Nigel Farage to lead 60-boat armada up Thames in call for Brexit

NIGEL Farage will lead a 60-boat flotilla up the Thames to Parliament to highlight the plight of British fishermen as he continues to campaign for Britain to leave the European Union (EU).

The Ukip leader revealed he will lead the fleet on a "small trawler" with Eurosceptic fishermen in protest against EU fishing quotas.

Mr Farage told LBC Radio: "On June 15 I will be boarding a small trawler in Southend-on-Sea at 5am, so not much point going to bed really, and we will catch the flood tide, and there will be 60 boats in a flotilla coming up the Thames and we will arrive outside the Palace of Westminster at midday.

"It will be big, visual and dramatic, and the demand will be clear — we want our waters back.

"It'll be commercial fishermen from all over, mostly from the east coast of England but some coming from further afield and if other political figures have got the stomach for it then they are very welcome to come and join me.

"I'm going to be in charge of cooking breakfast and things like that — eggs and bacon, I can't do continental breakfast, it wouldn't be allowed."

Mr Farage has mentioned the stunt to leading Leave campaigners Boris Johnson and Michael Gove but they have not taken up on his offer yet.

Fishermen from the east coast of England are set to join Mr Farage when he leaves Essex for Parliament. 

On Mr Gove and Mr Johnson, he said: "I have mentioned it to them, so we'll see, if they want to come they're very welcome.

"I've also got the key to the ship's bar, but that may be afterwards."

"It's a visual demonstration from what's left of our fishing industry that this actually matters and perhaps the public have seen a bit too much of Cabinet ministers visiting factories wearing hard hats.