BARACK Obama’s bid to keep Britain in the European Union may well have backfired.
That looks the case in ‘Euro-sceptic’ Clacton, where his comments were not well received.
As Obama arrived in Britain for the Queen’s 90th Birthday, the US president called on Britain to stay in the EU, claiming Brussels has “helped spread British values and practices – democracy, the rule of law, open markets – across the continent and to its periphery.”
But as Grassroots Outs campaigners took to the town on Friday, they claimed his intervention may well have helped them.
“Barack Obama has a bloody cheek. The US won’t give away its sovereignty,” said passer-by Mrs Trisha Davies (pictured left).
“People think Obama has a damn cheek,” said GO campaigner Josie Sanders.
“He has no right telling us what to do,” added fellow campaigner Beverley Sencier.
Friday’s stall was organised by Rush Green district councillor Mary Newton, in addition to Saturday stalls the UKIP councillor stages with other ‘outers’.
Since March, they have ran a petition, collecting a “few thousand” names calling for Britain to leave the European Union.
“I send them back to a regional co-ordinator and he says ‘Wow Mary, it amazes me’. There’s such a strong feeling. The majority of people in Clacton are for out,” she said.
While most ‘outers’ are aged over 50, the Tendring district councillor reports a “growing band of Young UKIPpers” helped by the Referendum campaign.
It’s not just ‘Kippers’ and many Conservatives but some Labour supporters and Trades Unionists also want out. The variety of leaflets available also helps convince the undecided.
“It’s not like other election campaigns I have tried to canvass. The volunteers are growing,” she added.