Again, I must declare my political position as Secretary of local Labour Party in South Leicestershire for full transparency.

I would have no problem with any politician visiting usually although prefer politics out of football.

But the idea a man who is accussed of hissing at jews at university and a number of other racist comments is welcome as part of inclusivity is nonsense.

Mark Ashton needs to front up himself and put his name to a statement, or resign.

The statement doesn't make it clear it was an unsanctioned visit. Nobody can take filming equipment on a stadium tour surely?

What a desperately cowardly statement.

So, now we welcome all people, racists, religious bigots included?! No, the point of being an inclusive and diverse club and fan base is that we respect people no matter their racial origin or religious beliefs. Farage, unapologetically does neither and it disgusts me to see him with Town colours.

This visit was a colossal error of judgment by the Club and I’m frankly ashamed to be associated with it.

Farage is a mini-me of Trump who is a puppet for Putin and Netanyahu and I seriously wonder what the US owners would think of this. If Farage was PM, we would be dragged into anything that Trump/Putin wants. Trump is the master of manipulation, and Farage is following a typical manipulator strategy. Why else would Reform/Farage have any other need to come to ITFC and if the club was apolitical then it should say NO to ALL political parties. There is probably a Reform manipulator in the ITFC decision making process for this to have happened without the club really knowing in advance, then still letting it happen. I suggest we keep politics out of football and remove Gianni Infantiono from Trumps colon.

Some people on here may be ipswich town supporters, but definitely don't have ipswich town values.

Just think how many of our players wouldn't be welcome under a certain leader.

The club were fooled by the name of who was to visit being witheld , but as soon as it became clear who was coming , they should have laid out definite rules on what was acceptable behaviour and what was not allowed..

Sadly it sems the club were quite happy to allow Farage to do a blatant political promotion in any way he wanted and make it look like the club fully endorsed this .

A massive mistake from the club allowing themselves to be used in this way

Just visiting the club would not have been a problem but it seems the club were happy to be part of a blatant self promotion

Can we move on now ? It’s all been blown out of proportion. How many threads on the forum did we need on one subject ? And for the most part the same 8-10 people occupied most of those threads. Get a life people ffs!

Pathetic statement. There's every chance the club knew in advance what was going on here considering the large security entourage NF takes. And if it wasn't known, it was certainly facilitated with Farage shirts across the changing room and presenting of our trophies. The 'no official involvement line' stank and it looks like they've rowed back on that.

Maybe I'm being massively cynical, but I think it’s an autocratic use of the club’s name to endorse a politician I suspect our Chief Exec agrees with. The 'To Mark' signed on the shirt says it all. He wields an unhealthy level of power in acting as both chairman and CEO. The whole saga is the behaviour of a bloke who is accountable to no one day to day, otherwise I can't see how it would have ever come to this.

TimmyH …… then Why didn’t the Club ??

The best thing Mr Ham can do is delete this thread!! Another story published for the left to let off their pathetic tiny teeny weeny bit of steam as their party is a total shambles! Hahaha

Edmundo methinks you have been reading too much fiction !

Terrible own goal by the club.

For those complaining, how about reading ITFC statement “Ipswich Town is proud to be an inclusive, diverse and welcoming organisation that supports all members of the local and wider community. This commitment remains unchanged.”
Get a life!

The big picture is that we have been a club that we can be very proud of for the last 5 years at least- this seems to be a big own goal but I guess will blow over fairly quickly.

Rumour has it that Angela Rayner is opening a dug out at the new training ground tomorrow.

Terrible decision by the club.
An own goal so bad it would make Phil Whelan and Eddie Youds blush.
To allow a politician to parade around the club for their own publicity is just wrong. Especially one as divisive and anti what the club says it believes in around equality and inclusivity as Farage.
Absolutely naive and a decision that will hang over the club for a long time. It’s sickening and goes way beyond football

This makes it absolutely worse.

Do I like Farage? Absolutely not, my main issue with this is that NO POLITICAL PARTY should use the club for political propaganda.

I've been an Ipswich fan for nearly 20 years and I never been more disappointed in the club, this statement makes it categorically worse, how can you say we are inclusive of everyone when you bring the biggest scare monger in modern day British politics?

I have some sympathy for the club here, because for everyone who is saying he shouldn't be allowed to visit, on what criteria does the club make that kind of determination? If a local MP wants to do a stadium tour with their kid, then does that become a problem? What about a local councilor? Do you say anyone involved with a certain party? It's fraught with difficulty.

I think on balance they did the right thing with the statement too - it's low key, neutral, and doesn't give further oxygen to a political party publicity stunt. Plus the last thing the club needs right now is to put itself in the middle of a media firestorm by refusing them access.

I do agree with another commentator who suggested a donation to the foundation from the club would be a nice gesture. I suggest the precise amount that a private stadium tour would cost...

So silly to allow this to happen . Regardless of you politics views. Keep them out of football

Darkhorse or dirty budge more like. What a load of dross, whether you like it or not Reform is a much needed alternative to what we have supposedly leading our once great country today. Racist. I think not, Realist, most certainly.

I would describe myself as centrist in terms of political views, if anything slightly left leaning and like many on here I have a very negative opinion of Farage. I am amazed though at how few people are able to think rationally and take a reasonable stance on this matter without resorting to hyperbole and insults, which unfortunately seems to apply just as much to the left wing users as the right.

The only person this reflects negatively on is Farage - he has taken advantage of the clubs apolitical stance and you’ve all bought it. This was a win win for him. Either he was allowed access and could ride on the back of our public status and create the story that has now materialised, or he was denied entry and you know full well what story he would have peddled.

All that’s come from this is more division and vitriol with the left aiming it at the club as much as Farage and the right taking aim at the lefties. Don’t buy it guys! Rise above it and don’t turn the club into the enemy here for adopting a perfectly reasonable stance.

One thing I will point out is that the clubs policy should ban using the premises, badge and name for political statements. That’s the only oversight here and I expect it to be resolved quickly

OrwellianGeorge absolutely melting brains, it's hilarious. Complete mental gymnastics with fans love of Morsy and conflicted about his stance on LGBT. The contradiction within the Left space is why I could never take it seriously, just a hodge podge of disparate groups, cobbled together together to attack societal norms. Very strange bed fellows and not at all liberal and 'inclusive'.
In any case I'm no fan of Farage either and what he has done here is grift off of our club, so I don't like it. I'd rather all political messaging stayed out of football, including the LGBT stuff. It's sport that we love and come to escape the pressures of the world, to be entertained. All social engineering should stay out of sport entertainment. Stick to the football and the common ground, or remain in an eternal bickering match.
Ashton will not have sanctioned this, so anyone shouting for Ashton's head is just insane, completely unwarranted and an extreme position. Where's the gratitude for what he has done for the club...and the faith in the mans character ffs.
If he has, then I'm big enough to take that on the chin and admit that I'm wrong.
Even then it would just be a bad call, Ashton's good outweighs the bad.
Anyway, I'll add my comment to add a bit of balance to the baying mob...

Good, Town. Let's hope it puts this thing to bed, finally.

robfriday nice to see others add a more balanced perspective

Heard Jack Abbott has been invited down using the away kit to publicise and promote Labour for next local elections haha

Go nigel!!!!!!! Whoop whoop

darkhorse28 Wow, that's quite the unfounded attack! LOL