A BREXIT Party-supporting pensioner soaked with milkshake outside a polling station today says he laughed at the ‘childish yob’ who attacked him – and will continue to fight to leave the EU.
Don MacNaughton, an Armed Forces veteran of 22 years’ service, was left covered in the drink in Aldershot, Hampshire, days after Nigel Farage was drenched in a similar attack.
Mr MacNaughton, 81, was filmed in the aftermath of the attack – which is now being investigated by police.
Hours after the cowardly attack, Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage called the hero veteran to condemn the ‘appalling, but unsurprising’ incident.
Mr MacNaughton, who lives in Aldershot, Hants, said: “Somebody came across the street to the polling station and he gave me the finger.
“He then started giving me verbal abuse and ran off.
“I didn’t hear the abuse because I was laughing at him.
“Ten minutes later he came back with a milkshake, and he threw it over me.
“I again just curled up laughing, I didn’t mind because it was my favourite flavour.
If he had an argument with me I would have been more than happy to debate with him, but instead he chose to assault me.
Don MacNaughton
“Obviously this fellow was just copying what happened to Nigel Farage.
“He was in his early 20s -it’s very childish of him.
“If he had an argument with me I would have been more than happy to debate with him, but instead he chose to assault me.
“The silly man hasn’t put me off campaigning, heck no.
“He has cemented the iron will, I’m going to keep fighting on.”
Brexit Party founder Farage called the veteran to check he was OK as The Sun Online spoke to Don this afternoon.
After speaking to Don, Farage told us: “I think it is absolutely appalling, but unsurprising.
“What is clear is the Parachute Regiment will not be deterred by fanatical Remainers.
“When leading figures in public life refuse to respect the referendum then they have radicalised Remainers.”
PARA VETERAN
Mr MacNaughton, a widower, moved to the UK from Canada in 1960 and served in the Paras until 1982.
He settled in Aldershot with his wife and wrote two books on his service, They Stood in the Door and They Stayed a Soldier.
The published author said he has long opposed the European Union as he believes it will one day bring about a European army.
He said: “I’ve supported leaving the EU for many many years.
“The EU are a dictatorial regime, they are unelected.
“My big concern, which is what I’ve heard, is that in a years time the EU plan on taking control of the British armed forces – and that’s not on.
“Apparently it was because Gordon Brown signed up our armed forces as part of the Lisbon Treaty.”
Hampshire Police said they are now hoping to speak to Mr MacNaughton about the attack.
A Hampshire Police spokesman: “We received a report at 10.06am from a third party about an assault on a man in his 80s at North Lane, Aldershot.
“We are investigating the incident and are trying to make contact with the victim.”
DISRESPECTFUL YOBS
Disgusted onlooker Lucy Blackman said the OAP had been attacked by a “disrespectful yob”.
Brexit Party boss Farage slammed the attack on Twitter, writing: “Yet more disgusting behaviour. When democracy fails, civility ends. Let’s get Brexit done and finish this.”
Farage later added that he had spoken to Mr MacNaughton’s son and the ex-paratrooper remained “undeterred” by the milkshake incident.
Former Army Major Dominic Farrell described Don as “very popular man in the local community”.
He described the attack as “thoroughly disgusting” and “politics of the mob”.
Brexit Party supporter Farrell said: “That’s my friend Don, he is so passionate about this election and has been out campaigning every day.
“Really disgusting way to treat anyone, he is actually the most lovely gentle man you could meet and wouldn’t hurt a fly.
“He also served his country with distinction in the armed forces.”
Whatever you are voting, it’s a democracy. We should be able to have a say without acts of violence
Lucy Blackman
Farage was drenched in a milkshake as he campaigned in Newcastle earlier this week.
He later raged at his security team after Corbyn fan Paul Crowther slung a salted caramel drink over him in front of jeering bystanders.
MILKSHAKE ATTACKS
Farage also reportedly refused to get off campaign bus in Kent last night after people gathered round it carrying milkshakes.
Later the Brexit Party leader’s spokesman denied he was hiding on the top deck.
He said: “Nigel did media interviews on top of the campaign open-top bus and then got off to mix with supporters afterwards, taking photographs and signing boards.
“Suggestions that he hid on board the bus are simply not true.”
The attack on the OAP today comes as a beaming Farage was spotted cast his vote in today’s EU elections.
While voters visit polling stations, Twitter users slammed yobs for the attack on the OAP today.
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Rachel Girdler said: “Looks like such a lovely elderly gentleman.
“My heart goes out to him, really is disgusting that someone has done this to him.”
Dee Critten added: “Absolutely disgusting behaviour towards an elder that should be respected regardless of his political preference.
FARAGE RETURNS TO DELIVER BREXIT
Former UKIP boss Nigel Farage returned to frontline politics to rectify what he sees as the political establishments failure to deliver Brexit.
He launched the Brexit Party to push for the EU referendum result to be respected.
Mr Farage accused the PM of turning Britain into a “laughing stock on the world stage” over its failure to deliver an exit from the EU.
“I said in 2013 that Ukip was going to cause an earthquake in British politics and I think we can safely say we did that.
“The ambition now is to cause a revolution in British politics – and to end the two-party structure as it is, it’s just not working.”
The party has said it will only produce a “full slate” of polices once the EU elections are over – with Farage refusing to use the word “manifesto” on the campaign trail.
So far, the party has gained support from Jacob Rees-Mogg’s sister Annunziata, who announced she had quit the Tories to stand for the new party in the upcoming European Elections.
Several more candidates including a Special Forces veteran, an ex-Communist and a smoked salmon producer.
Former Tory minister Ann Widdecombe, 71, also announced she was quitting the Tories after 55 years to stand as a Brexit Party candidate for the South West region in the European vote.
The party is planning to stand in the General Election even if Theresa May does manage to cobble together a Brexit deal – because they believe it won’t deliver on the referendum result in full.
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