Sections of the media pushed UKIP constantly when they first started, but have backed off recently because they don't want them getting too popular. The Fail are a prime example of it. They want the Tories to embrace some of their policies and have used UKIP to try and force the issue: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/a...Mere-abuse-wont-stop-voters-backing-Ukip.html Now the election's getting close though, they've realised that they're actually drawing votes from the party that they want to win. They're now portraying UKIP as a vote for Labour and fearmongering constantly, making it sound like voting for them will usher some Communists in via the back door. The Sun, The Telegraph, The Times and various others have done exactly the same thing: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/pol...ip-could-make-Ed-Miliband-prime-minister.html UKIP was intended as a pressure tool and not a real party.
All of the smaller parties, particularly those with a main issue are used to put pressure on the other two parties. Because our ridiculous out of date system of first past the post means we only ever end up with labour or the Tories. Many people vote for the smaller parties to try and push individual issues. Having won the last national election (the only party other than the Tories or labour to do so in a hundred years) and seeing the difference in the manifesto produced and all the polls so far, you'd have to say UKIP have evolved into not just a real party, but a rapidly growing and increasingly influential party. If we had a system with some form of proportional representation you'd see more people actually voting for who they think would represent them best rather than being scared into voting to stop <insert blue or red here dependant on political leaning> getting into power. I think UKIP and other small parties could be a fantastic tool in political reform.
That's a rather unusual way of putting it. Pointing out that UKIP did well in a vote on their single issue is a strange way to make a claim that they're not a single issue party, though. Do you have any doubt at all that this was a protest vote? If you wanted another example of media arseholes pushing them, by the way, how about Richard Desmond? Express Newspapers, over a million in donations. They're not here to challenge the establishment. They are the establishment.
Well given that in the EU election they got approx 4.35 million votes and the polls have them at 14% for this election which with voter turnout the same as 2010 would give UKIP approx 4.2 million votes you'd have to say they have gone beyond just being a mid term protest vote and built a sizeable following. No-one would have agreed if you said UKIP could duplicate there voting numbers in the general election but it looks like they will. As for challenging the establishment, UKIP want to bring about political reform in a few ways. Proportional representation, the ability for a constituency to remove there MP and automatic referendums for any petition that gains enough public support.
Not sure why you've quoted me asking a poster for clarification on what his post meant with a comment about the express. That quote doesn't have me giving any opinion on his post. (I assume your comment was just you thinking you saw a chance to be clever when there wasn't one!) P.s. I better include that I'm fully aware of the million pound donation to UKIP before you think you've spotted another chance to be clever
Your opinion on how "establishment" you think he is doesn't change the goals of the party which would give more power to people instead of the people at the top. (Proportional representation, ability for constituency to remove it's MP, auto referendum for any petition signed by enough people)
I didn't say UKIP had no media support. Read the post again, it's literally me asking for clarifications on a few things from his post.
Tomorrow Farage will be trying to join the same Westminster establishment that he's forever criticising
So people who want things done differently in the running of the country to those currently in power and opposition should achieve that how without taking up seats and having an influence on the policy making? Vigilante style terrorism? Mass protests and petitions? Just bitch and moan at home? Leave the country? What's the alternative to challenge and change the current system than taking part in it to help push through change? I don't understand your point at all. There are clearly millions of people in this country who don't like the way things are currently done and several of the smaller parties are in favour of changing the way the system works but to do that they need to gain enough influence within the current system to change it. The lib dems had a great chance to push through some changes but they failed to deliver and instead we got a vote on AV. We need more parties who support changing the way things work rather than sticking with the same tired old Labour vs Tory rubbish.
UKIP are clearly a part stirring up hate and anti-(insert your target here) be it Europe, Scotland, Immigrants, Islam, leftist ideals, to get into power, they want to centralise money and power in the SE of England while scapegoat-ing the powerless in society. They are run by a confirmed racist investment banker, who is trying to appear to be for the working class, yet the majority of the good things that have been funded for working class people, and in deprived areas in UK have had European money put towards it. Unfortunately it looks like a lot of people are falling for his special brand of racism, right wing policies and working class language - god help the 99% with him and the Tories in power...
Farage and his cohorts like to demonise the EU but have no problem filling their pockets with EU money but doing **** all to earn it.
