AN upcoming political debate in Barrow has been cancelled after the owner of a replacement venue pulled out when thugs threatened to smash up his hotel. 

Last week the Barrow and Furness branch of UKIP announced the party's leader Gerard Batten was heading to South Cumbria to host a discussion about Brexit on Thursday.

Colin Rudd, chairman of the branch, said the debate would focus on concerns over the extent to which Britain detaches itself from the European Union following the decision by the British public to leave the EU.

In response, the North West branch of Unite Against Fascism announced plans to hold a protest, branding Mr Batten a "racist".

The Mail understands both Cloud 9 and UKIP were disappointed with the coverage of the planned protest.

Criticism from members of the public and the prospect of a protest prompted the venue's bosses to cancel the booking in the interests of public safety.

Organisers since booked a new venue, the Lisdoonie Hotel in Abbey Road, to host the event at 7pm on Thursday but now the owner of the Lisdoonie has revealed he was called by a man who "threatend to smash up his hotel". He is understood to be reporting the threats to police and described the male's tone as "vicious". 

Mr Rudd said that as a legitimate political party UKIP was hosting the event to generate debate and discussion around Brexit. He said he was disappointed at the suggestion that UKIP were "fascists" given the response from Unite Against Fascism.

"Mr Batten is coming here to discuss Brexit; Barrow voted to leave the EU in the referendum and it's a topic which many people take an interest in," Mr Rudd said.

"We live in a democratic society where political debate is encouraged, and as a legitimate party, that is something we aim to do. In Barrow we have an MP who has resigned from the Labour Party, and given the state of local and national politics we are in a position where we could well have a snap General Election."

Paul Jenkins from Unite Against Fascism told The Mail last week: "We will not allow him (Gerard Batten) to air his views without any opposition when he comes to Barrow.

"People in Barrow have a history of opposing the far right and Gerard Batten's views will not be accepted by people in the town."

The Barrow and Furness branch of UKIP has around 60 members. Mr Rudd said in a democratic society it was important to allow legitimate, and legal, debate on political issues.

"It's rare for political leaders to come up to Barrow, when Natalie Bennett from the Green Party came to Barrow I went along, and listened to her courteously and politely," Mr Rudd added.

"Mr Batten is a Member of the European Parliament and we welcome his visit to Barrow to host a genuine debate around the issues of Brexit."

The call to allow a legitimate discussion with different political parties was echoed by Labour Councillor Dave Pidduck, the leader of Barrow Borough Council.

Cllr Pidduck said: "I think he should be allowed to speak in a democratic society, even if I personally do not agree with his views."