The Brexit Party leader had been due to address the crowd this evening, however the audience was told Mr Farage had to travel to London “to sort out key strategic elements”. Political correspondent Michael Crick wrote on Twitter: “Nigel Farage and Richard Tice pull out of Brexit Party election rally in Willenhall, Staffordshire tonight ‘to go back to London to sort out key strategic elements’, disappointed audience is told.”
He later insisted the Brexit Party chairman, Mr Tice, had not been due to attend the event.
Mr Farage was expected to speak at the event which is being headlined by Brexit Party MEP Martin Daubney.
A Brexit Party spokesman has put the no show down to “clashing commitments in town”.
Nigel Farage has pulled out of an election rally this evening (Image: GETTY)
The Brexit Party said Mr Farage had ‘clashing commitments in town’ (Image: GETTY)
Mr Farage has undergone a turbulent last 24-hours after one of his candidates pulled out from standing at the general election at the 11th-hour.
Brexit Party MEP Rupert Lowe withdrew from standing for the Brexit Party in Dudley North moments before Thursday’s 4pm nomination deadline passed.
Earlier today during a walkabout in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, a raging Mr Farage hit out at Mr Lowe and said it was “disgusting behaviour”
On the campaign trail, Mr Farage was asked if he had sanctioned Mr Lowe’s actions, he said: “No, it was disgusting behaviour.
Nigel Farage has not attended the event headlined by Brexit Party MEP Martin Daubney (Image: PA)
“What he probably hasn’t told you is that he met a senior official from Number 10 in the middle of last week, somebody quite close to Boris, and this was obviously stitched up.
“If he made a decision, he went and changed course, he’s entitled to. But to let everybody else down at the eleventh hour, dreadful behaviour – shocking.”
The Brexit Party leader has offered an apology to party supporters in the constituency.
Asked for his message for party supporters in Dudley North, Mr Farage added: “I’m sorry – we have been double-crossed, let down badly by a man who has behaved dishonestly. I’m sorry, that’s all I can say.”
Brexit Party MEP Rupert Lowe withdrew from standing for the Brexit Party in Dudley North (Image: PA)
In a dramatic Thursday evening, Mr Lowe revealed to Express.co.uk that he made the “very tough decision” on Wednesday as he feared his candidacy would split the Leave vote and ensure Labour candidate Melanie Dudley’s path to Westminster.
Mr Lowe said: “I saw no logic in me standing and splitting the Leave vote and letting somebody who is so politically different to me get into Westminster.”
He said he did not want to play a part in allowing the Labour Party, either alone or as part of a pact with the Liberal Democrats and SNP, to get into Downing Street amid fears they “will destroy the country”.
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Nigel Farage has said the Brexit Party would hold Boris Johnson to account (Image: PA)
He added: “I would be distraught if I saw a couple of ageing Marxists backed up by Momentum being given an opportunity to kill off this country for probably the next 50 years.”
The former Southampton FC chairman said he would be supporting the Conservative candidate to win the seat.
Mr Lowe also revealed he had a heated conversation with Mr Farage after details of his withdrawal emerged.
He said: “Nigel rang me, he is very angry with me and hopefully he will over time appreciate the reasons I made the decision that I made.”
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The Brexit Party has already announced it would not stand in any of the 317 seats won by the Tories (Image: GETTY)
The Brexit Party has already announced it would not stand in any of the 317 seats won by the Conservatives in the 2017 election.
Earlier today in Eastwood, Mr Farage stressed the importance of Brexit Party MPs getting elected into the House of Commons in order to hold Boris Johnson to account.
Mr Farage did not reveal how many Brexit Party MPs he would like in parliament in order to do so, but insisted the DUP has “controlled the show” over the past two years with just 10 parliamentarians.
When asked what would constitute success for his party at the general election, Mr Farage said: “The DUP with 10 seats controlled the show for the last two years.
The results of the last three general elections (Image: EXPRESS)
“The Liberal Democrats controlled the show for the previous five years.”
The leading Brexiteer acknowledged the voting system would make it difficult for the party but reiterated he would be targeting Labour Leave constituencies.
“First-past-post politics is tough but in constituencies with big Leave votes and Labour MPs, there are places where we are clearly the challenger to the Labour Party.
“The message is simple – Boris is beginning to say the right things about Brexit, but we have got to hold him to account.
“It’s only Brexit Party representation that will do that – I think if we can establish a bridgehead we will get a Brexit that people recognise.”
