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Back To Basics For Farage In Dover Cliff-Hanger

Back To Basics For Farage In Dover Cliff-Hanger

Beneath the White Cliffs of Dover, closer to France than London, so close that our phones picked up signal from across the channel, Nigel Farage launched his campaign's central message on immigration: that it is escalating out of control.

Immigration will be at the core of UKIP's election message.

Accusing David Cameron of being "wilfully dishonest" on net migration figures , Mr Farage argues that only by leaving the EU can Britain control its borders again.

On a sunny spring day the UKIP leader, himself looking slightly under the weather, was again swallowed up in the media scrum.

He batted away suggestions that a reduction of net migration to 30,000 was, in fact, a target - something he has always argued against.

He batted away questions, too, about whether the tide of support was turning against UKIP.

Was today's focus on immigration "red meat" for its core vote as recent polls have shown support dropping off? Has the campaign lost its mojo?

Only two days in, it's too early to tell, Mr Farage argues. But he recognises UKIP does have a fight on its hands.

And that fight is on, in places like Dover and Deal in Kent.

How many seats UKIP get matters but it is much less likely to matter compared to the potential affect their vote has on the outcome of constituencies up and down the country like here in Dover.

Dover could prove to be David Cameron's worst nightmare. A strong UKIP showing, taking votes from the Conservative incumbent.

Labour gaining disaffected Liberal Democrats. The vote is spilt. Labour come through the middle.

Voters could indeed go to bed with Nigel Farage and wake with Ed Miliband.

But for UKIP - voting UKIP gets UKIP. This Thursday is crucial to that theory.

A strong showing in the TV debate could add much needed bounce to the party's campaign. And it could mean David Cameron waking up to many more nightmares.

:: Watch the seven-way leaders' debate live and in full from 8pm on Thursday on Sky News, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 132, Freesat channel 202, and on the Sky News website.