He said he'd quit. He offered to resign and the party supposedly turned him down. Shifty, dodgy and ridiculous, but easily handwaved away. There's also the questionable vote count, whatever that's about.
He clearly said he'd step down if he didn't get elected. Upon not getting elected he immediately handed in his resignation. So he did step down. His resignation was rejected by the party and there are clearly a few people who are annoyed at him staying on. Those who have voiced negative opinions towards Farage over not leaving are also those most likely to stand to take his place unsurprisingly. It's also been blown out of proportion as UKIPs leadership election is scheduled for September and so the party will have another opportunity to decide if it wants to stick with him. If you followed the UKIP campaign or Farages career you'd see he put his all into this election and almost ran himself into the ground. I genuinely think he would have been ok with stepping aside, at least like he said, until the UKIP leadership election in September when he would decide if he would stand again to lead the party. You'll also notice some of the comments are aimed at Farages aides and advisors as opposed to at him. Despite the sensationalist media coverage (no surprise in this country) the issues within UKIP don't seem that big of a deal tbh. It's all political jostling for power within the party and happens with all the political parties at various times.
It'll be interesting if we have a referendum to see what happens with UKIP. If it's not a straight in/out referendum I'd imagine the euro sceptic vote will remain strong. If it's a straight in/out referendum we will likely see a completely new angle from UKIP heading towards the next general election. Or like with the snp a no vote could actually result in more support for the party. With the most MEPs, and the third largest share of the vote in the general election UKIP have an incredible platform to build on and it really could go either way in terms of them growing or contracting over the next five years.
I apologise for thinking the future isn't a certainty and not bowing to your superior intellect. But I still think it could go either way with UKIP. A lot will depend on the wording of the referendum we are given in terms of the eurosceptic support for UKIP. Others who voted based on immigration or an anti-establishment feeling will likely remain following the party. A lot will depend also on how the party decides to take itself forward from this point. Having won the European Election and got the third largest share of the vote in the general election the party is in a strong position going forward to reinvent itself as a more mainstream party. Four million voters is a significant platform. I think the referendum, it's wording and it's outcome along with levels of discontent with our political system and our government and opposition, paired with the direction UKIP choose to take going forward will all play a part in the future of the party. It'll be an interesting five years for them for sure. P.s. The idea that they won't exist in five years is just plain stupidity, even the BNP are still floating around!
I don't claim to have superior intellect so there is no need for childish sarcasm.I can remember a political party claiming to have broken the mould of British politics in the early 1980's and we all know how that worked out
I love how the kippers talk about the "establishment".How much more establishment can you get than being an ex public schoolboy who has stood for parliament seven times-and been rejected seven times-and is also an MEP.
When do people think we should have the next referendum on the UK's membership of the EU after the one that will be held by 2017,should we have a referendum every 5,10,15,20 years ?
I was in the audience today and I couldn't believe how easy the crowd let him and Jeremy Hunt off. I tried to stick my hand up so that I could put them on the spot, but unfortunately, I wasn't selected and it was not to be. The questions that they selected beforehand were also very disappointing because they were all about the issues we talk about every week. EU referendum, Labour's flaws, electoral reform. Whilst I don't deny these are important issues, there are also a multitude of other issues which don't get discussed.
I'm sure I read somewhere that the BNP put up 3 or 4 candidates,that should be compared with that they won seats in the European elections in 2009.
Guys I was making the point that it was stupid to suggest UKIP wouldn't exist in five years. I wasn't trying to start a discussion about the decline of the BNP
What is your definition of something existing? And how can it not really exist? It either does or doesn't! In this case it does exist.
It doesn't matter how many times you proclaim Farage and UKIP to be establishment, it doesn't change there policies which would work to rebalance power away from the establishment.
