UKIP leader Nigel Farage rolled into Romford to show his support for voters wanting to leave the EU.
Mr Farage arrived as part of the Grassroots Out campaign which saw hundreds of activists up and down Britain vying for the public’s support.
The 51-year-old was happy to read this week’s Recorder and said the poll showing 63.8 per cent of readers wanting to leave the EU was “very pleasing and assuring”.
Speaking to the Recorder, Mr Farage added: “There is growing support for the campaign and results like this only go to prove it.”
The Member of European Parliament spoke to dozens of stallholders along the market on his whistle stop tour of the town.
He spoke to a variety of locals who were undecided on their vote.
Mr Farage argued the dynamics are very different to the last time the UK voted on EU membership in 1975.
He said: “I believe the best people to govern Britain are the British people themselves.
“I want us to be friendly with the EU, trade with the EU but have our own laws to govern this country.
The former commodity broker reiterated his belief that reducing migration levels was vital.
He said: “We need an Australian-style points system, it’s about being a bit fairer to British working people, we need the ability to control our own borders.”
Andrew Rosindell, MP for Romford , welcomed Mr Farage’s arrival to the town.
He said: “It’s been a brilliant day. The feedback we have got has been really positive, the people of Romford have really come out in numbers to show their support.
“I’ve been out in Romford with Margaret Thatcher, Norman Tebbit and Boris Johnson but Nigel is right up there for stirring support and inspiring people to vote.
“There is no one quite like him for spreading the message.”
During the hour-long stroll down the market, the UK Independence Party leader even sampled some whelks from one of the fish stalls.
Mr Farage said: “The people of Romford are lovely and have give me a warm welcome.
“Everyone here is very chatty and open minded which is great. It’s a proper English town.”
In a strange end to the tour, Mr Farage had a brief encounter with Stronger In campaigners who he accused of being “rude and unpleasant”.
He finished the tour of Romford Market by going for a pint in the Golden Lion after claiming the whelks he had eaten “made him rather thirsty”.
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