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| Nigel Farage fails to attend Croydon rally as Ukip carnival erupts | Nigel Farage fails to attend Croydon rally as Ukip carnival erupts |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Nigel Farage failed to turn up to his own mini street carnival in Croydon as rows broke out in the street over whether Ukip was racist and one of his local candidates described the town as an unsafe dump. | Nigel Farage failed to turn up to his own mini street carnival in Croydon as rows broke out in the street over whether Ukip was racist and one of his local candidates described the town as an unsafe dump. |
| The event was organised after a series of controversies over allegedly racist comments made by some of the party's European and local election candidates and Farage's suggestion that people may not want to live on a street with Romanians. | The event was organised after a series of controversies over allegedly racist comments made by some of the party's European and local election candidates and Farage's suggestion that people may not want to live on a street with Romanians. |
| Farage, whose party is predicted to make large gains in the elections, was meant to be addressing the public in a town where black, Asian and Polish candidates are standing for the council. However, the rally descended into a farce as supporters clashed with members of the public and protesters, forcing the Ukip leader to abandon his plans to appear. | Farage, whose party is predicted to make large gains in the elections, was meant to be addressing the public in a town where black, Asian and Polish candidates are standing for the council. However, the rally descended into a farce as supporters clashed with members of the public and protesters, forcing the Ukip leader to abandon his plans to appear. |
| The event started to go wrong when two members of a steel band hired to provide a carnival atmosphere said they were uncomfortable with their position and had no idea they would be playing for Ukip. | The event started to go wrong when two members of a steel band hired to provide a carnival atmosphere said they were uncomfortable with their position and had no idea they would be playing for Ukip. |
| Marlon Hibbert, 22, whose parents are Jamaican, said he thought Ukip was racist and that he was upset about the booking. "They are something I don't like the idea of," he said. "My parents came over here to work. Our country is for everybody, with opportunities for everyone." | Marlon Hibbert, 22, whose parents are Jamaican, said he thought Ukip was racist and that he was upset about the booking. "They are something I don't like the idea of," he said. "My parents came over here to work. Our country is for everybody, with opportunities for everyone." |
| Fellow musician, 16-year-old Kishan Shorter agreed, saying he was not happy with Ukip's views. | Fellow musician, 16-year-old Kishan Shorter agreed, saying he was not happy with Ukip's views. |
| As the band played for a short while, one of the party's most prominent black activists, Winston McKenzie, a Croydon council candidate, used a megaphone to say he was proud to be a supporter. But he was interrupted by two protesters, who, claiming to be from Romania, accused Ukip of being a Nazi party and held a banner saying "Nigel Farage Racist Scum". They declined to give their names. | As the band played for a short while, one of the party's most prominent black activists, Winston McKenzie, a Croydon council candidate, used a megaphone to say he was proud to be a supporter. But he was interrupted by two protesters, who, claiming to be from Romania, accused Ukip of being a Nazi party and held a banner saying "Nigel Farage Racist Scum". They declined to give their names. |
| McKenzie was also confronted by resident Anthony St Croix, who demanded to know why a Ukip candidate had talked about sending actor Lenny Henry back to a "black country". | McKenzie was also confronted by resident Anthony St Croix, who demanded to know why a Ukip candidate had talked about sending actor Lenny Henry back to a "black country". |
| Farage and Ukip were defended by several candidates from ethnic minority backgrounds, including Rathy Alagaratnam, who is standing in Merton. The ex-Labour activist, who tried to take her former party to a tribunal for racial discrimination, said accusations of racism against Ukip were "an excuse because people do not want to debate the European question". | Farage and Ukip were defended by several candidates from ethnic minority backgrounds, including Rathy Alagaratnam, who is standing in Merton. The ex-Labour activist, who tried to take her former party to a tribunal for racial discrimination, said accusations of racism against Ukip were "an excuse because people do not want to debate the European question". |
| Marjorie King, a black Ukip candidate in north Croydon, said she did not think Farage was racist and had not seen his comments about Romanians. She said she was attracted to Ukip because it was the only party standing up for Christianity. | Marjorie King, a black Ukip candidate in north Croydon, said she did not think Farage was racist and had not seen his comments about Romanians. She said she was attracted to Ukip because it was the only party standing up for Christianity. |
