UKIP’s demise is nigh; it will be only remembered for its factionalism and Alf Garnett-esque membership
UKIP was formed by Dr Alan Sked, a wacky professor turned fan of Enoch Powell, in 1993. It morphed into a powerful campaigning force with the guidance of the charismatic yet self-serving personality of Nigel Farage but now, with the loss of its only MP, Douglas Carswell, and Brexit round the corner, its death is nigh.
Primarily guided by a beer swilling populist who never bothered to vote in the European Parliament yet one happy to take their pay cheques, this ragbag organisation undoubtedly, on the surface, represented views that were popular with many. Less immigrants, less regulation and making Britain great and independent again sounded appealing but in reality, UKIP’s internal problems dominated its existence to a point that these matters got lost in the milieu.
First, there is the matter of the behaviour and sources of their membership. Extremist right-wing parties including EDL and the BNP were wiped out thanks to UKIP sucking them dry and the backstabbing antics of MEPs like Godfrey Bloom – a man prone to referencing foreigners as coming from “Bongo Bongo Land” – and Alf Garnett-like supporters who liked to come out with comments such as telling the black comedian Lenny Henry to leave Britain made this so-called party anything but media savvy.
Secondly, UKIP failed to make a mark at Westminster. In their existence they have won only one seat and that was more likely due to their candidate’s personal popularity than their policies. In the form of Douglas Carswell they had a principled thinker but in the end, his acrimonious relationship with both Farage and the party’s main financial backer, Arron Banks, killed his ability to sit in their midst any longer.
Finally, UKIP is now led by an incompetent “Tim Nice But Dim-like” character named Paul Nuttall. He failed to win a parliamentary seat recently too but what he will forever be remembered for is fake news. Mr Nuttall invented his past but he’s failed to invent a future. UKIP is a spent force and it is time it was put out of its misery.
