UPDATED: UKIP leadership event at New York Stadium moved "after police contact"

The events management company at the New York Stadium confirmed on Friday that Anne Marie Waters planned to speak at the stadium this Saturday.

But the launch has now been moved to a different, undisclosed venue.

South Yorkshire Police said it had not advised the club to pull the plug but Ms Waters said the cancellation had come after the venue " received contact from the police".

Events company Centerplate confirmed on Tuesday that the planned event at the New York Stadium had been cancelled.

And Ms Waters, who is hoping to succeed former leader Paul Nuttall, said in a post on the For Britain website: “I found out this week that the venue due to host my leadership campaign launch next weekend has cancelled, having received contact from the police.”  

She continued: “There were concerns about my 'views' and no doubt, police were happy to add to such concerns.”

The founder of Sharia Watch UK and ex-leader of Pegida UK, who has been outspoken about the influence of Islam in the UK, announced her intention to stand for party leadership at an event in Manchester organised by former EDL leader Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson.

Ms Waters said a new venue had been located in Rotherham and the launch would still take place in Rotherham at 1pm on Saturday.

But it is only open to UKIP members providing their name and number to an email address on Ms Waters’ campaign site forbritain.uk.

A spokewoman for South Yorkshire Police said: “The decision to cancel Saturday's event at New York Stadium was not made by South Yorkshire Police. This was a club decision.

“At this time, we have no information relating to another venue for the organiser's event this weekend.”

She said: "SYP did not advise the club to cancel the event."

Rotherham United chief operating officer Paul Douglas declined to comment.

Cllr Allen Cowles, UKIP group leader on Rotherham Borough Council, distanced himself from Ms Waters’ planned appearance.

“Anne Marie Waters was not invited by the branch and she will not be hosted by the branch with regard to any hustings,” he said.

“Her views are not the views of the party, nor the Rotherham branch. She is on a national tour giving her personal views but because it's UKIP, it gets media attention.

“This is disappointing because there are plenty of politicians, including in the Labour party, who hold anti-Semitic or Zionist views and nothing is said.”