Britain's top anti-EU campaigner, UKIP leader Nigel Farage, vowed today that he would not rest until he destroyed "the monster" which is called the European Union.

He also said that Malta would be better off outside the EU, particularly if it wanted to develop its financial services industry.

Mr Farage made his remarks when addressing a three-day conference organised by the Institute of Travel and Tourism of the UK in Malta.

He said that if UKIP did well in next year's UK election, it might hold the balance of power and force a referendum on UK's membership in the EU.

The UKIP leader said that the message conveyed by the people in the MEP elections in which the UKIP won the highest number of votes in the UK, was that the EU as well as it single currency had no future.

He also said that as one of seven EU parliament vice-presidents he was relishing the opportunity to meet top EU leaders. "Angela Merkel in real life is even more miserable than she should be," he said sarcastically.

Mr Farage said that Britain's EU membership was like a square peg in a round hole.

COMMENTS ON MALTA

Commenting on Malta in reply to questions by reporters, Mr Farage noted that 10 years ago, the vote in favour of Malta joining the EU was a narrow one.

"I was here for your referendum," he recalled. The 'yes' vote was just 52 per cent despite a biased media and a well-funded 'yes' campaign.

Ten years on, he did not see any benefits for Malta although luckily the island was not in the same state as other EU Mediterranean states.

But in view of its efforts to develop the financial services industry, Malta might be better outside the EU.

Mr Farage was also asked by a member of the floor whether he was truly British. He replied his surname was French but it could well have been Farrugia at one time.