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| Ukip will still have a future after Brexit, says Paul Nuttall | Ukip will still have a future after Brexit, says Paul Nuttall |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ukip’s leader has insisted his party has a political future after Brexit, as he unveiled an immigration policy that would seek to impose zero net migration to the country over a five-year period. | Ukip’s leader has insisted his party has a political future after Brexit, as he unveiled an immigration policy that would seek to impose zero net migration to the country over a five-year period. |
| Stressing the need for “clear water between us and the establishment parties”, Paul Nuttall argued that as well as holding Theresa May to account over Brexit, Ukip hoped to introduce radical policies in other areas. | Stressing the need for “clear water between us and the establishment parties”, Paul Nuttall argued that as well as holding Theresa May to account over Brexit, Ukip hoped to introduce radical policies in other areas. |
| He argued that because of its role in pushing forward the Brexit agenda Ukip had been the most influential party of the century. | |
| He said last week’s disastrous local election performance – when Ukip won just one seat, made a net loss of 114, and took 5% of the vote – was a one-off and to be expected given the imminent general election. | He said last week’s disastrous local election performance – when Ukip won just one seat, made a net loss of 114, and took 5% of the vote – was a one-off and to be expected given the imminent general election. |
| He said: “We knew that these local election results were going to be difficult. We knew that they were going to be the most difficult set of elections we were going to fight.” | He said: “We knew that these local election results were going to be difficult. We knew that they were going to be the most difficult set of elections we were going to fight.” |
| Speaking on Sunday, Nuttall’s predecessor, Nigel Farage, had warned that if May delivered a robust Brexit, Ukip might no longer have a political future. | Speaking on Sunday, Nuttall’s predecessor, Nigel Farage, had warned that if May delivered a robust Brexit, Ukip might no longer have a political future. |
| Nuttall dismissed this, arguing that Ukip would be needed as an “insurance policy” as the prime minister was politically incapable of delivering a suitably robust Brexit. | Nuttall dismissed this, arguing that Ukip would be needed as an “insurance policy” as the prime minister was politically incapable of delivering a suitably robust Brexit. |
| “It isn’t going to happen,” he said. “There’s no chance that that will happen whatsoever. I’m confident that she will begin to backslide once these negotiations start. | “It isn’t going to happen,” he said. “There’s no chance that that will happen whatsoever. I’m confident that she will begin to backslide once these negotiations start. |
| “At the moment, the prime minister is being believed on the issue of Brexit. She’s able to talk the talk. But walking the walk will begin in September, once negotiations really begin in earnest.” | “At the moment, the prime minister is being believed on the issue of Brexit. She’s able to talk the talk. But walking the walk will begin in September, once negotiations really begin in earnest.” |
| Nuttall pointed to immigration as another fruitful area for Ukip, saying the Conservatives had “broken their promises on this time and time again”. May’s record as home secretary showed she could not be trusted to meet her renewed pledge to reduce net migration to the tens of thousands, he added. | Nuttall pointed to immigration as another fruitful area for Ukip, saying the Conservatives had “broken their promises on this time and time again”. May’s record as home secretary showed she could not be trusted to meet her renewed pledge to reduce net migration to the tens of thousands, he added. |
| Ukip’s immigration policy, unveiled in Westminster by Nuttall and the party’s immigration spokesman, John Bickley, includes a pledge to reduce net migration to zero over a five-year period, with no exceptions for student numbers. | Ukip’s immigration policy, unveiled in Westminster by Nuttall and the party’s immigration spokesman, John Bickley, includes a pledge to reduce net migration to zero over a five-year period, with no exceptions for student numbers. |
| This would lead to an immigration commission being established to try to manage arrivals to about 300,000 a year over five years – a figure intended to match a similar-sized outflow. | This would lead to an immigration commission being established to try to manage arrivals to about 300,000 a year over five years – a figure intended to match a similar-sized outflow. |
| Arrivals would be restricted via an Australian-style points system for skilled workers, Bickley explained, with a bar on unskilled or low-skilled entrants. | Arrivals would be restricted via an Australian-style points system for skilled workers, Bickley explained, with a bar on unskilled or low-skilled entrants. |
| People from overseas would need a work visa, with the one exception being the Republic of Ireland because of its open border with Northern Ireland. There would be no preferential treatment for other EU countries. | People from overseas would need a work visa, with the one exception being the Republic of Ireland because of its open border with Northern Ireland. There would be no preferential treatment for other EU countries. |
| The other caveat would be a time-limited system of six-month seasonal visas for agricultural workers, with the idea that these would be phased out once enough UK staff could be found to fill the role. | The other caveat would be a time-limited system of six-month seasonal visas for agricultural workers, with the idea that these would be phased out once enough UK staff could be found to fill the role. |
| Asked about the farm workers’ scheme, Bickley said it would operate only in the summer – “I don’t think we’re very productive in this country during the winter months” – and the aim was to encourage Britons to take on the work over time. | Asked about the farm workers’ scheme, Bickley said it would operate only in the summer – “I don’t think we’re very productive in this country during the winter months” – and the aim was to encourage Britons to take on the work over time. |
| “We also want to encourage our own people to get back into the industry,” he said. “There used to be a time when it was a rite of passage for people going through a gap year in this country, or on their way to university or at university, to get some extra cash in fruit picking.” | “We also want to encourage our own people to get back into the industry,” he said. “There used to be a time when it was a rite of passage for people going through a gap year in this country, or on their way to university or at university, to get some extra cash in fruit picking.” |
| Nuttall, who has already announced measures targeting the Muslim population, including a proposed ban on full-face veils, said Ukip had plans for more non-Brexit policies. | Nuttall, who has already announced measures targeting the Muslim population, including a proposed ban on full-face veils, said Ukip had plans for more non-Brexit policies. |
| “I will say this – our manifesto will be radical, it will be forward-thinking, it will be ahead of its time in many ways,” he said. | |
| Asked about the party’s continued relevance, Nuttall stressed what he described as its huge influence over the political scene. | Asked about the party’s continued relevance, Nuttall stressed what he described as its huge influence over the political scene. |
| “We have been, in terms of driving the government into the position it is now on Brexit, the most influential party of the 20th century in this country,” he said, clarifying that he meant the 21st century. | “We have been, in terms of driving the government into the position it is now on Brexit, the most influential party of the 20th century in this country,” he said, clarifying that he meant the 21st century. |
| Bickley made a more grandiose claim: “From a pure policy standpoint, with no one on the [House of Commons] green benches, I would say currently we’re the most successful party in the world, for actually forcing a government to do our bidding. | |
| While the National Farmers Union is not commenting directly on any party’s election plans, it has previously raised concerns that significantly reducing the numbers of overseas seasonal workers could harm the sector. | |
| The union’s deputy president, Minette Batters, has said a “competent and reliable workforce” is vital for farming, with 80,000 seasonal workers needed a year to plant, pick and pack fruit, vegetable and flower crops. | |
| In other sectors, for example poultry, pig and dairy farming, the need for both seasonal and permanent workers was “absolutely critical”, she added. |