Nigel Farage: Ukip manifesto offers ‘serious policies’

Ukip’s manifesto offers “serious, fully-costed policies” for people who “believe in Britain”, Nigel Farage said as he prepared to launch the party’s manifesto.

An in/out referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union “as soon as possible”, a five-year ban on unskilled migrants coming in to the UK and a points-based system for others are among its key pledges.

But with the party keen to broaden its appeal and build on a surge which saw it win last year’s European elections, it offers boosts for first-time buyers, military veterans, small businesses and hospital patients.