Changes

Immigration to the [[United Kingdom]] rose to 333,000 in 2015, which was the second highest recorded number in history.<ref>[http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36382199 Net migration to UK rises to 333,000 - second highest on record]. ''BBC''. May 26, 2016. Retrieved January 7, 2017.</ref> According to 2014 data, over half of all immigrants came from outside the EU.<ref>Doughty, Steve (February 26, 2015). [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2970032/Humiliation-Cameron-net-migration-hits-298-000-despite-promise-cut-tens-thousands.html 300,000! That was the overall number of migrants last year - and 190,000 were from OUTSIDE the EU. So much for the PM's target of tens of thousands]. ''Daily Mail''. Retrieved January 7, 2017.</ref>

Immigration to the [[United Kingdom]] rose to 333,000 in 2015, which was the second highest recorded number in history.<ref>[http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36382199 Net migration to UK rises to 333,000 - second highest on record]. ''BBC''. May 26, 2016. Retrieved January 7, 2017.</ref> According to 2014 data, over half of all immigrants came from outside the EU.<ref>Doughty, Steve (February 26, 2015). [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2970032/Humiliation-Cameron-net-migration-hits-298-000-despite-promise-cut-tens-thousands.html 300,000! That was the overall number of migrants last year - and 190,000 were from OUTSIDE the EU. So much for the PM's target of tens of thousands]. ''Daily Mail''. Retrieved January 7, 2017.</ref>

UK Prime Minister [[David Cameron]], who, despite being a member of the [[Conservative Party]], held several leftist positions, pledged to reduce immigration to under 100,000 annually. Despite this pledge, immigration soared during his tenure to even higher levels than when he first took office.<ref>Whitehead, Tom (February 26, 2015). [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/11436403/David-Cameron-immigration-pledge-in-tatters-as-net-immigration-stands-at-298000.html David Cameron immigration pledge in tatters as net immigration stands at 298,000]. ''The Telegraph''. Retrieved January 7, 2017.</ref>

UK Prime Minister [[David Cameron]], who, despite being a member of the [[Conservative Party]], held several leftist positions, pledged to reduce immigration to under 100,000 annually. Despite this pledge, immigration soared during his tenure to even higher levels than when he first took office.<ref name="Whitehead2015">Whitehead, Tom (February 26, 2015). [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/11436403/David-Cameron-immigration-pledge-in-tatters-as-net-immigration-stands-at-298000.html David Cameron immigration pledge in tatters as net immigration stands at 298,000]. ''The Telegraph''. Retrieved January 7, 2017.</ref>

Immigration played a very influential role in the successful [[Brexit]] referendum on June 23, 2016,<ref>Bennett, Asa (June 29, 2016). [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/29/did-britain-really-vote-brexit-to-cut-immigration/ Did Britain really vote Brexit to cut immigration?]. ''The Telegraph''. Retrieved January 7, 2017.</ref><ref>Siegel, Josh (June 23, 2016). [http://dailysignal.com/2016/06/23/how-immigration-fueled-the-brexit-result/ How Immigration Fueled the Brexit Result]. ''The Daily Signal''. Retrieved January 7, 2017.</ref> along with other very important and related factors such as sovereignty and backlash against the leftist [[establishment]] elites who support large levels of immigration.<ref>Friedman, George; Mauldin, John (July 5, 2016). [http://www.forbes.com/sites/johnmauldin/2016/07/05/3-reasons-brits-voted-for-brexit/#6f7d841d78c1 3 Reasons Brits Voted For Brexit]. ''Forbes''. Retrieved January 7, 2017.</ref>

Immigration played a very influential role in the successful [[Brexit]] referendum on June 23, 2016,<ref>Bennett, Asa (June 29, 2016). [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/29/did-britain-really-vote-brexit-to-cut-immigration/ Did Britain really vote Brexit to cut immigration?]. ''The Telegraph''. Retrieved January 7, 2017.</ref><ref>Siegel, Josh (June 23, 2016). [http://dailysignal.com/2016/06/23/how-immigration-fueled-the-brexit-result/ How Immigration Fueled the Brexit Result]. ''The Daily Signal''. Retrieved January 7, 2017.</ref> along with other very important and related factors such as sovereignty and backlash against the leftist [[establishment]] elites who support large levels of immigration.<ref>Friedman, George; Mauldin, John (July 5, 2016). [http://www.forbes.com/sites/johnmauldin/2016/07/05/3-reasons-brits-voted-for-brexit/#6f7d841d78c1 3 Reasons Brits Voted For Brexit]. ''Forbes''. Retrieved January 7, 2017.</ref>

