UKIP: Wants withdrawal from EU

Launching its campaign for the June elections, the UK Independence Party has said it is time for Britain to pull out of the European Union.

With Europe having risen up the political agenda since the prime minister's decision to hold a referendum on the EU constitution treaty, UKIP hopes to make the case for withdrawal from the EU.

UKIP leader Roger Knapman, MEP Nigel Farage and candidate Robert Kilroy-Silk attended the launch of the party’s campaign and manifesto for the June 10 European poll.

Knapman said the tide of public opinion was moving in his party's favour.

"We think that, unlike four years ago, most people in this country want to get out of the European Union and renegotiate it as a common market, which is what we thought we were joining," said Knapman.

Kilroy-Silk is the biggest name to come out in support of the party and hopes to use his straight-talking celebrity status to boost UKIP's electoral chances.

The TV presenter, who was sacked from the BBC after making an attack on Islam, is the party’s lead candidate in the East Midlands region.

Speaking at the launch, Kilroy-Silk - a former Labour MP - said that his career in daytime TV meant he was in tune with the views of voters.

"They are fed up with being lied to, they are fed up with being patronised by the metropolitan elite," he said.

UKIP currently has three MEPs in Brussels and hopes it can secure up to 10 seats in the European parliament on June 10.

It claims that the EU is being undermined by fraud and corruption and will condemn plans to create an EU-wide constitution.

The party also warns that the single currency has led to higher unemployment on the continent and will condemn Brussels' red tape as bad for British business.