The leader of Reform UK, Nigel Farage, has told a rally in Plymouth he would get rid of tax on pay for armed forces reservists.

Farage said he wanted to get more people in the reserves at the event for party supporters as part of Reform’s 100 Days to Save Britain tour.

When questioned by the BBC over a Reform councillor in Plymouth who was investigated and cleared over social media posts, Farage said he was “still part of the party was because everyone believes he’s a solid bloke”.

About 100 protesters against Reform gathered outside the Plymouth Arena near the city centre, chanting before, during and after the event.

Farage spoke to about 300 Reform members and councillors and opened his speech by paying tribute to Ann Widdecombe, who was killed at her home in Devon.

On cutting tax for reservists, he said: “Anyone that signs up as a reservist and does their bit will face no tax on the pay they receive.

“Let’s get more men and women signing up for the reserves.”

When asked by the BBC about the UK deploying fighter jets to defend Saudi Arabia, Farage said the UK was “not even a player any more”.

He said: “Should we help with peacekeeping missions? As much as we can.

“But what we’ve got to face up to is the reality that we’ve lost our ability to be an effective player”.

Plymouth Reform councillor Ben Rowe was investigated in May after being accused of sharing Islamophobic posts on social media but was then cleared.

The BBC asked Farage if Rowe’s behaviour had been acceptable.

He said: “These are working class people, going into politics, venting their spleen on certain issues and maybe there’s a little bit of political growing up to do.

“But let’s not condemn everybody for everything they say, and the reason he’s still part of the party is because everyone believes he’s a solid bloke.”

Outside the event, amid a significant police presence, protesters gathered with placards and joined in chants saying Farage was not welcome in the city.

Liam Condron-Farnos, from the campaign group Stand Up To Racism, said: “The way he’s built his politics over the years, and still is, is on anti-immigrant hysteria.

“We need to show him that’s not an uncontested view in this country.”

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