UKIP leader Paul Nuttall to stand in Boston and Skegness

UKIP Leader Paul Nuttall has announced he will stand in the Lincolnshire seat of Boston and Skegness at the General Election.

The constituency has been described as the "most Brexit" in the UK.

Boston recorded the biggest majority for Leave at last June's referendum, with more than 75% of voters opting to quit the EU.

The area has witnessed an influx of mainly Eastern European immigrants over the last decade, drawn to the opportunity of work in agriculture and tourism.

The seat, where UKIP came second at the last election, is currently held by the Conservatives with a majority of 4,336.

The sitting Tory MP Matt Warman backed the Remain campaign in last year's poll.

Mr Nuttall, who unsuccessfully stood at a by-election in Stoke-on-Trent Central earlier this year, said: "I will make it my mission to stand up for the people of Boston and Skegness and ensure there is no backsliding on Brexit."

But Mr Warman said: "Only a vote for Theresa May and the Conservatives on 8 June will make sure the country has the strong and stable leadership we need to deliver the best Brexit for Britain and for Boston and Skegness.

"A vote for any other candidate risks a coalition of chaos led by Jeremy Corbyn putting our nation's future at risk.

"That's why I supported Theresa May to become Prime Minister and voted in Parliament for her to trigger Article 50."

Speaking to Sky News, Mr Nuttall denied he was being opportunistic in again standing in an area where he had no links.

He said: "Listen, you do not have to be from a local area to be an MP.

"This is not a local council by-election or something like that in Boston and Skegness.

"The simple fact is, this is an election which has been called on Brexit.

"I am the leader of the most Eurosceptic political party in Britain and it therefore makes sense for me to go to the most Eurosceptic area in the country."

Mr Nuttall also rejected suggestions his party's policies, including calling for a ban on full-face veils in public, were "out of the BNP playbook".

He pointed out it had been UKIP's position since 2010, while burka ban's were already in force in a number of European countries including France and Belgium, with others considering following suit.

Mr Nuttall also dismissed Mr Corbyn as a "throwback to the 1970s" and predicted a "good number" of Labour voters would back UKIP at the polls.