Ex-Para, 81, is ‘milkshaked’ by election thug
A FORMER Paratrooper aged 81 had a milkshake thrown on him while volunteering outside a polling booth for the Brexit Party yesterday. Widower don MacNaughton – who was wearing a rosette promoting Nigel Farage’s party – was left with the strawberry-flavoured milk over his shirt and regimental tie after being confronted in Aldershot, hampshire.
however, he laughed off the incident and said it had strengthened his ‘iron will’ to keep fighting for Britain to leave the eu.
Mr MacNaughton, , who writes military novels, said: ‘Somebody came across the street to the polling station and he gave me the finger.
‘he then started giving me verbal abuse and ran off. i didn’t hear the abuse because i was laughing at him. ten minutes later he came back with a milkshake, and he threw it over me. i again just curled up laughing, i didn’t mind because it was my favourite flavour.’
Police were called and were last night investigating an assault.
Mr MacNaughton, a retired Colour Sergeant who is originally from Victoria in British Columbia, Canada, moved to the UK in 1960 to serve in the Parachute regiment, and during a 22-year career was posted to Northern ireland, Germany and Cyprus.
he was wearing a Brexit Party rosette when the attack happened in his home town.
‘Obviously this fellow was just copying what happened to Nigel Farage,’ he said. ‘he was in his early 20s – it’s very childish of him. i would have been more than happy to debate with him, but instead he chose to assault me.’
teacher Lucy Blackman, 30, who Veteran: In Paratrooper uniform witnessed the attack and checked that Mr MacNaughton was OK, said: ‘to do that to anyone is nasty, but especially doing it to someone that age – it could have been my grandad standing there.
‘People are going about their democratic right to vote. it could have been acid or anything – it starts with a milkshake, what does it end with?’
A long-time campaigner to leave what he regards as the ‘dictatorial’ eu, Mr MacNaughton delivered 30,000 leaflets ahead of the 2016 referendum.
the father of four added: ‘the silly man hasn’t put me off campaigning, heck no. he has cemented the iron will, i’m going to keep fighting on.
‘Since it happened i’ve had lots of kind words, people have bought me shirts and even bought me lunch.’
Paul Shackley, returning officer for the rushmoor area, said: ‘i deplore any sort of incident of this nature. People should be able to exercise their right to vote without intimidation.’
A crowdfunding page set up to buy Mr MacNaughton a new suit saw £600 donated in a matter of hours.
Stands offering free milkshakes were set up outside polling stations in Kent – part of the South east england constituency where Nigel Farage was standing as an MEP.
drinks brand Plenish, which makes plant-based dairy-free refreshments, came up with the stunt after the Brexit Party leader was hit by a milkshake this week.
‘It was my favourite flavour’