Changes

==Political influence==

==Political influence==

UKIP's top goal, of leaving the EU, was achieved when the British people voted to leave the EU in [[Brexit|a referendum]] held on June 23, 2016.<ref>Armstrong, Paul (July 15, 2016). [http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/24/europe/eu-referendum-nigel-farage/ Nigel Farage: Arch-eurosceptic and Brexit 'puppet master']. ''CNN''. Retrieved October 4, 2016.</ref>

UKIP's top goal, of leaving the EU, was achieved when the British people voted to leave the EU in [[Brexit|a referendum]] held on June 23, 2016.<ref>Armstrong, Paul (July 15, 2016). [https://www.cnn.com/2016/06/24/europe/eu-referendum-nigel-farage/ Nigel Farage: Arch-eurosceptic and Brexit 'puppet master']. ''CNN''. Retrieved October 4, 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 the exact 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>[https://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 the exact 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>

==Political positions and stances==

==Political positions and stances==

UKIP attracts alienated voters especially on the right who are critical of the centralized and undemocratic structure of the [[EU]].  UKIP has endorsed a British centre-right economic agenda. It proposes a flat tax and opposes national identity cards. It is sceptical of the more extreme claims of [[AGW]] and critical of carbon-permits and other EU environmental policies as economically and environmentally harmful.<ref>http://www.ukip.org/page/ukip-manifesto</ref> UKIP opposes laws restricting freedom of speech, including on the internet.<ref>Deacon, Liam (July 3, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/07/03/ukip-joins-free-speech-savetheinternet-fight-forces-eu-parliament-vote/ Article 13: UKIP Joins Pro-Free Speech #SaveTheInternet Fight, Forces EU Parliament Vote]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved July 3, 2018.</ref>

UKIP attracts alienated voters especially on the right who are critical of the centralized and undemocratic structure of the [[EU]].  UKIP has endorsed a British centre-right economic agenda. It proposes a flat tax and opposes national identity cards. It is sceptical of the more extreme claims of [[AGW]] and critical of carbon-permits and other EU environmental policies as economically and environmentally harmful.<ref>http://www.ukip.org/page/ukip-manifesto</ref> UKIP opposes laws restricting freedom of speech, including on the internet.<ref>Deacon, Liam (July 3, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/07/03/ukip-joins-free-speech-savetheinternet-fight-forces-eu-parliament-vote/ Article 13: UKIP Joins Pro-Free Speech #SaveTheInternet Fight, Forces EU Parliament Vote]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved July 3, 2018.</ref>

In 2017, UKIP added banning the [[burqa]] and [[Sharia Law]] to its agenda.<ref>Deacon, Liam (April 23, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/04/23/ukip-promises-to-ban-the-burqa-and-sharia-law/ UKIP Promises to Ban the Burqa and Sharia Law]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved April 24, 2017.</ref>

In 2017, UKIP added banning the [[burqa]] and [[Sharia Law]] to its agenda.<ref>Deacon, Liam (April 23, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/04/23/ukip-promises-to-ban-the-burqa-and-sharia-law/ UKIP Promises to Ban the Burqa and Sharia Law]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved April 24, 2017.</ref>

UKIP is frequently accused by the [[establishment]] and leftists of being a "racist" party and is associated with racist parties by the liberal media, such as the [[politically correct]] TV networks (such as the [[BBC]]) and newspapers (such as ''[[The Guardian]]''). Most claims of UKIP being "racist" are defended by pointing to a couple of minor disgraced UKIP councillors or party members – these people have often been expelled from the party. UKIP membership is in fact open to all, regardless of ethnic origin, and in the 2010 and 2015 elections, UKIP fielded a significant number of candidates who are members of ethnic minorities.<ref>http://www.manzoor4mep.co.uk/</ref><ref>http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/politics/election_2010/southampton_test/candidates/7984351.Pearline_Hingston__UKIP__Southampton_Test/</ref><ref>http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/guide/seat-profiles/tottenham</ref>

UKIP is frequently accused by the [[establishment]] and leftists of being a "racist" party and is associated with racist parties by the liberal media, such as the [[politically correct]] TV networks (such as the [[BBC]]) and newspapers (such as ''[[The Guardian]]''). Most claims of UKIP being "racist" are defended by pointing to a couple of minor disgraced UKIP councillors or party members – these people have often been expelled from the party. UKIP membership is in fact open to all, regardless of ethnic origin, and in the 2010 and 2015 elections, UKIP fielded a significant number of candidates who are members of ethnic minorities.<ref>http://www.manzoor4mep.co.uk/</ref><ref>http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/politics/election_2010/southampton_test/candidates/7984351.Pearline_Hingston__UKIP__Southampton_Test/</ref><ref>http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/guide/seat-profiles/tottenham</ref>

The party's support sharply fell after the successful Brexit referendum in 2016, with most of its voters returning to the Conservative Party.<ref>Multiple references:

The party's support sharply fell after the successful Brexit referendum in 2016, with most of its voters returning to the Conservative Party.<ref>Multiple references:

*Deacon, Liam (May 4, 2018). [http://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/05/04/local-elections-ukip-suffers-wipeout-corbyn-labour-stalls/ Local Elections: UKIP Suffers Wipeout as Corbyn’s Labour Stalls]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 4, 2018.

*Deacon, Liam (May 4, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/05/04/local-elections-ukip-suffers-wipeout-corbyn-labour-stalls/ Local Elections: UKIP Suffers Wipeout as Corbyn’s Labour Stalls]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 4, 2018.

*Jasper, William F. (May 4, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/europe/item/28974-uk-elections-brexit-sabotage-ukip-s-collapse UK Elections, Brexit Sabotage, UKIP’s Collapse]. ''The New American''. Retrieved May 4, 2018.

*Jasper, William F. (May 4, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/europe/item/28974-uk-elections-brexit-sabotage-ukip-s-collapse UK Elections, Brexit Sabotage, UKIP’s Collapse]. ''The New American''. Retrieved May 4, 2018.

See also:

See also:

*Delingpole, James (May 4, 2018). [http://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/05/04/ukip-compares-itself-to-black-death/ Delingpole: The UKIP/Black Death Story Is Classic SJW Dirty Tricks]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 4, 2018.</ref>

*Delingpole, James (May 4, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/05/04/ukip-compares-itself-to-black-death/ Delingpole: The UKIP/Black Death Story Is Classic SJW Dirty Tricks]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 4, 2018.</ref>

==See also==

==See also==

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

* Daniel, Mark. ''Cranks and Gadflies: The Story of UKIP'' (2005) 199pp [http://books.google.com/books?id=My7bPb1XnVIC excerpt and text search]

* Daniel, Mark. ''Cranks and Gadflies: The Story of UKIP'' (2005) 199pp [https://books.google.com/books?id=My7bPb1XnVIC excerpt and text search]

==References==

==References==