UKIP battle bus on its way

UKIP will bring its campaign vehicle to Leigh on Thursday with MEPs Steven Woolfe and Paul Nuttall meeting residents and businesses and discussing the benefits of Brexit.

Leigh is one of just three North West towns the battle bus will be visiting and campaigners have hailed the visit as a major coup ahead of the country going to the polls on June 23.

It is the second time a party’s official vehicle has visited the borough during the referendum campaign after Labour’s battle bus aiming to persuade voters to stay in the EU came to Wigan town centre last month.

Trevor Bell, leader of cross-party group Leigh Leave, said: “I think the visit will raise the profile of the campaign and I’m delighted UKIP have decided to bring the battle bus here.

“I think a lot of people are baffled by how the EU actually works so it will be good for them to be able to directly ask questions of MEPs.

“I don’t think any major political party has sent a battle bus to Leigh in any general election recently. This is a unique featureof the referendum; whereas general elections tend to concentrate on marginal seats here every vote and every town is important.”

The battle bus will park up outside Leigh town hall for around an hour on Thursday from 12.30pm, with Mr Nuttall and Mr Woolfe addressing the crowd to put the case for leaving the EU and walking around the town centre to speak to businesses and undecided voters.

The party hopes to create a festival atmosphere in Leigh, promising a “Brexit playlist” of appropriate songs and music and asking supporters to bring rosettes and placards along.

A UKIP spokesman said the party had decided to visit Leigh after receiving strong support there in recent elections and Mr Bell also said Leigh Leave’s messages had been resonating with voters ahead of polling day.

He said: “The response in Leigh has been very positive for the Leave campaign. A lot of ordinary people in the borough realise the EU is very much for the Eurocrats, banks and multi-nationals and Leave is on their side.”

The UKIP battle bus with MEPs Steven Woolfe and Paul Nuttall will visit Leigh town hall on Thursday June 9 from 12.30pm until 1.30pm.