A NO-SHOW by UKIP leader Gerard Batten gave anti-fascist protesters cause for celebration yesterday.

The party leader planned to stop off in Swindon on the bank holiday Monday with his two MEP candidates, but pulled out the day before citing problems with the UKIP battle bus.

After appearing in Newport on Friday he was due to go to Bristol on Saturday and Swindon on Monday before heading to Reading.

Despite news the tour was cancelled, which anticipated the announcement that he will stand down as leader in June, around a dozen protesters turned out on Regent Circus in case he showed up.

Miko Dubiel, 23, made a 'lactose v intolerance' poster with an image of a milkshake, in reference to Tommy Robinson, a recent recruit to the party as an advisor, who has had two milkshakes thrown over him in public.

"I would say that people who believe in tolerant values should not be tolerant of intolerance," he told the Adver.

"This isn't a question of freedom of speech, opposing fascism on the streets is just as important as it is in magazines and on the internet. That's where we need to be to stand up to these people."

Richard Dean, 26, chaired the speeches given by a number of activists on opposing the party, and said he felt the need to be there after it lurched further to the right.

"I would disagree with a Farage supporter," he said, "But I wouldn't have turned up with a megaphone. It's a more pernicious beast - it's more racist, right wing, and nastier, and that has come out under Gerard Batten's leadership.

"It is not about Brexit - we've had Remainers and Leavers here - and Brexit should not be hijacked by the far right to furthers its cause."

In the past Mr Batten has been criticised by former UKIP leader Nigel Farage for taking the party in a different direction.

He has also stood by UKIP candidate Carl Benjamin, from Swindon, despite the Youtuber saying he "wouldn't even rape" Labour MP Jess Phillips - only to later add in a video: "With enough pressure I might cave."

It also faced a battering in the local elections, UKIP lost more than half the 67 council seats it defended in last week's local elections, being left with just 31, and is going up against Nigel Farage's Brexit Party in the upcoming European elections.

Gerard Batten will stand down on June 2 and trigger a leadership contest to replace him, a UKIP spokesman confirmed yesterday.