UKIP release Brexit chicken cartoon days after revealing a controversial poster

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Still from UKIP's Leave chicken videoImage source, UKIP

Last week, UKIP were condemned for unveiling a poster featuring a photo of a crowd of refugees.

Now the anti-EU party seems to have taken a softer approach - with chickens.

Their latest campaign video features talking cartoon chickens debating whether to leave a dark and oppressive-looking warehouse, while a shadowy figure speaks over a tannoy telling them to stay.

You can watch the video below.

UKIP's cartoon chicken video, external

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In the film, a dark, shadowy warehouse represents the EU. Once the chickens leave through a small hatch, they find themselves in a sunny, green field.

Image source, UKIP
Image caption,

The chickens 'leaving the EU'

A few days ago, UKIP's campaigning took a more hardline approach.

Nigel Farage posed next to a billboard showing a crowd of people who appear to be migrants or refugees, with the words 'Breaking Point' in large letters.

Nigel Farage in front of his 'Breaking Point' poster, external

The poster was compared to Nazi propaganda and criticised on social media.

Leading Leave campaigner Michael Gove says he "shuddered" when he saw it.

But UKIP leader Nigel Farage defended it, saying it was "the truth".

He said it was "about us being part of a European Union that isn't working".

The queue of people in the picture were entering Slovenia.

"I'm not going to retweet the UKIP billboard of Syrian refugees - it only circulates it - but this is a disgusting, low point in UK politics", external

We contacted UKIP to ask about the idea behind the chicken video.

It seems like the film was as much of a surprise to them as it is to the rest of the voting public.

"It was just a bit of fun that was sent to us a week or so ago," said a spokesperson.

"We liked it and put it out. No great strategy."

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