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Paul Nuttall ducked press questions on Hillsborough today despite blasting "evil lies" about his involvement with the tragedy and declaring: "I will not allow them to break me."

The Ukip leader surfaced for a defiant speech at his party's spring conference in Stoke three days after admitting claims he lost a "personal friend" in the disaster were wrong.

But in chaotic scenes, he then refused to give interviews and was bundled out of a side exit surrounded by security guards.

In the brief scrum he said: "I have said absolutely everything I've got to say on the subject. I was at Hillsborough. I've got witness statements."

The Liverpool FC fan has also failed since Wednesday to condemn mega-donor Arron Banks, who said he was "sick to death" of hearing about the tragedy and campaigners were "milking it".

(Image: REUTERS)

He failed to answer a shouted question about Mr Banks in the chaotic scrum.

Mr Nuttall's refusal to face the media, on a major conference day for his party, came after he angrily denied claims he may not have been at Hillsborough himself.

During his speech he wiped away a tear as the party faithful gave him roaring cheers - including a few who stood in his honour - when he asked if he still had their support.

(Image: PA) (Image: PA)

He told the 500-odd guests, in a hall round the back of Bolton's Macron Stadium: "Thank you, I'm a bit overwhelmed."

One audience member shouted back: "Take that!"

Mr Nuttall said: "Many of you will have noticed that I've had a bit of a difficult week. This is two fold actually.

"Firstly I take the blame for the fact that I failed to check what was put on my website in my name. That is my fault and I apologise.

(Image: REUTERS)

"But I do not apologise for what is a coordinated, cruel and almost evil smear campaign that has been directed towards me.

"It is based on lies from sources who have not been named.

"It has been a tough week for me but I will not allow them to break me and I will not allow them to break Ukip."

The defiant speech came after Nigel Farage defended his "good friend" Mr Banks' right to free speech despite his slurs against Hillsborough campaigners - saying he is "entitled to his own views".

Speaking to reporters at Ukip's spring conference in Bolton, Mr Farage also dramatically accused Labour of intervening to stop Mr Nuttall getting involved in Hillsborough support groups.

(Image: PA) (Image: PA)

Asked if Mr Banks' comments were representative of Ukip's mission he said: "He's a good friend of mine and he says all sorts of things on Twitter."

Asked if he was "happy to be associated" with someone who said they were "sick to death" of hearing about the tragedy, he replied: "I'm not saying I'll never speak to him again."

He insisted: "I'm not defending Arron... I'm not his spokesman. Get his spokesman."

But asked by the Mirror if Ukip leader Paul Nuttall should condemn Mr Banks, he then said: "Arron Banks is a private citizen entitled to his own views."

Asked if the views were offensive to Liverpool FC supporter Nuttall he said: "They may be. Ask him!"

During his speech Mr Nuttall revealed UKIP would scrap VAT on fish and chips, heating bills and tampons if it took power after Brexit.

He vowed to bring in a “British values” test for new immigrants and cut off foreign aid to countries like India and Brazil, spending the money on the NHS instead.

And he launched a scathing attack on Labour for “sneering at our flag” and “thinking Brexit is racist” - claiming UKIP would “replace the Labour party as the voice of patriotic working people”.