NIGEL Farage has likened the Tory manifesto to Ukip’s in 2015, saying he recognises much of the Conservative document “because they’re things that I have campaigned on for years”.
The former Ukip leader made the assertion while campaigning for the Brexit Party in Seaham, County Durham.
However, he is happy to see the Tories “changing the agenda” by talking about immigration levels.
“I recognise much of the Conservative manifesto because they’re things that I have campaigned on for years, such as hospital parking charges,” Farage said.
“Much of the manifesto was in fact in the Ukip 2015 manifesto, even recent ideas that I’ve announced like not exporting plastic waste for dumping in landfill in China or elsewhere, that’s in there. So, I’m pleased that they are changing the agenda. They’re even talking, maybe, about reducing immigration levels and of course Brexit.
“So, I do feel that I recognise a lot of it. My question is, do they mean it and are they going to deliver?”
Farage also said he is concerned that Boris Johnson’s plan to bring the withdrawal agreement back before Christmas could lead to “Brexit in name only”.
He said: “I want to get Brexit done, as does the country. Not just Brexit voters but now a large chunk of Remain voters just want this over and done with. “Getting it over and done with is one thing, getting it over and done with properly is quite another, and that is as I see it now the role of the Brexit Party – to get Brexit done properly.”
Farage added: “If he’s going to pass the withdrawal agreement between now and Christmas, which is what Boris is talking about today, then it’s going to have to have some amendments, because if we’re tied into regulatory and political alignment, it’s Brexit in name only.”
The leader also labelled polling data suggesting that the Brexit Party share of the vote may stand at as low as 3% as “nonsense”.
Both an Opinium and a BMG Research survey had the party on 3% of the vote, with the latter, which was recently published in The Independent, placing them even behind the Green Party.
Farage said: “That is just nonsense, you can play games with polls if you want to, I promise you that in many of these seats we’re well up in the high 20s, and we are challenging and we are rising.
“You cannot read anything into national polls – this is a series of by-elections taking place right across the country.”
Meanwhile, Union leaders slammed the Conservative manifesto as offering “nothing” for workers.
Len McCluskey, general secretary of Unite, insisted the Conservatives were also offering nothing for the UK’s “forgotten and left behind” towns and communities which have often been ignored in Tory Britain.
He said: “Tinkering around the edges offers nothing for those in our de-industrialised heartlands, or for those who voted Leave and are thinking of voting Tory or for their Brexit Party bedfellows.
“There’s nothing in it for young people, for pensioners, for nurses, for teachers, for car workers, for public sector workers.
“The Tories will do nothing to rebuild our manufacturing industries or stop the abuses of migrant workers by greedy bosses who use them to undercut pay and conditions.
“The Tories have nothing to offer that will make a real change to ordinary people. Only Labour’s manifesto speaks to the issues that effect everyday lives and only Labour can bring our divided country together.”
Manuel Cortes, leader of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association, added: “This hollow manifesto is no programme for government. It offers just £3 billion a year increase in public spending over the course of parliament compared with £83 billion from Labour.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel