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UKIP's Nigel Farage defends poster campaign UKIP's Nigel Farage defends poster campaign
(about 5 hours later)
UKIP leader Nigel Farage has defended a poster campaign about immigration as "a hard-hitting reflection of reality" after it was condemned as "racist".UKIP leader Nigel Farage has defended a poster campaign about immigration as "a hard-hitting reflection of reality" after it was condemned as "racist".
The posters - featuring messages including a warning that UK workers are "hit hard by foreign labour" - come ahead of 22 May European elections.The posters - featuring messages including a warning that UK workers are "hit hard by foreign labour" - come ahead of 22 May European elections.
Mr Farage will launch UKIP's campaign for the elections later in Sheffield.Mr Farage will launch UKIP's campaign for the elections later in Sheffield.
Labour MP Mike Gapes tweeted that he hoped the "racist posters" would encourage "decent" people to vote.Labour MP Mike Gapes tweeted that he hoped the "racist posters" would encourage "decent" people to vote.
"Hope UKIP racist posters encourage all decent British Commonwealth and EU citizens to ensure on register by May 6 and vote on May 22," he said.
Fellow Labour MP Stella Creasy wrote on Twitter: "Just at time when jobs market for Brits requires more networking & collaboration they want us to walk away as though we can compete."
And Tory peer Lord Deben, after retweeting comments featuring pictures of the posters, wrote: "UKIP stands for the worst in human beings: our prejudice, selfishness, and fear."And Tory peer Lord Deben, after retweeting comments featuring pictures of the posters, wrote: "UKIP stands for the worst in human beings: our prejudice, selfishness, and fear."
'Celebrity lifestyle''Celebrity lifestyle'
The poster campaign, which will be backed up by newspaper and online adverts, is the party's biggest publicity drive to date.The poster campaign, which will be backed up by newspaper and online adverts, is the party's biggest publicity drive to date.
Former Tory donor Paul Sykes is funding the £1.5m anti-EU campaign.Former Tory donor Paul Sykes is funding the £1.5m anti-EU campaign.
One of the posters asks "who runs this country", adding: "75% of our laws are now made in Brussels."One of the posters asks "who runs this country", adding: "75% of our laws are now made in Brussels."
Another includes a picture of a labourer begging for money accompanied by the text "EU policy at work - British workers are hit hard by unlimited cheap labour".Another includes a picture of a labourer begging for money accompanied by the text "EU policy at work - British workers are hit hard by unlimited cheap labour".
UK taxpayers fund the "celebrity lifestyle" of Eurocrats, warns another.UK taxpayers fund the "celebrity lifestyle" of Eurocrats, warns another.
And another poster has the text: "26 million people in Europe are looking for work - and whose job are they after?"And another poster has the text: "26 million people in Europe are looking for work - and whose job are they after?"
'Ruffle feathers''Ruffle feathers'
Mr Farage said the posters were "a hard-hitting reflection of reality as it is experienced by millions of British people struggling to earn a living outside the Westminster bubble".Mr Farage said the posters were "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," he said."Are we going to ruffle a few feathers among the chattering classes? Yes," he said.
"Are we bothered about that? Not in the slightest.""Are we bothered about that? Not in the slightest."
Paul Sykes said in a statement that he was "supporting the biggest advertising campaign in UKIP's history to bring home to the British people what is at stake".Paul Sykes said in a statement that he was "supporting the biggest advertising campaign in UKIP's history to bring home to the British people what is at stake".
"The European elections are the most important for many years," he said."The European elections are the most important for many years," he said.
He added that the other parties were "content to work within the existing Brussels straitjacket".He added that the other parties were "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," he said."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," he said.
Editorial controlEditorial control
Mr Sykes, making his first major investment since pledging financial support last year to UKIP's election campaign, is paying for the adverts directly instead of handing the cash to UKIP, the BBC has learned.Mr Sykes, making his first major investment since pledging financial support last year to UKIP's election campaign, is paying for the adverts directly instead of handing the cash to UKIP, the BBC has learned.
BBC political correspondent Alex Forsyth said this allowed him to retain some editorial and financial control.BBC political correspondent Alex Forsyth said this allowed him to retain some editorial and financial control.
Mr Sykes also wanted to make sure his money was used for campaigns he supported was not sucked up in general party administration, our correspondent added. Mr Sykes also wanted to make sure his money was used for campaigns he supported and was not sucked up in general party administration, our correspondent added.
She said he had helped to design the posters and was clear they should include messages he supported.She said he had helped to design the posters and was clear they should include messages he supported.
"I view UKIP's new advertising campaign - which I am funding to the tune of £1.5 million - as more of an essential public awareness campaign," Mr Sykes told the Telegraph.
"Its real purpose is to show the British people just how many of their democratic rights and powers successive governments have quietly smuggled away to Brussels," he added.
'Far-fetched claims''Far-fetched claims'
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, meanwhile, has accused Mr Farage of being the sort of professional politician he has himself criticised. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, meanwhile, has accused Mr Farage of being the sort of professional politician he has himself criticised and ridiculed what he said was Mr Farage's claim to be leading a movement of "insurgents" against the EU and the other UK parties..
"Of all Nigel Farage's far-fetched claims - and there are many - the most outlandish is the idea that UKIP's call for an exit is the insurgents' battle cry," the Lib Dem leader wrote in the Guardian."Of all Nigel Farage's far-fetched claims - and there are many - the most outlandish is the idea that UKIP's call for an exit is the insurgents' battle cry," the Lib Dem leader wrote in the Guardian.
"European withdrawal is presented as a great revolutionary promise, held in stark contrast to the status quo upheld by a homogeneous political elite.
"What poppycock."
He said Mr Farage was "every bit the professional politician he enthusiastically reviles".
"He and I were elected to the European Parliament on the same day in 1999. I left after five years. The UKIP leader is still there.""He and I were elected to the European Parliament on the same day in 1999. I left after five years. The UKIP leader is still there."
And he criticised UKIP as "simply the fresh face of a long-standing Eurosceptic establishment, supported by many in the Tory party and significant parts of the press".And he criticised UKIP as "simply the fresh face of a long-standing Eurosceptic establishment, supported by many in the Tory party and significant parts of the press".