Farage roadshow rolls into town

Photo: Darren Robinson

Ukip’s John Bickley (left) with leader Nigel Farage

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THE eyes of the nation were on a pub in Royton yesterday as UKIP leader Nigel Farage introduced his party’s candidate for the impending by-election.

The Railway Hotel in Rochdale Road was Mr Farage’s preferred venue as he unveiled John Bickley as UKIP’s candidate. Mr Bickley was the party’s candidate in Heywood and Middleton in this year’s General Election, and came second to Labour MP Liz McInnes by 5,299 votes.

Mr Bickley yesterday admitted he has a “mountain to climb” in overcoming the 14,738 majority Michael Meacher won in May.

He said: “We want to tell Oldham West and Royton that electing me as MP will be the start of our fight to get our country back - I’m going to give it 110 per cent between now and polling day.

“No one thought we would stand a chance in Heywood and Middleton and look how close we got. I think we can win this.”

Mr Farage accompanied Mr Bickley on the streets yesterday, starting in Firwood Park Road. He said UKIP might get over the line in the election and hit out at Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

“Last time Francis Arbour stood for us here and he got over 20 per cent of the vote. That vote is rock solid for UKIP,” said Mr Farage.

“This, among Labour voters, is going to be a test of whether Corbyn connects outside north London and a narrow, extreme left-wing group of people.

“All the indications are that very large numbers of Labour people are frankly pretty appalled by many of the stances Mr Corbyn takes.

“I’m delighted that John is running. We as a party want John in Parliament. John connects ordinary voters. He is from this part of the world.

“I’m not saying we are going to win — that would be a hell of a prediction — but I’m saying we are going to give this our best shot and are going to run them very close.”

The by-election is on December 3.