Police seek protester after footage shows Reform audience pulling hair

West Midlands Police have asked a protester who was thrown out of the Reform UK conference to come forward after footage showed audience members pulling her hair and grabbing her head.The force said it had not received a direct complaint but asked the woman to make contact so officers can carry out further investigations.Demonstrators were thrown out of the main conference hall four times at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, where Reform UK are holding their annual get-together.They interrupted Nigel Farage’s keynote speech, shortly after his deputy Richard Tice had a banner displayed during his own address referencing the scandal around a donation to Mr Farage.The Reform UK leader 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”.A man in the audience was also seen hitting the protester with a walking stick. Reform UK chairman Lee Anderson said on Saturday they should have a “whip round” for him.A security guard takes down a banner which was displayed on stage during the Reform UK conference (Stefan Rousseau/PA)PA WireA statement from 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.“Anyone with any information should contact us on 101 quoting log number 924 of 5 September 2026.”Activist group Climate Resistance claimed responsibility for the protest.In a comment they said they were “horrified at the violence” from Reform conference audience members.The group also said the protester is considering whether to come forward to police.Reform UK’s home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf condemned members who pulled the hair of a heckler during Mr Farage’s speech.Asked whether he condemned the actions of some members who appeared in footage pulling the woman’s hair and grabbing her head, the party’s home affairs spokesman told a conference fringe event: “On the question of whether I condemn people punching people, yes, I condemn people punching people.”Reform UK chairman Lee Anderson (PA)PA WireYet Mr Anderson said the party would be having a “whip round” for an audience member who was seen hitting the protester with a walking stick.Read MoreHe told the conference: “I did see an old chap, a pensioner somewhere with a walking stick.“Look, I don’t condone any sort of that behaviour, but if anybody wants to have a quick whip round later, we are collecting for a new walking stick.”Former Conservative cabinet minister Nadine Dorries, who is now a Reform UK member, said protesters “are not really going to get gentle treatment”.She told a fringe event: “Of course no-one should be violent, no-one should throw punches, but… no-one should come into this conference and try and disrupt it.”The end of the first main day of the Reform conference saw a series of protests disrupting speeches.A banner appeared during Mr Tice’s speech which said: “Collect £5 million, burn the planet”.The banner, which also depicted Mr Farage in a top hat and carrying a bag of money, remained visible for several minutes before being taken down.Members of security seen backstage due to a security alert during the event (Joe Sene/PA)PA WireIt is believed it had been scheduled to appear during Mr Farage’s speech, but an hour’s delay to the start of the day meant it only emerged later.During Mr Farage’s speech, two women stood up and held a banner reading “Reform works for billionaires”.They were booed by audience members who shouted “out”.Audience members were also removed during three other protests disruptions.A Climate Resistance spokesperson said: “We were horrified at the violence by Reform Party members against our peaceful protesters.“Farage should take responsibility for controlling his supporters rather than firing up an angry crowd. He’s been mired in scandal over donations and billionaire influence.“It’s important protesters can hold him to account without fear for their safety.”