Nigerian immigrant who is also HIV positive offers free hugs to public as he urges them not to vote Ukip

 
Campaign: Bisi Alimi hugs people in the streets of South Thanet (Pictures: Bisi Alimi/Instagram)
Rachel Blundy5 May 2015
WEST END FINAL

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A Nigerian immigrant who is also HIV positive has taken to the streets in the constituency where Nigel Farage is running for election to encourage people not to vote for Ukip.

Bisi Alimi, a prominent gay rights activist, is offering free hugs to anyone who wants to listen to his message in South Thanet, Kent.

In recent days he has become a regular visitor to the town centre, attracting crowds of people by holding a sign which reads: "I'm an immigrant. Hug me or ask me a question?"

Commenting on an encounter with one sceptical passer-by, he wrote on Instagram: "He stood afar from me for a while, kept looking at me.

"He was there yesterday with his wife. Then the wife walked up to me and started engaging with me. She hugged me.

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4"> <div> <div> <div> </div> </div> <a rel="nofollow" href="https://instagram.com/p/2GWR3eRpSy/" target="_blank" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-53191-https://instagram.com/p/2GWR3eRpSy/" data-vars-event-id="c23">Hey it's #15secswithbisi again and today I am off to #ThanetSouth in Ransgate, where I will be campaigning against Nigel Farage for the 2015 General. One thing that is shocking is the fact that #BlackBritish and #Black people are over 50% less likely to vote. So if you are black, living in #Britain, eligible to vote and already registered to vote, please spare 30mins next Thursday and come out and vote. Thanks #GE15 #UKelection #UKIP #UnitedKingdom</a> A video posted by Bisi Alimi (@bisialimi) on <time datetime="2015-04-30T12:32:25+00:00">Apr 30, 2015 at 5:32am PDT</time> </div>

"Then the man came shook my hand and said, thank you for doing this. Then I said; "you know you want a hug' to which he answered yes I sure do want a hug" and then we hugged and told him like I did to others "Please don't vote UKIP" and he said "to hell I wont". I love #ThanetSouth."

Mr Alimi, who was granted protection asylum in the UK in 2008 and later completed a master's in politics at Birkbeck University, decided to attempt the stunt after being verbally abused by a Ukip supporter in the street last week. He has received scores of messages of support for his campaign on Twitter.

Diego Marcano wrote: "Hug campaign to favour migrants its absolutely brilliant. Thumbs up man! #WeCare."

Flaviana Sandoval said: "Stories like this make it worth to get up every day. Bravo @bisialimi".

Another tweeter said: "Adding @bisialimi to my list of General Election 2015 Heroes! A very inspirational guy."

Nigel Farage is hoping to be elected as MP for South Thanet this week, but faces stiff competition from Conservative candidate Craig Mackinlay. Mr Farage has previously blamed the financial crisis within the health service on HIV positive immigrants, who he claims are draining the NHS of resources.

The Ipsos MORI survey for the Standard found 38 per cent of people had developed a less favourable view of the Ukip leader in recent weeks, compared with 20 per cent whose opinion of him had improved.

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