Changes

}}

}}

[[File:UKIP campaigning in Newport High Street.jpg|300px|thumb|UKIP candidate Stephen West campaigning in Newport, Isle of Wight for Hampshire Police & Crime Commissioner in 2012.]]

[[File:UKIP campaigning in Newport High Street.jpg|300px|thumb|UKIP candidate Stephen West campaigning in Newport, Isle of Wight for Hampshire Police & Crime Commissioner in 2012.]]

The '''United Kingdom Independence Party''', also known by the acronym '''UKIP''' (pronounced "you-kip", its followers affectionately known as "Kippers"), is a [[conservative]] and [[Euroskeptic]] political party in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1993, it campaigns for [[British]] withdrawal from the [[European Union]] (EU). Its support-base is made up substantially of social conservative, traditional conservative and libertarian voters who are opposed to the surrender of British [[sovereignty]]. The party was dominated by [[Nigel Farage]], who served on-and-off as party leader from its creation until 2016. Prior to the 2016 [[Brexit]] referendum, it was also one of the fastest-growing British political parties; according to a YouTube interview with Farage in May 2015, the party has 47,000 members.

The '''United Kingdom Independence Party''', also known by the acronym '''UKIP''' (pronounced "you-kip", its followers affectionately known as "Kippers"), is a [[conservative]] and [[Euroskeptic]] political party in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1993, it campaigns for [[British]] withdrawal from the [[European Union]] (EU). Its support-base is made up substantially of social conservative, traditional conservative and libertarian voters who are opposed to the surrender of British [[sovereignty]]. The party was dominated by [[Nigel Farage]], who served on-and-off as party leader from its creation until 2016. Prior to the 2016 [[Brexit]] referendum, it was also one of the fastest-growing British political parties; according to a YouTube interview with Farage in May 2015, the party had 47,000 members.

==Political influence==

==Political influence==

Despite claims that UKIP was a "protest vote" in the European elections due to their avid euroscepticism, UKIP won 12.9% of the popular vote in the 2015 General Election in the United Kingdom. However, due to the inconsistent electoral system in the United Kingdom, they received just 1 seat out of 650. It has less than 500 councillors out of 20,000 and 3 (out of 780) members of the House of Lords. Under a system of [[proportional representation]], UKIP would have 82 seats, instead of just 1.<ref>McKernan, Bethan. [http://i100.independent.co.uk/article/heres-how-the-election-results-would-look-under-a-proportional-voting-system--gJenQmaW2gW Here's how the election results would look under a proportional voting system] ''The Independent''. Published May 2015</ref>

Despite claims that UKIP was a "protest vote" in the European elections due to their avid euroscepticism, UKIP won 12.9% of the popular vote in the 2015 General Election in the United Kingdom. However, due to the inconsistent electoral system in the United Kingdom, they received just 1 seat out of 650. It has less than 500 councillors out of 20,000 and 3 (out of 780) members of the House of Lords. Under a system of [[proportional representation]], UKIP would have 82 seats, instead of just 1.<ref>McKernan, Bethan. [http://i100.independent.co.uk/article/heres-how-the-election-results-would-look-under-a-proportional-voting-system--gJenQmaW2gW Here's how the election results would look under a proportional voting system] ''The Independent''. Published May 2015</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, and later the [[Brexit Party]].<ref>Multiple references:

*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.

*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.