BREXIT may be convulsing - or possibly paralysing - the country, and it is UKIP’s defining issue, but the Swindon branch has a much more comprehensive manifesto for this year’s council elections.

The party has 12 candidates, three with the surname Costello, standing in the 19 wards and will be hoping to improve on its performance at the last two rounds of local elections when it struggled badly.

Policies include limiting council tax rises, making the road network better and improving public transport, housing.

The group even pledges to cut the pay of senior borough council officers.

The manifesto says on council tax: “Following three council tax rises, including the largest increase in the country in 2017, UKIP are committed to restoring the council tax cap, removed from residents by the implementation of parishing that residents were not consulted on.”

The party says it will cut the pay of senior council officers: “We believe that all council staff salaries should not exceed that of our MPs (currently £77,000.)

"There are 15 staff who exceed this and approximately six on more than £100,000 - up to £160,000. We believe this money should be better spent.”

Traffic is an issue in many places of Swindon - and UKIP says it will be able to solve the serious congestion residents in Rodbourne face.

The manifesto takes a swipe at sitting councillors: “Following years of failure by Labour councillors to address the problems, we will talk to the residents who have suffered, and to drivers regularly caught up in traffic jams to fund a solution.”

New park and ride schemes are proposed and the party says red light traffic cameras should be installed in Thamesdown Drive following an increase in the number of accidents.

Sure Start centres will be introduced back to the borough if UKIP win the elections “as part of giving children the best possible start in life.”

Housing is another significant issue in the manifesto. It says: “Our young people have been utterly betrayed by the housing crisis.”

It criticises Labour nationally for only building 8,000 council houses during its 13 years in government and calls the Conservatives “out of touch regarding the number of houses needed.

It says brownfield sites should be used for development and it would bring back quality prefabricated houses to provide affordable homes for families.

Empty buildings in the borough would be used to provide accommodation for homeless people.

The full manifesto is available at ukip-swindon.org.uk