NORTH-WEST UKIP Euro-MP Paul Nuttall has highlighted a Civitas report claiming Britain has not benefited from 'insider trade advantages' through EU membership.

In the run up to the European Parliament elections on May 22 the UKIP deputy leader said the social policy think tank Civitas concluded that trade with fellow EU nations makes up no more of the UK's trade with top economies now than when we joined in 1973.

He said: “It also questions the benefit of collectively negotiated EU free trade deals.

“This kicks into touch claims we hear on a daily basis from the other three main political parties that we benefit from being tied to Brussels in terms of trade.

“We would be so much better off out of the EU and able to make our own free trade deals with other countries, and not just on the continent but all over the world, particularly the Commonwealth countries.”