Stand Up to Racism rejects Rupert Lowe’s claim that Restore Britain activist got ‘scalded’ by anti-racism campaigner
The campaign group says the far-right campaigner spilled some coffee on himself
Stand Up to Racism has denied Rupert Lowe’s claim that one of its activists “scalded” a Restore Britain campaigner at a counter-protest in Camden on Saturday.
Lewis Holmes, a Restore Britain activist, claimed he was “attacked by a member of the stand up to racism and socialist worker party with boiling liquid” while he was campaigning for the party ahead of the Holborn and St Pancras by-election.
Responding to the claim, the anti-racism campaign group shared a video of Holmes spilling a small amount of liquid on his hand as he threw a disposable coffee cup in the bin.
Stand Up To Racism says that police said a passerby bumped into him which caused him to spill the liquid.
Holmes spilt the liquid as a Stand Up to Racism activist asked him questions about Restore Britain’s relationship with neo-Nazi figure Patrick McGinnis.
The anti-racism campaigner repeatedly asked Holmes: “Are you aware of Pat McGinnis’ Nazi past? When you [Restore Britain] put him on the nomination papers as the primary signatory, were you aware that he was an anti-semite?”.
McGinnis is listed as the primary signatory for Tyler Johnson’s nomination as Restore Britain’s candidate in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election which will take place on 8 October. The by-election was triggered by Keir Starmer stepping down as an MP on 1 September.
McGinnis published a video in which he said “Jewish ideas are destroying our country, not Islamic ideas”. He also blamed jewish ideas for feminism, transgender inclusion, the decline of Christianity, Britain’s economic problems and the alleged weakening of national institutions.
Holmes did not answer the questions about McGinnis.
Responding to the video on X, Holmes wrote: “Now share the full video you vile mob.
“This was at the hospital yesterday where my injuries were treated.
“I did my duty to stay cool, calm and collected whilst you caused harassment, alarm and distress, and physically attacked our campaigners, including me.”
Holmes shared a picture of himself putting water on his leg in a bath. The photo prompted people to question whether it was taken in a hospital.
In a post on X on Saturday, Lowe wrote: “Following today’s attack, we have taken the decision to cancel tomorrow’s Restore Britain campaigning session in Holborn and St Pancras.
“A donor has kindly offered to fund the delivery of those leaflets instead.
“Remarkably, we are now in the position where our campaigners can’t congregate in our capital city without the fear of being scalded with boiling liquid.”
Lowe also said that from next week he would arrange private security for Restore Britain’s by-election campaign events.
Reacting to Lowe’s claim, Stand Up to Racism wrote the following message on their X account: “Earlier@RupertLowe10 claimed that his campaigner manager in Holborn, Lewis Holmes, had been attacked with boiling liquid. Police now say a passerby knocked his coffee, which he spilt on his leg.”
Police confirmed that a woman was arrested on Saturday after a Restore campaigner was allegedly “punched in the face” while handing out campaign leaflets in London.
Lowe and Holmes have been approached for comment.
Olivia Barber is a reporter at Left Foot Forward
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