NIGEL Farage and the media circus that follows bowled into Thurrock this week to give his party’s election campaign a major boost.

Ukip leader Mr Farage battled the scrum of cameras during a walkabout in South Ockendon on Monday afternoon before heading to the Circus Tavern in Purfleet to speak to over 1,000 supporters.

Before the meeting, which is being described as one of the biggest political gatherings Thurrock has even seen, Mr Farage sat down exclusively with the Gazette at The Ship Inn in Aveley to give his take on the party’s battle to win the Thurrock seat.

Speaking about his chaotic visit to Derwent Parade in South Ockendon earlier in the day, Mr Farage said the town was a “little microcosm of what’s happening in British society”.

He said: “Big giant corporate companies have it all their own way and operate hand in glove with big politics and big banks meaning the little man and woman is getting squeezed out.”

Mr Farage added: “I guess in a sense it gets to the heart of what kind of country do we want to live in? Do we think that parades of little shops run by proprietors and families that serve local communities are a good way to live or not? I rather think they are.”

To read the full interview see this week's Gazette.