UKIP 2014 - becoming a laughing stock?

UKIP's popularity is analysed here in the Economist - essentially it has become the "protest" party of choice because the other political parties have become very similar. People are also upset because of the economic climate and the impact this has had on living conditions and jobs. In addition, UKIP is developing local support in a way not seen since the Lib Dems used the same tactic.

There is a similarity between the other populist parties of the right around Europe and UKIP, which admittedly is somewhat ironic. A good analysis of all the ins and outs can be found here, again in the Economist.

UKIP's progress from Pressure Group to an insurgent party trying to get votes in the next European election in May 2014 could be an essential ingredient in any G & P student's analysis of the power of small parties in Unit 1. However, the European elections are not the General election, and are not taken seriously by voters, which benefits fringe parties like UKIP. Also, the voting system will hold back UKIP from getting very many seats in Westminster (if any). Having said that, it is possible that they may get one or two seats if their local support is enough.

Recent UKIP-related news has made it seem a bit more of a laughing stock, although that may only be for the internet-savvy (UKIP-voters are less likely to be plugged into their electronic devices the way that younger voters are).

Firstly, a UKIP councillor said that recent wet weather can be blamed on God's reaction to Cameron's Gay Marriage policy, which got various reactions including from UKIP (which suspended him), a spoof Twitter account, and this very funny spoof weather-forecast:




Also the Daily Mash contributed the news story that "Married Gays to Tour Drought-hit Countries".

Although one can sneer at UKIP and its policies, former Prime Minister Harold MacMillan famously wrote to his Postmaster General (a Cabinet official in charge of telephones, wireless and TV) in 1962 to say that:

It is a good thing to be laughed at.

It is better than to be ignored.