Nigel Farage rules out entering coalition

Nigel Farage has ruled out entering a coalition government as he promised the Ukip “people’s army” will shake the establishment in the general election.

Appearing at the Movie Starr Cinema in Canvey Island, Essex, the Ukip leader held a tub of popcorn bearing the party’s logo as he launched the drive for the May poll.

He said the three main parties do not “believe in Britain” and predicted Ukip would win “significantly more” than two or three seats. The only firm “red line” commitment he made was that the party would not compromise on its call for an EU referendum.

He added: “We will not enter a coalition, no matter how tempting ministerial cars may be. We will only do a deal with anyone on the condition that there is an in/out referendum on the EU.”

He said Ukip was the only party standing up for the little man and that it would not engage in “dirty politics” as its opponents “turned nasty”.

Mr Farage said his party was digging in to “the ethnic community vote”, adding there would be “lots of Ukip candidates” from minorities in the election campaign.

“We have crossed the class barrier in British politics. That is a remarkable achievement for Ukip and we pick up support from across every social spectrum.

“And we are also beginning now to dig quite deep into some of the ethnic community vote in this country as well, because people that have come to this country legally, that have made this country their home, that have integrated within our society, they want the Ukip agenda as much as anybody else.

Known for enjoying a pint and a cigarette, he thanked Jamie Huntman, Ukip’s parliamentary candidate for Castle Point for an introduction which claimed Mr Farage “refreshed the parts that other politicians cannot reach”.The party leader — who revealed he had lost weight by giving up alcohol after Christmas — joked it was “very nice of him, after a dry January”.