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UKIP useful, LibDems not so much

Simon Gibbs

After leaving the election all-nighter at 11 I was struggling to pick up, from fragments of news, what the sentiment was that lead to the unexpected Tory victory. Was is the sleeping lion of English nationalism rising against the SNP? Was it the thought of a left-wing coalition’s profligate spending?

ld-to-ukip

 

This BBC chart clarifies one thing: the Tories are not especially more popular. The LibDems have been thrown down the electoral trash chute and UKIP have been taken seriously. People expected to get something from voting UKIP. What, then, will be the ideological direction of that party?

LATER: Outgoing leader Nigel Farage offers a clue:

“It’s going to change Ukip quite radically – it’s going to become a more radical campaigning party for political reform and social reform.

I can see Ukip becoming a very young and active political force. There will be disappointment but as far as the Ukip story’s concerned, we’re beginning a different chapter.”

 

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3 responses to “UKIP useful, LibDems not so much”

  1. Paul Marks Avatar
    Paul Marks

    I wish Mr Farage had talked about finance, government spending, more – this stuff about P.R. and so (we have already had a referendum rejecting this “political reform”) is a waste of time.

    It is like the general election campaign – if Mr Farage had talked more about money (the wild government spending) there might have been a very different result.

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    1. Tim Carpenter Avatar
      Tim Carpenter

      The economy could well be key next time.

      GE2020 starts here!

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  2. Paul Marks Avatar
    Paul Marks

    As for “social reform” – what does this even mean? Will the new leader of UKIP be pushing P.C. (“Critical Theory”) policies?

    I want to take “political reform” and “social reform” and bury them at the cross roads with a stake through their hearts. I want the government to spend much less money and to impose far fewer regulations – I want a smaller (a much smaller) government.

    It is also necessary – in the word of the Greek default (inevitable now) there will be no room for wild spending on the European Union, or “Overseas Aid” (which Peter Bauer proved was actually harmful), or on “HS2” – and so on. On and on.

    UKIP used to talk about such things – but then it became immigration (almost to the exclusion of everything else), and now it is “political reform” (P.R. and other such) and “social reform” (?).

    Still I must concentrate on the local arguments in my own “tribe” – especially if I get re elected at the count on Saturday (and I may well lose).

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