Nigel Farage appealed to the borough’s “thriving” business community to vote for a Brexit when he visited Dagenham this afternoon.

Barking and Dagenham Post: Ukip leader Nigel Farage with local representative Peter Harris and London Mayoral candidate Peter Whittle at The Lord Denamn pub, in HeathwayUkip leader Nigel Farage with local representative Peter Harris and London Mayoral candidate Peter Whittle at The Lord Denamn pub, in Heathway (Image: Archant)

The Ukip leader spoke to local party campaigners and members of the public outside Heathway Shopping Centre before enjoying a pint of Doom Bar in The Lord Denman pub.

Visiting on the eve of London’s Mayoral and Assembly elections, the MEP also addressed the issue of the upcoming European Union referendum.

“There are lots and lots of independent traders in Dagenham, self-employed people,” he said.

“Lots and lots of people are parked off [Heathway] with white vans, self-employed – they’re running little businesses, they’re sole traders and we’re living in a world where 12 per cent of our economy is exports to Europe, but European law covers 100 per cent of our businesses.

“If you’re a small businessman or woman, you’re running a shop, you’re self-employed – coming out of the European Union, we can make youe life easier.”

Mr Farage’s party came second to Labour in Dagenham and Rainham in last year’s general election and insists Ukip is full of “energy and momentum” in the borough.

The 52-year-old also admitted Ford was the was first thing that came to his mind, whenever he thought of Dagenham.

“I’m old enough to remember when there were lots of jobs,” he added. “But then you’ve got lots of new people like Eddie Stobart and the rest of it, so obviously in a sense [Dagenham] is thriving.

“However I do think people’s quality of life is deteriorating and if we go on with our population increasing by half a million a year, God knows what our population is going to be like in 10 years.”