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King's College London has launched an investigation after a senior lecturer in mental health was filmed at a Brexit Party rally apparently hurling verbal abuse at a Remain campaigner and poking a Union Jack flagpole at his face.

Niall McCrae, a lecturer at King's Mental Health Nursing department since 2002, was queueing for the rally in west London on Tuesday.

In a widely-shared video on Twitter he appeared to be seen calling Femi Oluwole a "f***ing traitor" while another man throws water on the activist.

The university said in a statement on Wednesday that it was "aware of complaints regarding the conducting of member of staff and are looking into this".

Dr McCrae campaigned for Brexit in Sutton, a London borough which voted to leave the EU. He writes about Brexit online for right-wing think tank the Bruges Group.

In the footage posted earlier this week Dr McCrae can be heard shouting "you're a f***ing traitor" and "f*** off you traitor" at Mr Oluwole.

He then pokes the Remain campaigner with a large Union Jack flagpole.

Mr Oluwole was carrying a desk with a sign reading: "A no-deal Brexit would be disastrous for the UK. Change my mind."

The campaigner shared footage of the incident on Twitter, writing: "I don't mind Right-Wing thugs chucking their drinks on me.

"I don't mind them poking me in the face with a flagpole.

"I do mind that Nigel Farage is set to WIN the European Elections on Thursday, by calling anyone who opposes a form of Brexit he said would never happen, 'traitors'."

Mr Oluwole told the Standard he was at the Brexit Party rally with his table for around an hour on Tuesday.

"Some people were constructive and polite and even grateful to me for being an engaging Remainer but some were just truly aggressive and angry," he said.

"I was called delusional... treacherous scum."

He added: "The ironic thing is that I condemned the idea of throwing things at people on Good Morning Britain just that morning and then it happened to me hours later."

Mr Oluwole had appeared on the show with Piers Morgan after Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage was doused in milkshake earlier this week.

He warned against such action, saying "it will escalate quickly".

A spokesman for King's said: "We are aware of complaints regarding the conduct of a member of staff and are looking into this. We do not condone inappropriate or abusive behaviour.

"This is being taken seriously and is being dealt with as a priority."