An editor has hit back after Nigel Farage claimed her title was working with protesters who tried to derail a speech he gave today.

In what has been described as an “astonishing broadside,” the Reform UK leader accused The Herald of tipping-off a group of demonstrators about the location of the speech in Aberdeen.

In his speech, Mr Farage claimed the newspaper was “involved with the group of protesters outside” and that it had sent a “protest correspondent” as well as its political editor to cover the event.

Herald editor Catherine Salmond described his comments as “ridiculous” and likened them to the attacks on the media from Donald Trump in the US.

Mr Farage, pictured, made the remarks in Aberdeen during a campaign visit ahead of the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election on Thursday.

After being confronted by protesters during the event, he effectively accused The Herald of being in cahoots with them.

“You knew more about this than we did,” he claimed, after the newspaper denied the accusation.

“This location was only sent to you guys. It was not put out on the public wires. We did not put it out to our membership, and yet they knew — so it came from one of you,” Mr Farage added.

Along with all accredited Scottish media, The Herald had received details of the location of the event the night before.

Said Catherine: “The responsibility of a trusted news brand is to act with integrity. The idea that The Herald was involved with protests in Aberdeen against Nigel Farage and Reform UK is ridiculous.

“Our job is to report on the truth and to hold those who do not tell the truth to account.

“Attacking the media has become commonplace under Donald Trump in the US and today we have seen it here in Scotland, by Reform UK, against The Herald. A low tactic and one we should all stand against.”

Posting on X, NUJ Scotland said: “It is shocking that Nigel Farage, who is seeking to become the next PM, feels free to make baseless attacks without any evidence on the integrity of journalists and blame the press for protests.

“Blaming the press for opposition to their policies may be becoming common in some countries, but politicians should understand that this won’t fly with voters here. Attacking the press doesn’t demonstrate strength: it just exposes a thin skin to voters.”

The incident is the second spat involving the The Herald and a leading UK politician during the course of the by-election campaign.

As reported by HTFP, it accused Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner of refusing to speak to journalists during a campaign visit last week.