Nigel Farage urges North-East voters to 'take their country back' from the top of the UKIP Brexit campaign bus

“Because that’s what we want, isn’t it. A great escape from the clutches of Brussels, the great escape from our political class who try to threaten us and bully us to keep us inside this European Union. 

“They are telling us we would be worse off in the European Union. The truth is they would be worse off outside the European Union and ordinary people would benefit.” 

Speaking from the top of his campaign bus on the city’s College Street, he added: "Net migration in the country is running at all-time record highs. 

"You're lucky here in the North-East. You haven't quite got the problems with overpopulation, with the health service, with schools, with traffic, but don't think it won't come to you soon because it will.

"And the reason is quite simple, we've given away everything. Not just the ability to make our laws or control our borders, we've given away our passports because that says (he said holding up his passport) European Union. 

"This campaign is simple, we want our passports back, we want our borders back and we want our country back."

Mr Farage was met by banner waving supporters, who followed him along with a large press contingent for a brief walkabout in Northumberland Street. 

Asked how he could allay the fears of Brexit for people in the North-East, Mr Farage said: "Don't listen to greedy politicians who will tell you that unless we're run by a bunch of old unelected men in Brussels, trade will cease.

"Trade goes on because consumers choose to buy products and services. We're going to go on trading with France and Germany just as we do today. 
But, we'll be freer to open ourselves up to the world, to many of the emerging economies and make our own trade deals and chart our own destiny.

"I'm very optimistic about trade. What I would say for the North-East, in particular, is that the one absolute glaring disaster of European Union membership is, unlike Norway, you haven't got 200 miles of the North Sea.

"Give the North-East 200 miles of the North Sea, goodness me, you'll create some jobs then."

Labour former home secretary Jacqui Smith: "The latest figures show over 250,000 EU nationals work in our public services, so let's not throw the baby out with the bath water.

"We can have a fair immigration system, where those who work hard and pay their taxes are welcome, without trashing our economy.

"Vote Leave know they have lost the argument on the economy, which is why they are dancing to Nigel Farage's tune and focusing elsewhere.

"They have serious questions to answer about whether they are proposing more non-EU migration and what happens to those Britons currently living and working in Europe."

Meanwhile, shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn and shadow energy and climate change secretary Lisa Nandy made several stops on Labour battle bus tour of Gateshead, North Tyneside and Newcastle.