Maloney wants to make London cleaner and safer

Frank Maloney, the UK Independence Party's candidate to be the capital's mayor, won a standing ovation with his message: "We cannot have no-go areas in London."

We need to broaden our appeal so we are not seen as a one issue party Frank Maloney Frank fights his corner

The boxing promoter and manager pledged if he won next year's mayoral elections, he would "put pride and respect back into London" and make it greener and safer.

He also warned the party, which opened its two-day conference in central London on Friday, that it must widen its appeal beyond its aims to withdraw from the EU if it is to be taken seriously by the public.

Returning the capital

In a passionate speech, Mr Maloney, 50, said he would "tackle drug problems and violent criminals", burglars, muggers and the "lowest of the lowest scum, the drug dealers who prey on our children".

He warned London's underworld: "Come June, I'm coming after you - you are my priority. You are my major priority.

"London will become safer, the streets will be returned to the real people - the people that work, live here and visit London."

I know and you all know that we are not a single issue party, but we must convince the rest of the British public Frank Maloney

Peckham-born Mr Maloney called for the "handcuffs" to be taken off the police and put back on to criminals.

"I will put pride and respect back into London. I will make London greener, cleaner and safer."

Mr Maloney said UKIP needed to win as many seats as it could at next summer's European elections and urged activists to mount "a revolution" through the ballot box to achieve this.

Asylum seekers

The party also needed to persuade the electorate it could govern the country. "I know and you all know that we are not a single issue party, but we must convince the rest of the British public ..." he said.

"Europe is not the only issue we must address."

Labour had failed children, doctors, nurses and old people, with taxes up but pensions down, he said.

He had "no problem" with genuine asylum seekers, "but I have a problem with illegal asylum seekers who are a drain on our society, a drain on our lifestyle", he said.

He would support the bid to bring the Olympics to London in 2012, but only if it did not mean Londoners alone had to pay for it.

Flag flying

He called for the government to help meet the costs through the National Lottery.

He would abolish the Greater London Authority, but would fly the Union flag above his mayoral office "with pride".

Mr Maloney, who currently manages five world champion boxers and is a staunch defender of the pound, says he believes he will win the mayoral election "against all odds".

He was among 20 speakers who took the floor at the Emmanuel Christian Centre.

Others included Norfolk farmer Tony Martin, Vladimir Bukovsky, a former Soviet dissident, so-called "metric martyr" Andrea Schutz, who was banned from selling drinks in traditional German steins and Chris Woodhead, the ex-chief inspector of schools.