Police appeal to woman after Reform UK audience row

Police have asked a woman who had her hair and head grabbed at the Reform UK conference to come forward as they carry out an investigation.

Footage circulating on social media has shown audience members pulling the protester back as disorder broke out during the event at Birmingham's NEC.

Demonstrators were thrown out of the party's annual conference after interrupting Nigel Farage's keynote speech.

West Midlands Police said: "We're aware of a video circulating from the Reform UK Conference showing an incident with a protester. We haven't received a complaint but would ask the woman involved to come forward and contact us so we can carry out enquiries."

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".

Reform UK's home affairs spokesperson, Zia Yusuf, condemned members who pulled the hair of a heckler during Farage's speech.

Asked whether he condemned the actions, he said: "On the question of whether I condemn people punching people, yes, I condemn people punching people."

Activist group Climate Resistance claimed responsibility for the protest.

The group said they were "horrified at the violence" from audience members at the Reform conference.

The group also said the protester is considering whether to come forward to police.

They added: "It's important protesters can hold him [Farage] to account without fear for their safety."

The end of the first main day of the Reform conference saw a series of protests disrupting speeches.

A banner was unfurled by Greenpeace, which appeared during Tice's speech which said 'collect £5 million, burn the planet'.

The banner, which also depicted Farage in a top hat and carrying a bag of money, remained visible for several minutes before being taken down.

As Farage walked onto the stage, he told delegates that a delay was because of a "security alert".

Some media outlets reported that a Reform UK source had informed them that counter terrorism police would not let him on.

West Midlands Police disputed this claim and said the "decision to delay the commencement of the leader of Reform UK's keynote speech was made by Reform UK".

The force added: "We can confirm that Counter Terrorism Policing have had no involvement in the delivery of the Reform UK Party Conference 2026."

Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.