UKIP leader Nigel Farage MEP issued a rallying call to borough voters ahead of tomorrow’s police and crime commissioner election.

The flamboyant party leader was out and about in Dudley and Sedgley today (Wednesday) – in the heart of UKIP’s battle ground in the Black Country - to support candidate Keith Rowe who is vying the job of running West Midlands Police force.

Mr Farage said: “Keith brings a lifetime of working in the family business in the Midlands and has raised his own family there.

“Like so many of our candidates he knows his patch and brings real life experience from the patch into the role.

“He is focused on serving his constituents rather than being a political ‘yes man’.

“This is exactly the breath of fresh air politics needs. I hope the people of the West Midlands get behind him.”

Mr Rowe, from Edgbaston, Birmingham, said the campaign had been going well and added: “Our policies are clear. We are completely opposed to zero-hour contracts and privatisation in the police force.

“Unnecessary expenditure should be cut and frontline policing should be protected.”

Newly-elected Dudley councillor and UKIP MEP for the West Midlands, Bill Etheridge, added: “This election is incredibly important. UKIP has the right man and the right policies for the job.”

Also in the running for the top police job are: Stourbridge councillor and former leader of Dudley Council - Les Jones from Pedmore (Conservative Party), David Jamieson from Solihull (Labour Party), and Ayoub Khan Ladywood in Birmingham (Liberal Democrats).

The by-election follows the sudden death of the first elected police chief Bob Jones, who passed away on July 1.