Ukip was created as a container for hard-right Eurosceptic but could reimage themselves and use left wing arguments to great effect. They created a perception that they stood up for the working classes. This gained them some popularity that flourished under Nigel Farage’s leadership. Where they forced the Conservatives to promise a referendum on the UK’s membership to the European Union (EU) in the run up to the 2015 general election. But has UKIP run its course?
With a couple of Conservative defectors including Douglas Carswell and Arron Banks as a major donor they were growing but after Brexit what is next for the party?
Post-Brexit UKIP
The party has seen Brexit as their great success and legacy, but others more liberal minded will see the rise in hate crime and deep rooted divisions within society as their legacy. They increasingly and constantly used toxic language to stir the dissatisfaction towards Westminster against institutions such as the EU. It has even contributed to the Conservative’s lurch towards the right, and despite several UKIP MEPs they have done little to help change or improve the EU either.
However, since the 23rd June 2016, UKIP has struggled to adapt itself from the vote to leave the EU. They have lost Arron Banks as a major donor and Nigel Farage spends most of his time in America attempting to climb Trump’s greasy pole.
Douglas Carswell, their only MP quit the party stating that it was ‘mission accomplished.’ Current Leader Paul Nuttall failed to capitalise on the Brexit support during the Stoke-on-Trent by election, where Labour held. Furthermore, they are only contesting just 48% of council seats in May’s local election, less than the Green party.
UKIP’S lack of direction
Whether it is a lack of funding or they are focusing their efforts on seats they have more chance at success hasn’t been confirmed. However, this highlights a clear decline for UKIP though. They have no real push for an alternative message, they have lent heavily on Euroscepticism throughout the country and have seen a decline in support since Brexit and the Conservatives increasingly right wing approach.
The party offer little else and with sexist, racist, xenophobic plus other abhorrent remarks by several leading members, they are often in the news for the wrong reasons.
They have little else of substance within the manifesto that blamed immigration or the EU at every opportunity. But the issue for them is that they have two fronts of attack, immigration and the EU. With one of those removed from the equation, they are more likely to become BNP 2.0. UKIP need to find another approach or platform soon but with political apathy rising and a system that needs a serious overhaul. The question currently remains, how long before UKIP follow the BNPs route back to obscurity?
