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==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). [httphttps://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>[httphttps://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==
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 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). [httphttps://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>
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.
The 2014 European Parliament elections were a milestone for UKIP, as the received 27.49% of the vote as well as 24 seats, making it the largest UK party sitting the EU parliament, both in popular votes and seats, even larger than the Conservative and Labor parties.<ref>[httphttps://www.bbc.com/news/events/vote2014/eu-uk-results UK European election results]. ''BBC''. Retrieved September 8, 2016.</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:
*Deacon, Liam (May 4, 2018). [httphttps://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.
See also:
*Delingpole, James (May 4, 2018). [httphttps://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==
==Further reading==
* Daniel, Mark. ''Cranks and Gadflies: The Story of UKIP'' (2005) 199pp [httphttps://books.google.com/books?id=My7bPb1XnVIC excerpt and text search]
==References==
