Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader, has accused the Tories of mounting a “nasty, unpleasant Big Brother” campaign aimed at illegal immigrants because they so worried about their supporters defecting to his Eurosceptic party.
Advertising vans are currently being driven around parts of London which say, “Go home or face arrest”.
The Government has said the campaign is designed to help illegal immigrants to leave the UK.
However, Mr Farage the real message of the posters is: “Please don’t vote Ukip”.
“What the billboards should say is please don’t vote Ukip, we’re doing something,” Mr Farage told ITV’s Daybrak programme. “That’s what it’s all about, of course it is.”
He added: “I think the actual tone of the billboards is nasty, unpleasant, Big Brother. I don’t think using messages like this will make any difference. What will make a difference is enforcing our borders properly.”
According to a YouGov poll, Ukip will beat the Conservatives for the first time in nationwide European Parliament elections, with Labour on 30 per cent, Ukip on 25 per cent and the Tories on 23 per cent.
Mr Farage said the immigration posters are the Tory response to his party’s success in the local elections in May.
Mark Harper, the Immigration Minister, denied Mr Farage’s claim, telling the Evening Standard: “This pilot is about targeting those individuals who have no right to be in the country. We are giving them the opportunity and assistance to leave the country voluntarily.”
The full message on the advertising vans reads: “In the UK illegally? Go home or face arrest. Text HOME to 78070 for free advice, and help with travel documents. We can help you return home voluntarily without fear of arrest or detention.”
“It’s also a diversion,” Mr Farage added. “The real problem isn’t illegal immigration, there are perhaps 1million illegal immigrants in the country.
“The real problem is that on January 1 next year we’re opening up our borders to 28million people from Bulgaria and Romania.”
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