Watch: Ukip deputy leader Peter Whittle chased by protesters at chaotic campaign launch

Poor old Paul Nuttall. Today was supposed to be a fresh start for Ukip as the party launched its election campaign event in the run-up to June 8. Instead, it’s descended into chaos. A group of protesters from ‘Stand up to racism’ have gatecrashed the launch event, waving banners and shouting and screaming moments before Nuttall was due to take to the his feet. The demonstrators were booted out of the room in which the event was taking place.

But they refused to leave the building: meaning that a group of journalists were left trapped outside. The show has gone on anyway, with Nuttall doing his best to spell out the party’s election pitch. Outside the hotel, the protesters are refusing to budge and the hotel is on lockdown. It just wouldn’t be a Ukip event without a spot of drama…

Update: Ukip’s deputy leader Peter Whittle has been chased out of the building in which the campaign launch was taking place by anti-racism demonstrators.