Pub Landlord Al Murray to stand against Nigel Farage

Launching his newly-formed Free United Kingdom Party (FUKP), Mr Murray issued a video outlining his action plan (above) in which he promises not to “reach out” to voters, not “offer the nation a conversation” and not pretend that you are my friends.

The other parties offer a moon on a stick. We’ll do better than that: a British moon on a British stick Al Murray, comedian

The FUKP party logo, consisting of an upside-down pound sign is, some might say, a parody of the Ukip logo.

It seems to me that the UK is ready for a bloke waving a pint around and offering common sense solutions Al Murray, comedian

Responding to the news of his new rival, Mr Farage tweeted “the more, the merrier!”, while a party spokesman said “at last, serious competition in the constituency.”

After serving as an MEP since 1999, Mr Farage will be standing for Westminster with his party enjoying a strong showing in polls. In 2013 it gained its first MPs, Mark Reckless and Douglas Carswell, both as a result of by-elections triggered by their defection from the Conservative Party.

The more, the merrier! @almurray

— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) January 14, 2015

Betting firm Ladbrokes offered odds of 66-1 that Oxford-educated Murray would win the seat, marginally ahead of the odds offered for the LibDem candidate.

The Kent constituency of Thanet South was won from Labour by the Conservatives in 2010. Laura Sandys gained a 48 per cent share of the vote and a majority of 7,617. The Ukip candidate at the time, Trevor Shonk, gained 5.5 per cent of the vote on a turnout of 64.2 per cent.

Some of the FUKP policy pledges:
Beer at 1p a pint. Crisps to remain at the current price
Brick up the Channel Tunnel: with British bricks
Street raffle to determine which school children go to
UK to leave Europe by 2025 and the edge of the solar system by 2050
Greece to be bought and operated by Kent county council
National service, but only for people who don't want to do it