Brexit bus rolls into town

Euro MPs Steven Woolfe and Paul Nuttall with the UKIP Brexit battle bus

The UKIP battle bus with the party’s deputy leader Paul Nuttall and migration spokesman Steven Woolfe on board arrived on South Promenade yesterday.

The pair, who are both Euro MPs representing the North West including the Fylde coast, addressed supporters before going on a walkabout and handing out leaflets.

Mr Woolfe told the Gazette migration was pushing wages down.

He said: “Yesterday I was in a debate with a Blackpool owner of a hotel.

“Low-skilled migration means the holiday industry in Blackpool is having to bring wages down in order to compete with each other so people who already live here can’t live on that and won’t take those jobs.

“If wages everywhere were higher, many families would have more money and would take more holidays in places like Blackpool.”

He also dismissed concerns workers rights would be undermined by leaving the EU.

He said: “It is an insult to the workers of this country and the trade unions to suggest that all the workers rights have been given to us by the EU.”

Mr Nuttall said he believed people in Blackpool would vote to leave the EU at the referendum on June 23 because they would prefer to be ruled from Westminster than Brussels.

He claimed funding, which has helped finance projects in the town including the new trams and regeneration of the Promenade, would not dry up.

He added: “There is no such thing as EU funding. It is a bit of a charade because this is our money we send to the Europe and then they call it EU funding.

“If you look at the people of Lancashire, they put in almost £3 for every £1 they get back so it is economic madness.

“That money would still come into Blackpool but not via Brussels, but from our own democratically elected government.”

The UKIP battle bus tour also visited Nantwich and Leigh.

Last month Labour’s Remain campaign battle bus also visited Blackpool with former party leader Ed Miliband on board.

He said remaining in Europe was essential to protect benefits such as workers rights and trade advantages.

Mr Miliband said he believed the UK would be able to face issues such as job creation, climate change and crime more strongly by working alongside other countries in Europe.