

Orlando Woolfe, the only feelings I have about Nigel Farages lunch being ruined by pantomime characters, are feelings of amusement and pleasure.

He wasnt CharlieHebdoed. That would have been a bit extreme tbf.

didnt he get heckled out of a pub in edinburgh not so long ago? That was pretty funny too

Apparently the frightened kids were left behind in the pub, according to the article, while he legged it. A relative went back to collect them, bizarre to say the least!