On Tuesday October 30, Gerard Batten spoke at the Hotel Victoria on Kirkley Cliff Road, Lowestoft. He was joined by UKIP deputy leader and fisheries spokesman Mike Hookem and a host of fishing experts, including the Chairman of the Lowestoft Fish Market Alliance, Paul Lines and vice-chair June Mummery.
The meeting was organised to discuss the future of east coast fishing. After Brexit, Lowestoft fishermen hope to see a revival in the town's fishing industry which would bring new prosperity to the town.
Outside the Hotel, a handful of Stand Up To Racism protesters stood around in the cold waving silly placards while being totally ignored.
After the meeting Gerard Batten was asked if he felt his support for Tommy Robinson was having a detrimental impact on the growth of the party.
The Eastern Daily Press reports:
Mr Batten said he did not believe this was the case and said the protesters just wanted an excuse to rally.
Speaking of Mr Robinson’s jailing for contempt of court the UKIP leader said: “He spent four months in prison for something no one has gone to prison for, for the last 60 years.
“He did four months in solitary confinement because they put him in a prison with a large proportion of Muslims who were preparing the food - who told him they were going to kill him.
“So he couldn’t eat the food, he lost three stone in weight.”
Mr Batten added: “You tell me he hasn’t been persecuted by the state? Of course he has.
“He’s not a criminal. He may have criminal convictions, that’s not to say he is guilty.”
While members of the EDL are forbidden from joining UKIP Mr Batten believes an exception should be made in the case of Mr Robinson.
“I am totally unrepentant about my support for Mr Robinson. I think we should allow Tommy to join - he is an incredibly brave man.”
