Farage Defends 'Racist' UKIP Poster Campaign

Nigel Farage has hit back at claims a new UKIP poster campaign centred on immigration is racist.

The party is using £1.5m of funding from millionaire former Conservative donor Paul Sykes to launch a "hard-hitting reflection of reality" publicity drive.

The drive comes ahead of elections in the European Parliament next month.

The posters claim "British workers are hit hard by unlimited foreign labour" and 26 million unemployed people in Europe are "after" jobs in the UK.

They also call on people to "take back control of our country" and state that 75% of British laws are made by the EU.

Critics have compared the posters with those used in the past by the British National Party.

Labour MP Mike Gapes said they were "racist" and called for people to register to vote in the elections on May 22.

But Mr Farage defended the campaign.

He said: "These posters are a hard-hitting reflection of reality as it is experienced by millions of British people struggling to earn a living outside the Westminster bubble.

"Are we going to ruffle a few feathers among the chattering classes? Yes. Are we bothered about that? Not in the slightest.

"UKIP is hugely grateful to Paul Sykes for his magnificent contribution to the great cause of restoring Britain's ability to be a self-governing nation.

"The political earthquake I have spoken of is on its way."

Mr Sykes said: "We have the chance to support a party that represents a complete break with the past.

"The other parties, whatever their merits, are content to work within the existing Brussels straitjacket.

"An overwhelming victory for UKIP will break the political mould in the UK, forcing Labour and the Lib Dems to back a full-scale referendum and intensifying the popular pressure for that to be staged as early as general election day 2015."

The posters will run over the next four weeks and there will also be digital advertisements.