EU Exit Would Be 'Economic Suicide', Warns Farron

Leaving the European Union would be "economic suicide", Liberal Democrat President Tim Farron has warned.

The MP told Sky News' Murnaghan programme the upcoming European elections were a two-horse race between his party and UKIP, and a vote for anyone else would be a "wasted vote".

He was speaking as a poll put UKIP in the lead in the European election race, despite a string of recent controversies.

UKIP recorded 31% support in the YouGov survey for the Sunday Times, three points ahead of Labour, with the Conservatives in third place on 19%, and the Lib Dems trailing in fourth on just 9%.

Mr Farron said: "UKIPs position is clear and actually I respect it because at least it's clear, but it's wrong, staggeringly wrong for the future of this country.

"There are at least three million jobs that depend on our relationship with the European Union, our ability to tackle climate change across borders depends on being in the EU, so does our ability to catch criminals.

"So it would be absolute madness for Britain to leave the European Union and somebody needs to have the backbone and say 'hang about we will sleep walk out of the European Union if somebody doesn't stand up and say Britain's needs to stay in for Britain's interests', and that is the Liberal Democrats.

"This election is in many ways a two-horse race between UKIP who want out and the Liberal Democrats who want in.

"If you vote for anybody else in a sense it will have been a wasted vote.

"Sometimes in politics you really ought to take the unpopular side of an argument, and you certainly should if it's right.

"It would be economic suicide for us to leave the European Union, and only one party, the Liberal Democrats, are being honest enough to say so."

Foreign Secretary William Hague said the record of UKIP MEPs in Europe was "not a good one".

Speaking on Murnaghan he said: "Their attendance and achievements for this country are not good at all."

He added: "We have set our course on Europe and we will stick to that.

"UKIP are not in a position to deliver a referendum, Labour want to deny people a referendum. It's only with David Cameron and a Conservative government there will be a referendum."

Labour's Shadow Transport Secretary Mary Creagh told the show: "We have an anti-party party with UKIP."

In a reference to UKIP's stance on immigration, Ms Creagh said: "I think most people in this country don't mind where their neighbours come from as long as they come here to work, put in a good day's work, and play by the rules."