Ukip leader Paul Nuttall: Europe facing immigration of 'biblical proportions'
Video report by ITV News Political Correspondent Libby Weiner
The new leader of Ukip, Paul Nuttall, has told ITV News that Europe is facing immigration levels of "biblical proportions" with "millions of people from the Middle East and North Africa" making their way to the continent.
Speaking after his comprehensive victory in the party's leadership contest which the former deputy leader won with 62.6% of the vote, beating Suzanne Evans and John Rees-Evans, Mr Nuttall said the solution to the immigration crisis was to end the war in Syria.
He told ITV News' Political Correspondent Libby Weiner that the UK should switch allegiance and support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, so that he could help in the fight against so-called Islamic State.
Mr Nuttall said there were "no good guys in Syria" but he did not think that Assad was as big a threat to the world as "Islamic fundamentalism".
He added that in his opinion the rise of Islamic extremism was "the greatest threat to the world in the 21st Century."
When questioned about the new US President-elect Donald Trump, Mr Nuttall said he thinks he is an "anglophile" and the 'special relationship' between the UK and the US "will thrive" under Mr Trump.
Mr Nuttall repeated his campaign pledge to unite the party while conceding that it had lost thousands of members because of infighting which was sparked when Nigel Farage stepped down as leader.
He admitted that people "don't join, donate or vote" for divided parties.
Mr Nuttall said Ukip's membership structure and the structure of the party would be changed under his leadership.
He added that he was focused on a '2020 vision' which includes a plan to increase Ukip's MPs during the next general election in four years time.