The party has performed very well in recent elections for a third party. In the 2014 [[European Parliament]] elections, UKIP, like Eurosceptic parties across Europe, won a massive victory, becoming the largest UK party in the European Parliament and receiving more seats than the two main parties.<ref>Hallett, Nick (May 25, 2014). [http://www.breitbart.com/london/2014/05/25/earthquake-in-uk-politics/ Earthquake: UK Independence Party Makes History with EU Election Victory]. ''Breitbart''. Retrieved December 29, 2016.</ref><ref>[http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-27567744 Farage: UKIP has 'momentum' and is targeting more victories]. ''BBC''. May 26, 2014. Retrieved December 29, 2016.</ref><ref>[http://www.bbc.com/news/events/vote2014/eu-uk-results UK European election results - Vote 2014]. ''BBC''. Retrieved December 29, 2016.</ref>

The party has performed very well in recent elections for a third party. In the 2014 [[European Parliament]] elections, UKIP, like Eurosceptic parties across Europe, won a massive victory, becoming the largest UK party in the European Parliament and receiving more seats than the two main parties.<ref>Hallett, Nick (May 25, 2014). [http://www.breitbart.com/london/2014/05/25/earthquake-in-uk-politics/ Earthquake: UK Independence Party Makes History with EU Election Victory]. ''Breitbart''. Retrieved December 29, 2016.</ref><ref>[http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-27567744 Farage: UKIP has 'momentum' and is targeting more victories]. ''BBC''. May 26, 2014. Retrieved December 29, 2016.</ref><ref>[http://www.bbc.com/news/events/vote2014/eu-uk-results UK European election results - Vote 2014]. ''BBC''. Retrieved December 29, 2016.</ref>

Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage is arguably the most successful British politician of the modern age for successfully advocating and then winning a referendum for leaving the EU.<ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2016/06/24/buzzfeed-nigel-farage-britains-successful-politician-generation/ BuzzFeed: Nigel Farage ‘Britain’s Most Successful Politician in a Generation’]. ''Breitbart''. June 24, 2016. Retrieved December 29, 2016.</ref> He noted in 2017 that Conservative Party Prime Minister [[Theresa May]] had adopted exactly the same political positions as he had a few years earlier.<ref>Merrick, Rob (May 7, 2017). [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/election-latest-nigel-farage-theresa-may-stolen-ukip-policies-brussels-bashing-immigration-a7722346.html Nigel Farage says Theresa May is winning because she has stolen all his policies]. ''The Independent''. Retrieved May 7, 2017.</ref>

Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage is arguably the most successful British politician of the modern age for successfully advocating and then winning a referendum for leaving the EU.<ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2016/06/24/buzzfeed-nigel-farage-britains-successful-politician-generation/ BuzzFeed: Nigel Farage ‘Britain’s Most Successful Politician in a Generation’]. ''Breitbart''. June 24, 2016. Retrieved December 29, 2016.</ref> He noted in 2017 that Conservative Party Prime Minister [[Theresa May]] had adopted exactly the same political positions as he had a few years earlier.<ref name="MerrickMay2017">Merrick, Rob (May 7, 2017). [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/election-latest-nigel-farage-theresa-may-stolen-ukip-policies-brussels-bashing-immigration-a7722346.html Nigel Farage says Theresa May is winning because she has stolen all his policies]. ''The Independent''. Retrieved May 7, 2017.</ref>

 

 

As noted above, the Conservative Party shifted its public stances after the Brexit vote, adopting stances on Europe and immigration more similar to UKIP.<ref name="MerrickMay2017"/><ref>Kentish, Ben (May 15, 2017). [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tory-voters-more-right-wing-ukip-poll-latest-theresa-may-nigel-farage-a7737491.html Tory voters think their party is now more right-wing than Ukip, poll finds]. ''The Independent''. Retrieved May 18, 2017.</ref> This could be seen in the 2017 Conservative Party campaign manifesto, which adopted UKIP's EU and immigration policies.<ref>Montgomery, Jack (May 18, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/05/18/may-reveals-polarising-policies-immigration-social-care/ Theresa May Launches Conservative Manifesto: Pledge to Leave EU Single Market, Elderly Care Cost Raid]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 18, 2017.</ref><ref name="RaynerMay2017">Rayner, Gordon (May 18, 2017). [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/18/conservative-manifesto-general-election-2017-key-points-policies/ Conservative manifesto for General Election 2017: Key points, policies and summary]. ''The Telegraph''. Retrieved May 18, 2017.</ref> Because of this shift, the Conservative Party absorbed many UKIP voters.<ref>Dickson, Annabelle (May 17, 2017). [http://www.politico.eu/article/theresa-may-marches-into-ukip-land/ Theresa May marches into UKIP country]. ''Politico''. Retrieved May 18, 2017.</ref> Noting the Conservative Party's past failures to reduce immigration in the recent past, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne wrote an editorial at the time of the manifesto's release in May 2017 that the Conservative Party leadership opposed and never intended to keep its immigration reduction promises.<ref>Montgomery, Jack (May 17, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/05/17/osborne-boasts-tories-never-intended-keep-immigration-promises/ Osborne Boasts Tories Never Intended to Keep Immigration Promises in Shock Editorial]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 18, 2017.</ref>

==Netherlands==

==Netherlands==