This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-31163189

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Farage forced to abandon Rotherham event amid protests Farage forced to abandon Rotherham event amid protests
(35 minutes later)
Nigel Farage has abandoned a public appearance in Rotherham because of protests outside his party's office.Nigel Farage has abandoned a public appearance in Rotherham because of protests outside his party's office.
The UKIP leader was due to cut a ribbon at the office of election candidate Jane Collins but his team said he was not coming out on police advice.The UKIP leader was due to cut a ribbon at the office of election candidate Jane Collins but his team said he was not coming out on police advice.
About 40 protesters gathered outside the office, shouting that the Ukip leader was not welcome in the town.About 40 protesters gathered outside the office, shouting that the Ukip leader was not welcome in the town.
Mr Farage accused trade unions of funding "undemocratic and anti-British" protests "to stop UKIP speaking".Mr Farage accused trade unions of funding "undemocratic and anti-British" protests "to stop UKIP speaking".
The high-profile visit was supposed to draw attention to UKIP's challenge to Labour in May's general election and comes two days into a withering report into the way Labour-run Rotherham Council failed to deal with child sexual exploitation in the town. The high-profile visit was supposed to draw attention to UKIP's challenge to Labour in May's general election and comes two days after a withering report into the way Labour-run Rotherham Council failed to deal with child sexual exploitation in the town.
'Someone to hate''Someone to hate'
The BBC's Danny Savage said Mr Farage was currently holed up inside the office and was unlikely to come out "until the hubbub had died down". Mr Farage is currently holed up inside the office giving interviews and is unlikely to come out "until the hubbub had died down", the BBC has been told.
Mr Farage told the BBC's Daily Politics that he had run the gauntlet of similar protests across the UK, suggesting protesters "needed someone to hate" now that the BNP had faded as a political force. The UKIP leader told BBC Look North's political editor Len Tingle that "a bit more co-operation from the police might be nice".
He suggested the Socialist Workers Party and had teamed up with "Green types" and a number of former Labour councillors to disrupt Friday's event, saying "bracketing UKIP with BNP and the EDL and other extremist groups is frankly ridiculous". Speaking to the BBC's Daily Politics, Mr Farage said that he had run the gauntlet of similar protests across the UK, suggesting demonstrators "needed someone to hate" now that the BNP has faded as a political force.
He suggested the Socialist Workers Party had teamed up with "Green types" and a number of former Labour councillors to disrupt Friday's event, saying "bracketing UKIP with BNP and the EDL and other extremist groups is frankly ridiculous".
Mr Farage said "something had gone badly wrong" in Rotherham, saying the scandal had its roots in a policy of multiculturalism that had "divided not united" the country.Mr Farage said "something had gone badly wrong" in Rotherham, saying the scandal had its roots in a policy of multiculturalism that had "divided not united" the country.
Labour-led Rotherham council has been accused of wholesale failings in child protection after an inquiry last year found that 1,400 children were abused by gangs of men, mainly of Pakistani origin, from 1997 to 2013, in the town.Labour-led Rotherham council has been accused of wholesale failings in child protection after an inquiry last year found that 1,400 children were abused by gangs of men, mainly of Pakistani origin, from 1997 to 2013, in the town.
The Labour leader of Rotherham Council and several members of his cabinet resigned en masse on Wednesday after a government-commissioned probe found the council was not "fit for purpose" and external administrators should be sent in to take it over.The Labour leader of Rotherham Council and several members of his cabinet resigned en masse on Wednesday after a government-commissioned probe found the council was not "fit for purpose" and external administrators should be sent in to take it over.
'Horrible abuse''Horrible abuse'
Mr Farage suggested the situation in the town was a product of deeper social problems, where different groups had been afforded different treatment under the law.Mr Farage suggested the situation in the town was a product of deeper social problems, where different groups had been afforded different treatment under the law.
"For 40 years or so as a country we have pushed a policy of multiculturalism in that we actually encouraged communities to be divided," he told BBC Radio Sheffield."For 40 years or so as a country we have pushed a policy of multiculturalism in that we actually encouraged communities to be divided," he told BBC Radio Sheffield.
"And then we have seen a collective blind eye being turned to horrible abuse for fear of being thought to be racist."And then we have seen a collective blind eye being turned to horrible abuse for fear of being thought to be racist.
"We have to stand up, much more firmly, for the concept that I want to promote - which is intra-culturalism. We respect there are different languages and different cultures but we have to live together under one rule of law.""We have to stand up, much more firmly, for the concept that I want to promote - which is intra-culturalism. We respect there are different languages and different cultures but we have to live together under one rule of law."
'Big target''Big target'
Change was needed to ensure "everyone was treated equally under the law and the police and social services and everybody else were told not to bend the rules and shape the law for different communities".Change was needed to ensure "everyone was treated equally under the law and the police and social services and everybody else were told not to bend the rules and shape the law for different communities".
Mr Farage claimed such cultural problems were not just confined to Rotherham.Mr Farage claimed such cultural problems were not just confined to Rotherham.
Prime Minister David Cameron has said there was evidence of "mismanagement, political correctness, bullying, sexism" at the council and that all councillors should have to stand for re-election in 2016.Prime Minister David Cameron has said there was evidence of "mismanagement, political correctness, bullying, sexism" at the council and that all councillors should have to stand for re-election in 2016.
But Mr Farage said an all-seats election should be brought forward to 7 May, when a third of councillors are due to be elected anyway.But Mr Farage said an all-seats election should be brought forward to 7 May, when a third of councillors are due to be elected anyway.
"Re-elect the lot on 7 May and give people the opportunity to say something. I don't see why the people of Rotherham should not have the opportunity to have their say.""Re-elect the lot on 7 May and give people the opportunity to say something. I don't see why the people of Rotherham should not have the opportunity to have their say."
UKIP is already the official opposition on Rotherham Council, having won nine seats at last year's council elections.UKIP is already the official opposition on Rotherham Council, having won nine seats at last year's council elections.
Mr Farage said Rotherham was now a "very big target" for his party in May's general election and rejected suggestions he was using the scandal for his own's political benefit.Mr Farage said Rotherham was now a "very big target" for his party in May's general election and rejected suggestions he was using the scandal for his own's political benefit.