'Grimsby is a very exciting part of the world for UKIP'

UKIP has "proved already we can top the polls on either side of the Humber", according to leader Nigel Farage.

At a Westminster lunch, he explained: "The aim will be in both places – Hull and Grimsby – to produce something stunning in the European elections then, yes, why not, for the general election in 2015?"

In the last European elections in 2009, UKIP topped the poll in both Grimsby and Hull, which is why Mr Farage believes they are both "very good UKIP areas".

The party recently captured nearly a quarter of the vote in May's local government elections, and strategists are now planning next year's Euro campaign.

Mr Farage said: "They voted UKIP in Hull in '09, but they didn't vote UKIP in 2010 – it was a different election, voters couldn't see the relevance of us, they couldn't see we had a chance.

"So it is about perceptions to a very large extent, but certainly Grimsby is a very exciting part of the world for UKIP."

UKIP plans to fight the European Parliament elections – due to take place on May 22, 2014 – under the banner "Make this your referendum".

The party has campaigned since its formation for the United Kingdom to withdraw from the European Union, which Croatia joined most recently as its 28th Member State.

Mr Farage said it was "realistic to say UKIP could win the European election", while "riding on the back" of that poll could help the party pick up hundreds of seats in district and unitary local council elections due to be held the same day.

Then, at the 2015 general election, UKIP plans to "target relentlessly" around 40-50 constituencies with the aim of getting its first MPs elected to Parliament.

"Things are exciting in UKIP, our voters believe in us," said Mr Farage. "We're here to stay" as a party, he added, claiming the more established parties could not "any more brush us under the carpet".

Mr Farage was dismissive of local MPs like Austin Mitchell and Martin Vickers, claiming that their Euroscepticism was not sufficient.

But Mr Vickers said: "I believe Nigel Farage voted to stay in Europe in 1975 so since I voted to leave, and will be doing so again in 2017, perhaps I'm even more Eurosceptic than him.

"Furthermore, I belong to a party that has a real chance of achieving power after the next election – unlike UKIP – so will be in a better position to implement it."