THE wartime spirit of Sir Winston Churchill is being evoked by the UK Independence Party in its East of England campaign for the European Parliament.

Graham Dines

THE wartime spirit of Sir Winston Churchill is being evoked by the UK Independence Party in its East of England campaign for the European Parliament.

Formally launching its manifesto today, the party unveiled a giant poster featuring the former prime minister giving his famous “v for victory” salute, exhorting voters to “say no to paying the European Union �40million” a day.

The party's deputy leader David Campbell Bannerman, who is the lead UKIP candidate for the East regional party list system of proportional representation used to elect Euro MPs, told a news conference in Norwich: “Never has there been a greater need for a political party to show some real leadership on the European front. UKIP must be that party and continue its valiant fight for Britain's freedom from the European Union.”

Mr Campbell Bannerman accused the three main British parties of not understanding Europe and they didn't represent the majority public view, as shown in opinion polls, that it was time to leave the EU.

He said Labour was “a democratic disgrace” for not giving a referendum on the Treaty of Lisbon, hit out at the Liberal Democrats for not supporting a referendum, and said the Tories would do nothing to stop ratification of the treaty.

Mr Campbell Bannerman promised: “This is going to be an eye catching campaign focused on the appalling cost of EU membership, the huge problem immigration is creating for our already over-crowded country and the effect this has on jobs, and the very dangerous breakdown of democracy inspired by the continual Brussels inspired dismantling of our ability to govern ourselves.”

In the 2004 Euro elections, two UKIP candidates were elected for the East of England. Jeffrey Titford is not seeking re-election and Tom Wise's membership has been suspended as police investigate alleged expenses irregularities.

In addition to Mr Campbell Bannerman, this year's candidates are: Stuart Agnew, a Norfolk farmer; Andrew Smith, a finance director from Essex working in the City of London; Stuart Gulleford from Essex, who is a party adviser; Amy O'Boyle, a 20 year-old student; Michael McGough a teacher from Essex; and Michael Baker, a businessman from Norfolk.

Polling day is June 4.

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