A shocking late-night street attack on Britain’s youngest council leader has reignited tensions between Reform UK and Labour, with Nigel Farage accusing Prime Minister Keir Starmer of fuelling hostility through “disgraceful” political language.
The Incident That Sparked a Political Storm
Nineteen-year-old George Finch, who made headlines earlier this year as the youngest county council leader in the UK, was assaulted on Friday night while walking through Nuneaton town centre with a friend.
According to Reform UK, a young man approached Finch, hurling abuse and calling him a “racist” and a “fascist” before allegedly shoving him.
Police were later called to the scene, and an investigation is now underway.
Though Finch escaped without serious injuries, he described the incident as “a massive shock” that came “completely out of the blue.”
Farage Points the Finger at Labour and the Greens
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage quickly condemned the attack, claiming the verbal abuse mirrored the language used by senior political figures.
He argued that the Prime Minister’s recent comments about Reform UK had created a hostile climate for party supporters.
“I’m deeply upset that our young council leader was assaulted,” Farage told the Daily Mail.
“The words used against him echo the Prime Minister’s disgraceful attack on Reform during Labour conference week, as well as the wholly irresponsible remarks from the leader of the Green Party.”
Farage has been outspoken in recent weeks, accusing Sir Keir Starmer of “putting a target on his back” with what he called inflammatory statements.
The War of Words Behind the Attack
This confrontation traces back to a bitter exchange during the Labour Party Conference in September.
In his speech, Starmer described Reform UK’s immigration policies as “racist” and went as far as to label Farage “an enemy of Britain.”
The tension only escalated when Green Party leader Zack Polanski joined in, branding Farage and Reform’s policy chief Zia Yusuf “fascists” and describing the party as “far-Right.”
Now, Reform supporters say such rhetoric is not just divisive — it’s dangerous.
Finch himself believes the attack he faced was a direct consequence of those remarks.
Finch Speaks Out About the Growing Hostility
Speaking after the incident, Finch expressed concern about what he described as a growing “culture of intimidation” against Reform UK members.
“It’s clear the man who attacked us was wound up and sent into battle by the dangerous rhetoric of Labour and the Greens,” he said.
“I’m extremely concerned about the state of political discourse in Britain.
Activists at all levels of Reform UK are suffering intimidation and violence, and it’s being allowed to continue.”
Finch urged political leaders to take responsibility for calming tensions, saying they “have a duty to speak out and quell the increased threat” facing his colleagues.
Labour Condemns Violence but Rejects Blame
In response, Labour strongly condemned the assault but rejected Farage’s accusations outright.
A party spokesperson said it was “categorically incorrect” to claim that Sir Keir or Labour’s messaging had anything to do with the incident.
“Violence, harassment, or intimidation is completely unacceptable and has no place in our politics or our society,” the spokesperson said.
“Any such incidents must be thoroughly investigated, and those responsible must be brought to justice.”
Police Launch Investigation
Warwickshire Police confirmed they are investigating an alleged assault following a report received at 2 a.m. on Saturday.
“A man stated he had been pushed by another man in Nuneaton,” a spokesperson said. “Inquiries are ongoing.”
So far, no arrests have been reported.
Tensions Already Running High Around Farage
The Nuneaton incident comes shortly after a separate case involving threats made against Farage himself.
Earlier this month, a 26-year-old Afghan man named Fayaz Khan — who had an AK-47 tattooed on his face — was found guilty of threatening to kill the Reform UK leader after entering the UK illegally. Khan is due to be sentenced tomorrow.
Political Discourse Under Strain
As the fallout continues, the attack on George Finch has become the latest flashpoint in Britain’s increasingly toxic political atmosphere.
For many, it’s a stark reminder that words from the top — whether intended or not — can have dangerous ripple effects in real life.
And as tensions between Reform, Labour, and the Greens continue to build, Britain’s youngest council leader is calling for one thing above all else: an end to political violence before it spirals further out of control.