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A UKIP European election billboard is displayed in the Vauxhall area of London Matt Dunham/AP/Press Association Images

UKIP: The Irish are our 'kith and kin'

Irish people living in the UK are not considered immigrants by UKIP.

THE IRISH ARE the “kith and kin” of British citizens and are not considered immigrants, according to the UK Independence Party (UKIP).

A spokesman for the British political party said the “shared history between Ireland and the UK” meant the Irish were not considered foreigners.

He added: “I do not anticipate any suggestion that the Irish would be expected to join the work permit scheme for immigrants – the Irish are simply not immigrants but our kith and kin. 

“I could mention at this point that Parnell is regarded as something of a hero by Mr Farage, and that we have an Irish Press Officer in Brussels as well as many friends in the Republic from the days of the ‘No’ campaign against the Lisbon treaty.”

UKIP has launched a controversial campaign featuring a British construction worker sitting on the pavement with a cup for donations beside the caption ‘EU policy at work’.

Another poster features the Union Jack being burnt from its centre, with the EU flag coming through the gap.

The UKIP spokesman said the party was not anti-immigration but favoured controlled immigration through work permits that would “ensure the correct quality and quantity of workers”.

Under its proposals, Irish immigrants would be exempt from the permits.

Earlier today, the party’s leader Nigel Farage made headlines for an exchange with BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson.

During the interview, the MEP said that he did not believe his wife was taking a British job by being his secretary.

Natasha Browne is an Irish journalist living in London. See more here. 

‘Was your wife taking someone else’s job?’: It got a bit awkward for UKIP’s Nigel Farage today 

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156 Comments
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    Mute plato
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    Aug 27th 2012, 1:54 PM

    79% say it unacceptable to give a mobile phone to people under 18 ?? Am I reading that right? Almost every teenager I know has a mobile phone.

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    Mute plato
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    Aug 27th 2012, 1:55 PM

    Oops that was 8 not 18.. Knew I hadn’t read it correctly.. D’oh !!

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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Aug 27th 2012, 2:02 PM

    8? Seriously what does an 8 year old child need a mobile for?

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    Mute Thomas M Bourke
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    Aug 28th 2012, 9:47 AM

    In my daughter’s class (9/10 year olds) last year there were a few who had cellphones

    I remember having change for the callbox at the school…

    needless to say, while she may have a kindle to read books on, she does *not* have a cellphone!

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    Mute fitszenpatrik
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    Aug 27th 2012, 3:34 PM

    Technology certainly divides our household.
    Since we got an electric fence down the middle of our living room the rows have reduced greatly.

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    Mute Niamh
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    Aug 27th 2012, 4:26 PM

    That was really funny!! :-D

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    Mute Thomas M Bourke
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    Aug 28th 2012, 9:48 AM

    ours is made of lego… thing is my daughter designed the fence and now cannot go to the toilet without causing a row as she crosses her own fence!

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    Mute John Quill
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    Aug 27th 2012, 1:38 PM

    OMG, totes maze LOL! LMAO!

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    Mute Mary Kavanagh
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    Aug 27th 2012, 5:13 PM

    Lol to fitsen.. :D

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    Mute BlackQueen
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    Aug 28th 2012, 7:14 AM

    So tired of seeing ipad instead of tablet device. Even psychologists aren’t immune from fruit control!

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