The view on the US election from Britain's Brexit capital

Tony King has black hair in the style of Elvis. He's dressed in a blue jacket and white t-shirt. He's smiling at the camera and holding a picture of Donald Trump.
Image caption,

Tony "Memphis" King says Donald Trump tells people what he thinks

  • Published

Back in 2016, there was one Lincolnshire town in particular that came out overwhelmingly in support of Brexit.

Boston not only chose to cut ties with Brussels, it recorded the UK's highest vote - 75% - in favour of leaving the EU.

So it's perhaps no surprise that with days to go before the US presidential election, voters in this part of England have expressed support for Donald Trump in the race for the White House.

Tony "Memphis" King, an Elvis Presley impersonator, told BBC Politics North he supported the Republican candidate.

"He's straightforward, he tells people what he thinks," he said.

Asked what impact he could have if he stood for election in Britain, Mr King added: "I think he would do a good job."

Opinion polls have claimed a majority of British voters do not want to see Mr Trump back in the Oval Office.

A You Gov poll published in October suggested almost two-thirds of Britons wanted Kamala Harris to become the next US President.

Though Boston might seem like natural Trump territory based on voting history, some who spoke to the BBC were in favour of the Democrat nominee, particularly younger women.

"America desperately needs a female president," said one female charity fundraiser who was drumming up support in the town centre.

Julian Cunnington, who has lived in Boston all his life, agreed.

“She is probably in the better interests of the American people in the future," the 67-year-old added.

Image caption,

Julian Cunnington is backing Kamala Harris to become the next US President

But Greg Swenson, chairman of Republicans Overseas UK, said Trump resonated with a certain British demographic.

"Most of the people I speak to who are working class, I would say 90% are very big Trump fans," he added.

Some commentators have likened Donald Trump's victory in the 2016 US presidential election with the Brexit campaign's triumph in the EU Referendum the same year.

The similarities suggested are a rejection of the Washington/Westminster establishment by blue collar voters.

Residents of the original Boston - unlike the Massachusetts city that took its name - might not have a vote. But people in this corner of Lincolnshire await America's verdict on 5 November.

Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here, external.