Nigel Farage 'more convinced of Brexit than ever' after huge row over Brussels conference
The Brexit architect reacted with fury after police moved to close down a major event he was speaking at.
Nigel Farage speaks at conservative conference
Nigel Farage insisted he is "more convinced of Brexit than ever" after police attempted to shut down a right-wing conference in Brussels while he was on stage today.
Officers arrived at the National Conservatism event in the Belgian capital after an order by a local Brussels mayor.
The conference, where former home secretary Suella Braverman also spoke, had already struggled to find a venue after two cancellations.
Mr Farage, the honorary president of Reform UK, said: "What just happened in Brussels this afternoon was a disgrace.
"For the mayor and police to shut down a peaceful political event makes me more convinced of Brexit than ever."
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In a furious video on social media, the former Ukip leader accused the Brussels authorities of behaving "like the old Soviet Union".
Mr Farage said: "At the meeting, over the next two days, you've got the prime minister of Hungary, you've got a bishop, you've got members of the European royal families coming, well-known international businessmen and women, politicians, leaders of parties that will win European elections in countries this year in June.
"And yet, because they are questioning ever-closer union, because they are questioning globalism, they are literally being shut down.
"This is like the old Soviet Union, no alternative view allowed.
"I tell you what I might have had my reservations about the way the Conservative government have carried out Brexit but if anything convinced me we did the right thing it was what happened in that place this morning."
Emir Kir, the mayor of Brussels district Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, said he issued an order banning the event from taking place "to guarantee public safety".
He added: "In Etterbeek, in Brussels City and in Saint-Josse, the far-right is not welcome."
Police arrived while Mr Farage was addressing the event and gave attendees 15 minutes to leave the venue.
However, the event continued with organiser Yoram Hazony telling those in attendance that the police had decided to close it down "gradually".
He said: "The way that's going to work is you can all stay here for as long as you want, for the time being, but if you walk out of the building they are not going to let you back in."
Mr Hazony suggested the second day of the event, where Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban is due to speak, could be held at a different venue.
Conference organisers said they were launching a legal challenge to Mr Kir's order, adding: "There is no public disturbance and no grounds to shut down a gathering of politicians, intellectuals, journalists, students, civic leaders, and concerned citizens.
"The police entered the venue on our invitation, saw the proceedings and the press corps, and quickly withdrew. Is it possible they witnessed how peaceful the event is?"
Two venues had already cancelled the booking reportedly under political pressure from Brussels mayor Philippe Close.
