UKIP Uncovered

UKIP Uncovered
What motivates the leaders of the United Kingdom Independence Party?

Wednesday, May 26, 2004

Polls and Presses Roll for UKIP

The Guardianlinked here and The Scotsmanfrom here both report on a UKIP surge in another poll, which in General Election terms boosts them from nowhere to 2 per cent, as the latter paper says:

The poll showed a surge in support for the UK Independence Party (UKIP) ahead of the June 10 European elections, with the anti-EU party registering 2% in general election voting intentions and taking voters equally from Labour, Tories and Lib Dems.

The Guardian's headline is as follows: "Election blow to Labour and Tories -One in four may switch party in next month's vote, poll shows" and opens as follows:-

Both Labour and the Tories are heading for poor results in the June 10 elections with one in four of each party's voters thinking of switching to another party, according to this month's Guardian/ICM opinion poll.

The survey indicates that the percentage turnout in the European elections is likely to be little different from the low to mid-20s recorded at the last European elections in 1999 - although it may be boosted by the unknown effects of new postal voting schemes.

The poll also confirms the increasing appeal of the minor parties, with the United Kingdom Independence party the most prominent with a two percentage point share of the vote, followed by the Scottish Nationalists. The UKIP appears to be drawing its support equally from former Labour, Tory and Liberal Democrat voters.

Labour has opened a three point lead over the Tories putting Howard's disastrous leadership of that party quite clearly into the main spotlight. See more on that topic in due course on Teetering Tories.

'FT Observer' returns to its sideways coverage on UKIP in general, and we notice Farage in particular with a piece querying whether the Tower Bridge Heath, Major and Blair effigy protest will be appropriate around the 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings. It seems to suggest that since Edward Heath took part in those momentous and historic events he is somehow to be deemed incapable of the subsequent deceitful, lying and underhand acts history and published documents now clearly show him to have committed. Is every burglar, car thief, wife beater etc. some of whom must at one time have been landing in Normandy to be similarly exonerated? The very idea is preposterous - indeed if careful thought is given to the fact of his presence on D-Day his subsequent actions become even more discreditable. The column is linked from here.

On a lighter note and apropos the Joan Collins photo call, this light hearted item from The Guardian'Celebrity politics doesn't get my vote by Ben Summerskill is recommended.

The Independent also gives exceptional coverage to UKIP linked here, which reminds me that the mystery of just who Sir Ranulph Fiennes is supporting is something still requiring resolution. Plenty of other Joan Collins coverage can be easily found elsewhere.

posted by Martin |6:31 AM