Difference between revisions of "United Kingdom Independence Party"
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[[File:Farage.jpg|thumb|200px|Prominent UKIP MEP, [[Nigel Farage]], wants to take Britain out of the [[EU]] and subject immigration to legal controls]] | [[File:Farage.jpg|thumb|200px|Prominent UKIP MEP, [[Nigel Farage]], wants to take Britain out of the [[EU]] and subject immigration to legal controls]] | ||
| − | The '''United Kingdom Independence Party''', also known by the acronym '''UKIP''', is a British political party. 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 current leader of UKIP is Nigel Farage. | + | The '''United Kingdom Independence Party''', also known by the acronym '''UKIP''', is a British political party. 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 current leader of UKIP is Nigel Farage. According to a [[YouTube]] interview with Nigel Farage in May 2015, the party has 47,000 members. |
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| − | In the 2008 European elections UKIP came second | + | In the 2008 European elections UKIP came second with 16.5% of the vote and 13 of the UK's 78 seats in the [[European Parliament]]. In the Parliamentary election of May 6th 2010, UKIP got 3.1% of the vote, a total of 917,232, an increase of 50% on the previous parliamentary election vote. However, owing to the electoral system, they still did not receive any MPs. UKIP has 2 members in the [[House of Lords]]. |
Under the leadership of Nigel Farage, UKIP broadened its political agenda. It now has policies on tax, defence, the health service, education, electoral reform and constitutional reform. | Under the leadership of Nigel Farage, UKIP broadened its political agenda. It now has policies on tax, defence, the health service, education, electoral reform and constitutional reform. | ||
| − | UKIP attracts alienated voters especially on the right who are critical of the centralized and undemocratic structure of the [[EU]]. | + | UKIP attracts alienated voters, especially those 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 is frequently accused of being a racist party and associated with racist parties in the | + | UKIP is frequently accused of being a racist party and associated with racist parties (such as the [[BNP]]) in the media. 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 open to all regardless of ethnic origin and in the 2015 election 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> |
| − | In 2013, UKIP achieved a milestone in the local elections when 147 councillors were elected across the UK adding to the 50-60 councillors that were already in place. | + | In 2013, UKIP achieved a milestone in the local elections when 147 councillors were elected across the UK adding to the 50-60 councillors that were already in place. |
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| + | In the 2015 general election, UKIP won 12.9% of the popular vote, but due to the inconsistent electoral system, 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. | ||
==Further reading== | ==Further reading== | ||
Revision as of 16:51, June 22, 2015
The United Kingdom Independence Party, also known by the acronym UKIP, is a British political party. 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 current leader of UKIP is Nigel Farage. According to a YouTube interview with Nigel Farage in May 2015, the party has 47,000 members.
In the 2008 European elections UKIP came second with 16.5% of the vote and 13 of the UK's 78 seats in the European Parliament. In the Parliamentary election of May 6th 2010, UKIP got 3.1% of the vote, a total of 917,232, an increase of 50% on the previous parliamentary election vote. However, owing to the electoral system, they still did not receive any MPs. UKIP has 2 members in the House of Lords.
Under the leadership of Nigel Farage, UKIP broadened its political agenda. It now has policies on tax, defence, the health service, education, electoral reform and constitutional reform.
UKIP attracts alienated voters, especially those 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.[1]
UKIP is frequently accused of being a racist party and associated with racist parties (such as the BNP) in the media. 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 open to all regardless of ethnic origin and in the 2015 election UKIP fielded a significant number of candidates who are members of ethnic minorities. [2][3][4]
In 2013, UKIP achieved a milestone in the local elections when 147 councillors were elected across the UK adding to the 50-60 councillors that were already in place.
In the 2015 general election, UKIP won 12.9% of the popular vote, but due to the inconsistent electoral system, 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.
Further reading
- Daniel, Mark. Cranks and Gadflies: The Story of UKIP (2005) 199pp excerpt and text search