Agencies/London
Nigel Farage has appealed for Jeremy Corbyn to join him in calling for Britain to leave the EU as he kicked off Ukip’s referendum campaign.
Farage said the impact the Labour leadership frontrunner was having showed the political left were “waking up to what the EU is”.
The Ukip leader also reiterated his determination to play a key role in the national vote, dismissing suggestions he is a “Marmite” personality who could harm the chances of Brexit.
He made the comments as he formally launched the party’s referendum campaign in central London.
Farage said he was planning to go “on tour” around the country from now until the crucial ballot - scheduled to take place before the end of 2017.
He insisted Corbyn’s election as Labour leader was now “all but certain”, and argued that his influence could be decisive.
“I don’t really find myself in agreement with anything with Jeremy Corbyn. However, under his leadership, which looks all but certain, I am absolutely confident there is going to be a proper debate about the European Union that goes on within the centre left of British politics,” he said.
“I welcome a Corbyn victory. And yes, even though we disagree on almost everything, I’d love to share a platform with him in the run up to this referendum. So we will do whatever it takes to try and get the result.”
Research by Survation for the British Future think tank has suggested Farage’s emphasis on immigration could turn off floating voters.
But the MEP said his name was not even mentioned in the polling, and blamed “soft Conservative eurosceptics” for trying to damage him.
“Far from us trying to badmouth or push people away, we’re try to bring people together,” he said.
“I accept not everyone is going to think Ukip is fantastic or I’m fantastic ... But that’s why we need the centre left, whether it’s Corbyn or somebody else, appealing to those voters as well.”
Farage played down the prospect of Corbyn winning back support from Ukip. But he said having a Labour leader who was “north London, bicycles, non-drinker, that kind of thing” would mean there was “no point” people voting Green.
Meanwhile in Madrid, David Cameron won Spain’s support for his campaign for European Union reforms before a British referendum on membership, with his counterpart in Madrid, Mariano Rajoy, saying a British EU exit would be “unthinkable”.
Cameron says he wants Britain to remain in a reformed EU and is confident he can get changes - such as tighter restrictions on migrants’ access to welfare - that would allow him to recommend a ‘yes’ vote in the referendum, which he has promised by the end of 2017.
