UKIP taunts Labour on candidate choice

UKIP leader Nigel Farage on the campaign trail in Oldham with by-election candidate John Bickley

Countdown to the Oldham West and Royton by-election on Thursday, December 3

UKIP leader Nigel Farage said that Labour by-election candidate Jim McMahon was the “last person” party leader Jeremy Corbyn wanted to be selected to stand.

Speaking during a visit to Oldham’s War Memorial on Friday in support of UKIP candidate John Bickley, Mr Farage said Councillor McMahon and Mr Corbyn would be at odds over most issues.

Mr Farage’s comments came the day after the Oldham Council leader was selected as the Labour candidate in the Oldham West and Royton by-election on December 3 following the death of long-standing MP Michael Meacher.

Mr Farage admitted in an interview with the Evening Chronicle that McMahon was a very good candidate.

He said: “He’s the last person Mr Corbyn wanted to win last night. These two are diametrically opposed.

“I think Labour have picked a good candidate, of course they have. Nobody would argue that he isn’t, but he is standing for a divided party and he’s not standing for local politics in Oldham, he’s standing to go to Westminster. He would clearly be very much at odds with Corbyn over many things.He’s a Blairite in a Corbyn-led party. John (Bickley) doesn’t need to argue with him — they will just argue among themselves.”

“Much as we might ask some questions on where Mr Corbyn stands on some national issues, the fact is on the immigration question it would appear that he believes in one world.

“He believes in complete free movement of people and thinks it was wrong in the last election that Labour should even advocate any limits at all and it is going to be a big issue in this election.”

email: alexcarey@oldham-chronicle.co.uk