Vote Leave heavyweights Boris Johnson and Michael Gove were given an animated welcome when they visited the Ipswich Waterfront today.

They visited Neptune Marina’s offices and Mr Johnson enjoyed a coffee at the nearby Coffee Link cafe – but a planned walkabout had to be abandoned because of a lack of time.

Their visit was next to the main UCS building – and many students and staff at the university are keen “remainers.”

They were on hand to give the two Tory heavyweights a noisy welcome – led by university provost Richard Lister who said academics were concerned about breaking ties with European colleges and universities.

They came to Ipswich to meet Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore who had declared his support for the Vote Leave side because of his concern about foreign criminals moving to Britain and offending here – and the difficulty in removing them from the country.

Justice Secretary Mr Gove, said pulling out of the EU would help to keep undesirables out of the country – and disputed claims that it would be more difficult to extradite British criminals.

He rejected claims from immigration minister James Brokenshire that the ending of the European Arrest Warrant would make it more difficult to bring British criminals back to Britain. Mr Gove said: “You can bring criminals back from other countries without it being under a European arrest warrant or being part of the European Union. But as long we are part of the European Union there are people who are here whose presence is not conducive to the public good whom we cannot deport.”

Mr Johnson emphasised the cost of European Union membership – but insisted that he was not pledging what should happen to money that was no longer sent to the EU.

He said: “This is not a government in waiting, we are simply offering policies to the government and I think they are very sensible ideas.”

Farming minister George Eustice, a long-term opponent of the EU, had said the government would continue to support agriculture if Britain pulled out.

After today’s visit by the Tory’s Vote Leave heavyweights, tomorrow is due to see a visit from Labour’s shadow Foreign Secretary Hilary Benn who is hoping to galvanise his party’s supporters in Ipswich to vote remain on June 23.