Eurosceptic UKIP targeting Labour seats

"Things have changed. People who have been displaced or who fear being displaced (by immigrant, low-skilled workers) come from those Labour-voting areas."

He said sitting MPs who declared against the Lisbon Treaty, aimed at changing the workings of the European Union, would not face UKIP opposition at the next election. So far, eight Conservatives and two Labour MPs had done so.

"Success will be getting the first UKIP voices in the House of Commons," he said.

Farage, who is leader of Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group in the European Parliament, was in Dublin as part of their campaign for a "no" vote against the Lisbon Treaty which was last year rejected by the Irish.

He insisted a similar result in early October would not result in the Irish facing an economic meltdown in some kind of European Commission backlash.

"If the people of Ireland vote no this time that will mean a referendum in the United Kingdom and it will necessarily mean there will be a pause in this whole project and a chance perhaps to have a proper debate."

(Reporting by Jon Bramley)