However, if you talk to people in low paid jobs, there is a lot more competition for these jobs now and free movement of workers within the EU increases that competition and keeps a cap on wages. Great for employers, not so great for families with low incomes.
how does that cap wages?
AFAIK, there isn't just free movement of the lowly paid. everybody, from bankers (of which many are european) to doctors to cleaners can come to the UK. Competition pressure and pressure pushing wages down would mainly come if only low wage earners came.
I am non-EEA national on a EEA spousal visa. I don't feel unwelcome at all and I haven't even lived here that long. that might be because english is my first language and I live in London. I am also not white, but I don't see Farage as a racist. There's a distinction between a racist and being anti immigrant. UKIP goes to huge lengths to distinguish themselves from the BNP in that regard. I think this is why they are so popular. I think many people didn't like the EU, but were disgusted by the BNP so are now going to UKIP.
However, the party's policy on immigration is off; the fact that people come here expresses that there is a demand for jobs here. This goes both ways too. Many brits live in the EU, because their skills are in higher demand there than here. it's a good thing when people can escape joblessness and get a job elsewhere, and that goes for brits as well as europeans.
I do think Farage is right that the EU is broken. They have too much influence over national laws and they suck up a lot of tax money to mainly support jobs for bureaucrats. what's his magic figure? 55 million pounds a day?
As for benefits, I don't think the UK has a immigrant benefits problem. I think the UK has a benefits problem. People seem downright offended when an immigrant comes here and goes on benefits. While of course that poses practical problems (we can't afford the world walking in and collecting benefits), I don't quite get the moral outrage; people seem to be fine that locals do it.