BOSSES have criticised a decision to cancel a Brexit Party rally due to take place at Swindon Town Football Club tonight as “yet another example of people trying to stop” the Nigel Farage-backed party.

The rally had been due to take place from 7pm tonight in the legends lounge at the County Ground, with south west MEP candidate Ann Widdecombe among those expected to attend.

The party had already sold out, with 300 people due to attend the event, when it was pulled at the end of last week.

The Brexit Party, which was set up by former UKIP leader Nigel Farage last month, said it had been told the booking had been cancelled because the stadium did not host events linked to political parties. That explanation has been questioned by the party, however, as the County Ground was last December the location for a Labour event.

A spokesman said: “People are very frustrated and angry about it because it’s yet another attempt to stop democracy.

“In this case it’s yet another example of people trying to stop the Brexit Party.”

The matter is believed to be in the hands of the party's lawyers, with suggestions they might even look at suing the club.

Len Johnson, 55, from Swindon, had been planning to attend the event: “I think it’s pretty disgraceful. They’ve hosted a political meeting previously.”

The Advertiser understands the event is expected to go ahead, albeit with party supporters meeting outside the Swindon Town stadium.

A spokesman for Swindon Town Football Club said: "We were made aware of the political nature of an event being held at the County Ground this evening and, in line with club policy, cancelled the event.

"All bookings to host events at the County Ground are made by Centerplate, a private conferencing and catering company.

"We have been made aware of an event held at the County Ground of a similar nature in December 2018. However, as this was booked under an individual name, the football club was, at the time, not made aware of this by our conferencing suppliers. 

"It is the club’s policy not to hold any events of a political nature and this will continue to be the case in the future."