Is Ukip Gaining More Support Than The Other Parties Want To Acknowledge?

[naomi24]

Just watching the news and wondering if UKIP’s success at yesterday’s by-election was, as some are claiming, the result of a protest vote – or is support for the party really growing faster than the other parties care to acknowledge? If it is, why do you think that is?

[emmie]

their politics is comedy of the highest order,

[douglas9401]

We're hardly in a position to point the finger at a former comedian in Italy given the clowns we have in charge.

[emmie]

i would trust Cameron over Berlusconi any day of the week, you can't seriously think they can be likened to one another.

[eastern]

You have to hand it to Berlusconi he beats Teflon Tony hands down, mind you he is Mafia so that helps his case.

[ichkeria]

A carrot to the electorate indeed Naomi but very probably, when it comes to a 'serious' election, not a carrot with a broad enough appeal to enough of the electorate. I suppose the danger might be that if enough people equate economic ills with immigration then that message just might become mainstream. On the other hand as the countdown to a general election gets going will the right wing press sense danger and go after UKIP?
As a matter if fact if limiting immigration floats ones boat ( so to speak) the Tories have actually had success there: net migration to the UK is down since they came in.
The joke about 'clowns' is predictable but of course misplaced. I dislike the Tory way snd I think this government has been incompetent snd I like to make fun as much as anyone, but I do accept, to be serious, that there are clever people in the govt who really do mean well. I disagree with Michael Gove's policies but he's right when he analyses the perception amongst many that 'elites'have failed. He didn't elaborate further but he will know what I fear, which is that that spells danger as the alternate is giving a bunch of tinpot largely single-issue politicians a go at the controls.
Except I still can't see it happening. Italy also had Mussolini after all while wemade to with Baldwin and Chamberlain :-)

[emmie]

i agree with much of what Michael Gove says, that he has taken quite a kicking from the left wing teachers union, they don't seem to want any kind of change, makes me wonder if he can do the job..
there are others who do make a mark, i don't hate Cameron, nor do i like him much, but not sure if there is a credible alternative.

[emmie]

we made do with Churchill don't you mean.... Mussolini, fat, syphilitic blowhard, who caused the deaths of many of his own people..

[sp1814]

Aren't UKIP simply the SDP of the 21st century?

[Gromit]

Aren't UKiP the SDP of the 21st Century?

Their policies are vastly different, the SDP were left of Centre and UKiP are far right of centre.

The SDP split the Labour vote for a decade and allowed the Conservatives to win several consecutive elections. UKiP mostly harm the conservatives splitting their vote. Whether that happens for a decade and allows Labour free reign for 2 or 3 elections remains to be seen.

[sp1814]

Gromit

That's what I meant...not in terms of policies, but what they might do to the established political order, only this time it would be the Conservatives harmed rather than Labour?

[douglas9401]

em10, the comedian is Beppe Grillo, not Berlusconi.

[ichkeria]

"we made do with Churchill don't you mean.... Mussolini, fat, syphilitic blowhard, who caused the deaths of many of his own people.. "

Baldwin rose to power at the same time as Mussolini. Then it was MacDonald of course not Chamberlain. The point being that Britain thankfully has a record of NOT going for the fat, syphillitic, murdering option, and we want our trains to run on time but we don't want to kill people to enforce it :-)

[brionon]

Probably-as are Barmy Right Wingers who blame someone else for their problems all over Europe.

[FredPuli43]

Number of seats in the House of Commons : 650

Number required for overall majority : 326.

Number held by UKIP : 0

Why should anyone worry? None of the Tory voters who migrate to UKIP want a Labour government. As always, the only effective way to change a major party, and hence a government or future government, is from within,. That's how 'New Labour' and 'Thatcherism' were both created, with a certain degree of success.

[emmie]

so you don't think he's funny then, i do

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/28/silvio-berlusconi-under-investigation-naples

[emmie]

barmy right wingers, gosh that's us...

[jno]

the SDP finally gave up the ghost after their candidate came behind the Monster Raving Loony Party in a by-election. This didn't mean the Loonies ever had any chance of getting a seat in the House, however (a pity, as a great many of their policies eventually became law).