Ryan Bridge, leader of the flag campaign group Raise the Colours, was given access to Reform UK's annual conference despite being on bail following an arrest on suspicion of causing religiously and racially aggravated harassment.
Mr Bridge, whose group has displayed hundreds of union and St George flags across England, told the Guardian he was invited to the conference. He was arrested earlier this year by Thames Valley police on suspicion of causing racially and religiously aggravated harassment, alarm or distress, and has been released on police bail. Mr Bridge denies all wrongdoing.
At a conference event, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage paid tribute to the flag campaign and offered legal support to Mr Bridge. Mr Farage reportedly told Mr Bridge, "If we can help you legally we will," after Mr Bridge mentioned an injunction against him for putting up flags in Oxfordshire and a pending one from Birmingham city council.
Mr Bridge is also facing a trial in East Sussex for common assault, to which he entered a not guilty plea last month at Brighton magistrates court. He was among 10 activists banned from France this year after travelling there to participate in actions intended to stop migrant boats.