Police ask McDonald's to halt milkshake sales during Farage rally

Authored by theguardian.com and submitted by stephenpowell0

Police asked a McDonald’s restaurant near an Edinburgh venue where Nigel Farage was speaking not to sell milkshakes because of concerns protesters might throw them at the Brexit party leader.

A sign appeared on Friday in the window of the McDonald’s on New Market Road, which is less than 200 metres from the Corn Exchange where the campaign rally was to take place, saying: “We will not be selling milkshakes or ice cream tonight. This is due to a police request given recent events.”

The request follows a series of incidents in which far-right figures such as Tommy Robinson and the Ukip candidate Carl Benjamin have had milkshakes and other food thrown at them by protesters during the European elections campaign.

Scott Macdonald, an online co-ordinator for the Scottish Socialist party, posted a photo of the sign on Twitter, saying it was in “the McDonald’s next to the Farage demo. Someone clearly got wind”.

Scott Macdonald (@scott_eff) The McDonald's next to the Farage demo. Someone clearly got wind. pic.twitter.com/kHETQ66TOq

A McDonald’s spokesperson confirmed they had been asked to stop sales of its milkshake and McFlurry products on Friday evening.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Milkshake-free protesters rally outside the Corn Exchange during Farage’s speech. Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Robinson, the former English Defence League leader whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, had milkshakes thrown at him twice in two days earlier this month while campaigning in the north-west. He is standing as an independent candidate for the region in the European elections.

Play Video 0:54 Tommy Robinson has two milkshakes thrown at him in two days – video

Benjamin was in Truro, Cornwall, a week ago when two protesters tried to throw the drink over him during a public gathering with the far-right activist Milo Yiannopoulos.

Benjamin is being investigated by police for rape comments targeted at the Labour MP Jess Phillips.

just_some_guy65 on May 18th, 2019 at 13:23 UTC »

I think someone needs to tell the police something they don't seem to know about milkshake

ArcticBlueCZ on May 18th, 2019 at 11:54 UTC »

If stores double the price of tomatoes for a day, they could make solid money.

searanger62 on May 18th, 2019 at 11:48 UTC »

I recommend the quarter pounder with cheese. Excellent aerodynamic properties.