France's National Front leader speaks out over Ukip

The leader of France's far right National Front has said there is not a 'hair's breadth' between it and Ukip.

France's far-right National Front president Marine Le Pen Picture: Claude Paris

Marine Le Pen said it was “ridiculous” for Nigel Farage and others in Ukip to pretend otherwise.

Pressed on the BBC’s The Andrew Marr Show about why Ukip refuses to associate itself with the National Front, Le Pen said: “On the topic of immigration and the European Union, there is not a hair’s breadth of difference between what Ukip thinks and what the National Front thinks.

“Maybe Ukip is trying to counter the demonisation they are victim of by saying ‘we are the good guys and the National Front are the bad guys’. They can do so, but I don’t feel obliged to follow this strategy because, frankly, I feel it’s a little bit ridiculous.”