FRESH from helping to secure a decisive Brexit vote in Bolton last week, UKIP chairman Paul Richardson has featured in an international newspaper to explain why more people in the town are coming around to his way of thinking.

Cllr Richardson, who represents Little Lever and Darcy Lever, was asked to be included in an article by the Danish national newspaper Information, which wanted to explore the mood in the country which subsequently led to a referendum result that will see the UK leave the European Union.

Journalist Mette Rodgers had chosen to come to Bolton prior to the crucial vote after seeing the recent successes of UKIP, which has secured five council seats in the past two years.

In a bid to understand why pockets of traditional Labour voters are moving towards UKIP as an option, she spoke to people in the town, including at the Griffin Pub in Great Moor Street.

In attempting to assess why people chose to vote for a Brexit, she spoke to Cllr Richardson, who explained: "We have seen a growing number of Europeans come and it's not to be disrespectful, but they all need a house and a doctor.

“If they have children, they need schools and we are already under pressure in terms of meeting the needs of what I call the 'resident population' — past migrants who have established themselves here, and ourselves — it is' impossible for Bolton to plan a year ahead. "

He adds: "It is absolutely impossible, when a quarter of a million immigrants to the country every year and any attempt to limit the number is impossible as long as we are in the EU.”

Assessing the success behind UKIP’s council successes in Bolton, he says: “The essence of UKIP is that we are the man — and woman — on the street. It is key to our success. The moment we begin to act like politicians, we are finished — politicians are amateurs who will not survive a minute in the real world. "

In a bid for a balanced feature, Ms Rodgers also travelled to Manchester to speak with council leader Sir Richard Leese who predicted that plans for greater devolution to Greater Manchester — dubbed the Northern Powerhouse — will be greatly affected by the country’s decision to leave the European Union.