Ukip leader Nigel Farage said he could not think of a better reason to leave the European Union than to ‘save’ Leigh’s fishing industry.

The charismatic leader made a return to south Essex, where the group did so well in 2013 and 2014, to kickstart the party’s Say to the EU campaign in old Leigh.

And, as part of this, he joined fisherman for their ‘save our fleet’ campaign, with fisherman claiming that EU quotas and dredging of the estuary are killing the industry Leigh is so famous for.

Mr Farage, who stood down as leader after failing to take a seat in Westminster, only to u-turn, said: “While this industry is small in terms of numbers who work in it, it holds a deep affection for a lot of people.

“They want to come to Leigh to see a thriving fishing industry. We’ve got a referendum coming up and this industry is a political symbol – we need to take back our borders and take back our territorial waters.

“I can’t think of a better reason to get out of the EU than to take back our territorial waters and save our fishing industry.”

Between 2008 and 2010, fisherman in Leigh said the amount of demercal fish, including bass, cod and dover sole, increased from 18 tonnes to 78 tonnes.

However, five years ago dredging of the Thames Estuary started, to create superport DP World, in Thurrock, which, according to Ukip and fisherman, has decimated fish stocks.

The port was part funded by EU cash.

Fisherman Paul Gilson delivered a speech at the event, and said: “At the present time, there is no future for our young fisherman in Leigh.

“The Thames is one of the most iconic rivers in the world and until recently, one of the most healthy, but dredging since 2010 by the big companies to allow the bigger ships to come up the Thames has decimated what the fish feed on.

“This is a lesson in how not to manage the environment.”

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'Let me take a selfie' - Nigel has a picture with fisherman

Mr Farage received rapturous applause from party members when he delivered his speech, and after ambling onto a trawler moored to Victoria Wharf, he joked he would join his audience down the Peter Boat or the Crooked Billet later on for a pint.

He denied south Essex was a spent force for the party, despite failing to return any MPs despite the party concentrating a lot of its resources on winning the Thurrock and Castle Point seats.

He continued his tour by opening up a Ukip shop in Thurrock earlier, following by a public event in Purfleet’s Circus Tavern tonight.

 

 

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