Nigel Farage headed to Workington this week as part of his campaign trail to attract votes for his newly founded Brexit Party.

The party leader was greeted with a standing ovation as he entered the Washington Central Hotel.

Outlining his hopes for the next government he was clear his aim was to take votes from those people who traditionally voted Labour and who voted to leave the EU at the 2016 referendum.

He said: “What’s on the menu is: vote Lib Dem and they’ll scrap the result, Labour will offer a second referendum with a choice of Remain or Remain, vote Conservative and you’ll get Boris with endless years of negotiations.

“We’ve extended this again and again and on January 31, that’s it, we need to leave.”

Mr Farage, who is not standing as an MP himself this time, admitted he did not think there would be a Brexit Party government but said getting enough MPs in Parliament would make the needed difference to deliver Brexit.

However, the Conservatives have already rejected a ‘Leave Alliance’ with Farage’s party.

And when pressed by the Times & Star as to how the Brexit Party would deliver Brexit quicker than the Tories without being in Government, Mr Farage said: “By junking the treaty and giving notice that we are leaving. After all, Boris himself said it was a surrender act to take away the option of leaving with no deal on October 31, now he’s removed that himself from the table.”

Speaking at the event was also constituency candidate David Walker, who promised to “put the work back into Workington”.

And his presence caused some controversy.

Joe Sandwith, of Seaton, questioned why the Brexit Party’s prospective parliamentary candidate for Workington had been changed.

Philp Walling had been announced as the party’s candidate in August, but on Monday he was swapped for Mr Walker.

Mr Sandwith said: “We deserve an explanation on why Philip Walling was replaced.”

Mr Farage said: “Parties drop and change candidates. The last candidate, which I have known for years, simply hadn’t done enough.

“I’m sorry these decisions have to be taken days away from the nominations closing.”

Mr Walker said his nomination as party candidate for Workington was about choosing the best candidate for the constituency.

He said: “It’s a case of matching the best candidate to the best seat, and if I’m asked to do something I will stand up to the plate and do my best.

“There’s a slight misconception that candidates are put somewhere nominally, but you aren’t settled in a place.

“People enter politics with no experience, and it’s difficult to know how they will perform until they’ve held a seat.

“So people get upset with change, but it’s just a case of finding the best person for the job.”

Addressing the crowd of supporters, he said: “I want to tell you about how passionate I am to deliver Brexit and build a strong independent nation.”

He said he wanted to represent those who had been forgotten.

Mr Walker said he was a supporter of major industries such as Sellafield, job creation, roads, hospitals and small businesses.