UKIP Rising As Significant Political Force: Britain’s Mainstream Political Parties In Distress
The rise of United Kingdom Independent Party's (UKIP) as a significant political force is redrawing the political equations in the U.K polity. Long reviled and ridiculed by mainstream political parties such as Conservatives and Labour, UKIP announced its mighty arrival by having its own law maker elected to Parliament last week, in a fiercely fought by-election.
The party sent the Ex Conservative MP Mr. Douglas Carswell to Parliament in the by election at Clacton. It gave not only UKIP the first elected MP but also the power to send jitters to all mainstream political parties, which had been trying to underestimate it.
Media surveys have already projected how UKIP is fast dwarfing big political parties like Tories and Labour. One poll by a media house put UKIP's popularity at 25 percent and predicted it may win 128 MPs in the next election. Having proved its might, UKIP is fast trying to position as the future King Maker. It can make or unmake Labour's Ed Miliband or Conservative's David Cameron as the next Prime Minister.
Eurosceptic
Led by Nigel Farage the UKIP is a right wing , Euro sceptic party seeking Britain's disassociation from the European Union. The party has indicated its readiness to go to any length to hold the promised referendum at the earliest to decide on delinking the U.K from EU. For UKIP, affiliation to EU is the source of all problems in Britain where natives are struggling for jobs, houses and space.
On Monday, Prime Minister David Cameron, in a realistic political analysis told ITV's "The Agenda" that he sees the rise of UKIP as a "seductive phenomenon" appealing to those voters who are fed up with the deteriorating economic and social conditions. The Prime Minister noted that families who have seen their living standards crash, and acing a 'tough time' are attracted to Nigel Farage's party, reported UK Daily Mail.
Farage's Growth Drivers
Mr Cameron admitted that a combination of growing Eurosceptcism, high immigration and low wages are fuelling UKIP's appeal. The PM said Britain has been going through a tough time. People are not getting pay rises; living standards are falling. Europe is looking like the source of problems than a source of opportunity. Immigration rates are going up. Also a coalition is not inspiring people. These social conditions are making people turn to Nigel Farage's simple answer. "I think it's become quite seductive," quipped Cameron.
Meanwhile, the Tories are set to face one more by-election face to face with UKIP. Caused by the defection of a Conservative MP to UKIP, the bypoll will be on Nov 20 at Rochester and Strood. Former Conservative Mr Reckless' will be the UKIP candidate. However, Cameron has tried to down play it, saying the UKIP is trying to make it a national media circus, reported Huffington Post.