| As arguments raged between supporters, protesters and members of the public, it became clear Farage was unlikely to attend, with one aide attributing his non-appearance to security concerns. | As arguments raged between supporters, protesters and members of the public, it became clear Farage was unlikely to attend, with one aide attributing his non-appearance to security concerns. |
| Asked whether Farage was frightened of attending, McKenzie, standing in Croydon North, said: "If he hasn't turned up he is a very sensible man. It just shows how successive governments have continued to fail communities like Croydon. | Asked whether Farage was frightened of attending, McKenzie, standing in Croydon North, said: "If he hasn't turned up he is a very sensible man. It just shows how successive governments have continued to fail communities like Croydon. |
| "Croydon, which was once the place to be, the place to shop, has now become sadly a dump … How can you ask an international leader to turn up somewhere where he feels unsafe?" | "Croydon, which was once the place to be, the place to shop, has now become sadly a dump … How can you ask an international leader to turn up somewhere where he feels unsafe?" |
| He later added: "It would seem Nigel has probably decided not to come down here today. When you weigh up the situation, this a very sensible man. Croydon has deteriorated over the years under successive Labour and Tory governments and now we have a coalition where it has descended into depravity … It wouldn't feel safe." | He later added: "It would seem Nigel has probably decided not to come down here today. When you weigh up the situation, this a very sensible man. Croydon has deteriorated over the years under successive Labour and Tory governments and now we have a coalition where it has descended into depravity … It wouldn't feel safe." |
| It was not just a difficult day for Ukip. Ed Miliband had an embarrassing time on the campaign trail after he failed to recognise the name of a local Labour leader during a radio interview. | It was not just a difficult day for Ukip. Ed Miliband had an embarrassing time on the campaign trail after he failed to recognise the name of a local Labour leader during a radio interview. |
| Hours after the party's leader appeared to underestimate his family's weekly grocery bill, he ran into trouble when asked for his views of Jim Grant by the BBC Wiltshire presenter Ben Prater, who stopped short of mentioning that Grant was the leader of the Labour group on Swindon Borough Council. | Hours after the party's leader appeared to underestimate his family's weekly grocery bill, he ran into trouble when asked for his views of Jim Grant by the BBC Wiltshire presenter Ben Prater, who stopped short of mentioning that Grant was the leader of the Labour group on Swindon Borough Council. |
| The mistakes on radio and television are likely to ring alarm bells in the Labour party amid fears that Miliband is less well prepared than David Cameron and Nick Clegg for the cut and thrust of broadcasting on the campaign trail. | The mistakes on radio and television are likely to ring alarm bells in the Labour party amid fears that Miliband is less well prepared than David Cameron and Nick Clegg for the cut and thrust of broadcasting on the campaign trail. |
| When asked by Prater whether he knew who Grant was, Miliband said: "You will enlighten me I'm sure". | When asked by Prater whether he knew who Grant was, Miliband said: "You will enlighten me I'm sure". |
| Miliband then wrongly described Grant as the leader of the Tory-led council. "Well he is doing a good job as leader of the council – Jim is. And I think that is the case." | Miliband then wrongly described Grant as the leader of the Tory-led council. "Well he is doing a good job as leader of the council – Jim is. And I think that is the case." |
| When Prater pointed out Grant was not leader of the council, Miliband said: "Well, I think he is doing a good job for Labour on the council. He is doing a good job for Labour on the council." | When Prater pointed out Grant was not leader of the council, Miliband said: "Well, I think he is doing a good job for Labour on the council. He is doing a good job for Labour on the council." |
| Miliband's awkward radio interview came after he insisted he was well placed to focus on the cost-of-living crisis in Britain even though he appeared to underestimate his family's weekly grocery bill. The Labour leader, who said it was right to place the issue at the front of his election campaign even though he was "relatively comfortably off", told ITV's Good Morning Britain that his family spent at least £70-80 a week – and probably more – on groceries. | Miliband's awkward radio interview came after he insisted he was well placed to focus on the cost-of-living crisis in Britain even though he appeared to underestimate his family's weekly grocery bill. The Labour leader, who said it was right to place the issue at the front of his election campaign even though he was "relatively comfortably off", told ITV's Good Morning Britain that his family spent at least £70-80 a week – and probably more – on groceries. |
| When told that the average weekly bill for a family of four was more than £100, he said: "Right, well it [the grocery bill] is more than £100." | |
| • Identity crisis: what does it mean to be English? | |
| • Billy Bragg, Frank Field and others on national identity | |
| • Quiz: BNP or Ukip – who said what? |