COLUMNIST Owen Jones labelled UKIP “a bunch of enterprising charlatans” at a talk in Brighton.

The Guardian writer was appearing alongside Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Kemptown, Nancy Platts, at an event held at the Dorset Gardens Church in Dorset Gardens.

Speaking on Wednesday night, he gave his opinion on various matters in the run up to the general election and spoke up for young people.

He said: “Young people – they’re not apathetic. That’s how they’re often labelled and dismissed. Actually, they’re savvy and knowledgeable about the issues affecting them.

“And they’re angry – they know they’ll struggle to get an affordable home, their youth services are often the first to go, their educational maintenance allowance was snatched away from them by a government of multi-millionaires which slammed the door in the faces of working class young people.

“But the problem is this – there is so much anger out there, there is so much fear. There’s one thing missing, and that’s hope.”

During the talk he dismissed Ukip’s recent claims that they have 40% support in Brighton as untrue, although he said there is a worry that the party will make gains in the city.

He said: “Where you have anger and fear without hope, a bunch of enterprising charlatans will come along and exploit it, and that’s what Ukip are.”

He spoke alongside Solomon Curtis, a University of Sussex student standing as Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Wealden. If elected, Mr Curtis would become the youngest MP ever, and he said the youth vote will be crucial in the election.

He said: “Actually, I don’t blame politicians who cut EMA and raise tuition fees.

“We’ve been penalised as young people for not using our vote. We need to change that.”

Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Brighton Kemptown Nancy Platts outlined her key pledges for young people, including enforcing longer term rent tenancies, banning zero hour contracts and cutting tuition fees.

Speaking after the event, Mr Jones said Brighton and Hove will be a crucial city for deciding the outcome of the election.

He said: “Nancy is an inspiring, brilliant candidate who is independent minded. I think a lot of people might be tempted to vote Green in Brighton Kemptown because they don’t feel inspired enough by what Labour is offering, but they’ve got a candidate here who is going to stand up for many of those issues.”

Despite his support for Labour, he praised the work of Caroline Lucas as MP. He said: “Caroline has been an amazing, inspiring, campaigning MP. And I think people across politics would agree.

“She got arrested for standing up for her principles when many MPs were arrested for fleecing the expenses system. That speaks volumes about the sort of society in which we live. She’s made a huge difference in parliament.”

l What do you think? Do you agree with Owen Jones’ comments or not?