EU vote offers Britain chance of 'independence day', says Ukip's Nigel Farage

Updated

The European Union referendum offers the British people the chance of an "independence day", Nigel Farage has said as he rallied supporters.

The Ukip leader said the June 23 vote was the "single most important political decision" Britons would take in their lifetime.

Speaking at Ukip's spring conference in Llandudno, he said he had to "pinch myself" to believe that the UK was finally being given a say on EU membership.

Mr Farage, speaking in support of the Grassroots Out leave campaign, said: "I have probably received more bad press than anyone in post-war politics. We have been called cranks and gadflies and nutters and lunatics and extremists for daring to suggest that Britain should make its own laws and govern its own countries.

"I still, sometimes, when I wake up in the morning, have to pinch myself to believe that we have got this referendum coming on June 23 and we must be determined to make that day independence day.

"I very much take the view that this is the single most important political decision that any of us will take in our lifetimes.

"In line with that, any political differences between people on the right, or the centre, or the left, frankly, to me, are wholly irrelevant.

"This is not about left and right, it is about right and wrong."

Mr Farage is heavily involved in the Grassroots Out campaign, which has reportedly caused tensions within the Ukip hierarchy.

Ukip's sole MP Douglas Carswell is a supporter of the rival Vote Leave group, but party sources dismissed as "tosh" reports that he could face being thrown out in order to boost Grassroots Out's bid for the Electoral Commission's official designation in the referendum campaign.

The party is hosting its conference in North Wales ahead of May's Welsh Assembly elections, where Ukip hopes to make a breakthrough.

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