A UKIP branch in Luton has said that it is ‘expecting idiots’ when it opens the doors to its new campaign headquarters on Sunday.
The office has been entirely bankrolled by the party’s two parliamentary candidates in the town, Yasin Rehman (Luton South) and Allan White (Luton North).
The candidates are set to cut the ribbon on the base during a ceremony at 11am on Sunday, after which they will canvass in the town centre.
UKIP election agent Bob Clements told the Luton News that the party is braced for disruption during the opening.
He said: “We are expecting idiots.
“There may be some sort of protest across the road but we will not bite to it, if anything happens we would invite them in for a cup of tea.
“We will notify the local police of what we are doing and if they say ‘we don’t want you to do it’ we will listen to them.
Mr White added: “I’m hoping nothing will happen, I would be disappointed if it became uneasy.
“I don’t know how we will be received but there is no reason we should all not be able to say how we feel.
“I have already come up against hardliners and if any attend i want to talk to them and clarify certain issues.
“I’ve already been confronted by people who say we are a racist party, that is not the case.”
UKIP Luton & South West Beds has said that the Crawley Road office will remain in place after the May elections, as the party attempts to gain a foothold in the town.
UKIP polled 10,978 votes in Luton during the European elections last year– taking 28% of the town’s overall vote.
The local party branch has also mustered 15 candidates for May’s local elections.
Mr Clements said: “We don’t want to be here one day and gone the next, it (the base) will be here while we plan for the next election.
“That depends on funding and our candidates, but every party needs funds to keep things running.”