Police at Lewisham East hustings where Anne Marie Waters will speak

This comes after Ms Waters, the candidate from controversial minor political party For Britain, reportedly spoke at a far-right rally in central London on Saturday where police were injured by protestors.

Local campaigners Stand Up to Racism, who with Lewisham Anti-Racist Action Group called for Ms Waters to lose her platform at the hustings, have organised a protest outside the meeting later.

Lewisham’s Mayor Damien Egan and MP Vicky Foxcroft also joined the calls for Ms Water to lose her platform.

But Ms Waters said there is no threat of violence from her supporters.

“There is only a threat to me,” she said.

“I think it is so often the case for those of us who speak the truth about mass immigration.

“Last time [2015 Lewisham East election] I had to be walked in and out from the place.”

She said she had never incited violence before “and I don’t think this time will be any different.”

Ms Waters was disappointed the Labour and Conservative candidates would not be attending the hustings, and said this was “cowardice.”

John Hamilton, from organisers Bring Back Democracy, said there would be police at the hustings to ensure everyone’s safety.

“There will be police there and we have a policing plan in place, and others on standby,” he said.

Mr Hamilton said attendees would have to sign in and note if they lived in Lewisham, which would help monitor concerns far-right supporters from outside the borough would be coming to the event.

But he did not think there was a risk of violence at the hustings.

“It’s going ahead as planned, I think it will be a peaceful affair,” he said.

“She [Anne Marie Waters] wants to look legitimate. It is not in her interest to draw a rowdy crowd. She wants to come over as respectable.”

Bring Back Democracy invited candidates from all political parties to the hustings but were disappointed Labour candidate Janet Daby would not attend, Mr Hamilton said.

Ms Daby had told Mr Hamilton her diary was full, and that she would not share a platform with far-right groups, he said.

“[but] None of the other candidates have complained. Most of the population would like to see those candidates,” he said.

“All the others – Greens, Lib Dems, Women’s Equality Party – they are not far-right fascists.”

Mr Hamilton said the Conservative candidate Ross Archer would not be able to attend due to a prior commitment.

On her decision to attend the hustings, Women’s Equality Party candidate Mandu Reid said: “it’s wrong to let parties that spew bile and hatred and seek to divide us dictate how we practice democracy in Lewisham East.”

Lewisham Labour have been contacted for comment.