UKIP aims to replace Lib Dems as Britain's third party - Polidicks

[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12658045[/url] [list][*]Following the Liberal Democrats' crushing sixth-place defeat in the recent Barnsley Central by-election, UKIP leader Nigel Farage says his party's aim is to replace them as the UK's third party before the next general election. [*]And that's pretty much it.[/list] [b]Tourist advisory:[/b] UKIP are the fourth most popular party in the UK but are far behind the three mainstream parties in terms of support. They are a conservative, eurosceptic party with nationalist elements whose most prominent policies are withdrawal from the European Union, tighter immigration controls and major expansion of the armed forces. The Lib Dems on the other hand are a centre-left party who have been massively shunned by their former supporters since forming a coalition government with the Conservatives last year, who were previously perceived to be the Lib Dems' greatest political foe. The Lib Dems are however very pro-EU so most defectors are unlikely to switch support to UKIP. [quote=BBC News][b]The leader of the UK Independence Party, Nigel Farage, says his party's aim is to replace the Liberal Democrats as the third force in British politics.[/b] He was speaking at UKIP's spring conference in Scarborough, buoyed up by the party's strong showing in the Barnsley Central by-election this week. UKIP candidate Jane Collins came second with the Lib Dems' George Carman sixth. Mr Farage said: "The Lib Dems are no longer the voice of opposition in British politics - we are." "Between now and the next general election our aim is to replace them as the third party in British politics," he added. Mr Farage resumed leadership of the party last year, replacing Lord Pearson who stepped down after nine months in charge. [b]'Busted flush'[/b] Labour won the by-election with a majority of 11,771 over UKIP but Mr Farage said the Liberal Democrats were now, electorally a "busted flush" - and he claimed the Barnsley result was a sign of things to come. "We've proved it before in Euro elections but now we've come second in a by-election," Mr Farage told delegates in Scarborough. He said: "This is not a one-off result, this is a springboard and we will go on from here to fight a thousand council seats and contest in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland." "The EU is no longer an academic debate because it's affecting people in their everyday lives: it is now discussed by families at their dinner table," Mr Farage said.[/quote]

I certainly hope that does not become the case.

Fucking nationalists.

I think it would be better if the UK's third party was the Bloc Quebecois it would make a great sitcom

I think it would be better if the UK's third party was the Pirate Party. Alternatively, politicians represent their constituents and not their whips, and we then have a fairer voting system and isn't just a 3 horse race followed by years of sticking to the "masterplan"

This is certainly a real possibility, given what happened the to LibDem's voter share.

Considering the Lib dems havent lived up to all their promises, its definitely a possibility. and who else is going to take the 3rd party spot? the BNP? not likely. and UKIP is less likely to form a coalition because both the major two parties are very pro-EU

Is it just me or are developed countries just backpedaling like mad in their politics as people complain to no avail while people in oppressive countries are fighting to the death for their rights recently

[QUOTE=Triumph Forks;28445794]I think it would be better if the UK's third party was the Bloc Quebecois it would make a great sitcom[/QUOTE] No, we need the Bloc here because they often go against the conservatives

[QUOTE=Pace.;28445983]Considering the Lib dems havent lived up to all their promises, its definitely a possibility. and who else is going to take the 3rd party spot? the BNP? not likely. and UKIP is less likely to form a coalition because both the major two parties are very pro-EU[/QUOTE] Tories aren't really pro-EU, they're sort of ehhh about it

Fighting to be third place!

Nationalistic conservatives, fun. At least it's not the BNP or Green Party.

[QUOTE=TrouserDemon;28445860]This is certainly a real possibility, given what happened the to LibDem's voter share.[/QUOTE] The lib dems will probably bounce back up eventually. People are just (quite rightly) pissed off that they turned out to be a bunch of lying cunts.

Why are there 3 main parties anyway?

[QUOTE=JustExtreme;28447063]Why are there 3 main parties anyway?[/QUOTE] It's really only two parties that have a chance of getting a majority using only their mps, the lib dems are straggler ons, that's the role the UKIP want to fill

[QUOTE=O'10er;28447102]It's really only two parties that have a chance of getting a majority using only their mps, the lib dems are straggler ons, that's the role the UKIP want to fill[/QUOTE] I'd rather have UKIP and Lib Dems in that same role, both reducing the total of the two main parties.

Three right wing parties, two of which very far right. Sounds like a promising future.

[QUOTE=Zeke129;28446559]No, we need the Bloc here because they often go against the conservatives[/QUOTE]shit you're right how about we Wife Swap Lib Dems with the BQ

[QUOTE=Triumph Forks;28447295]shit you're right how about we Wife Swap Lib Dems with the BQ[/QUOTE] As long as the BQ's bring Poutine with them I'll be happy to let them run the country.

Keep dreaming, UKIP - You're becoming a radical right-wing party, nobody should take you seriously if you think segregation and going against the EU is going to make everything 'better'.

Just another conservative party.

[QUOTE=Nerts;28446796]Nationalistic conservatives, fun. At least it's not the BNP or Green Party.[/QUOTE] Why is the Green party bad? Is it because they're eco-[b]SOCIALIST[/b]?

[QUOTE=marlkarxv2;28447548]Why is the Green party bad? Is it because they're eco-[b]SOCIALIST[/b]?[/QUOTE] The greens are bad because they want to get rid of Nuclear power.

No one else seeing rudimentary fascism here? They want to withdraw from the EU, Isolationist. They want tighter Immigration control, they see themselves as superior to those coming into our country. Build up of the armed forces, The fuck do we need to build our armed forces for, we don't have any enemies at the gates. This all fucking screams bad to me.

Oh god. If they ever scrape second, I'm out of here before I get trapped. It may be many years, but the bunch of extremists and idiotic un-educated chavs that support UKIP because they think 'The fucking muslims are terrorists and don't belong here' are growing in number every election. I agree with bravehat, UKIP and BNP are both far too facist for a western government. And again, on immigration, I have to stress how this country's services NEED the skill-set of foreigners. My GP is a second-generation african, I think, so I would probably be in a whole load of shit without him. Many, many people in this country have probably had their lives saved by foreign doctors and nurses who've grown up in parts of the world with better, cheaper (as this becomes ever more important) education and better standards of life, and would strongly disagree with the UKIP/BNP racist ideals. And why the fuck do we need our forces any BIGGER? I disagree with the bungling of the Navy's Aircraft Carriers but we don't need MORE troops to send off to die fruitlessly in the middle east, leaving orphans and widows behind. Besides anything else, we don't have the money to sustain our forces.

I'm worried about how them pulling out of the EU would affect my chances of returning to the UK. While having dual nationality (British/Finnish), my British passport has long since expired.

I agree with their Policy regarding the EU, we seem to be putting a hell of a lot of money into it (that we can't afford) and I don't know what we are getting out of it. And immigration needs to be tightened on some of the people who come here to take advantage of the system, and they do. I'd want to kick out anyone who was willingly on the dole, even if they were white, UK born or not.

Uh, excuse my ignorance, but I have absolutely zero knowledge about UK politics. Can someone explain to me why everyone hates the Lib Dems? As far as I know they have a pretty agreeable political platform.

And Brave hat, you are making huge leap of logic, conservatism=/= fascism. [editline]6th March 2011[/editline] and we hate the LibDems because they are two-faced wimps, who started a coalition, then have not stood up for any of their Policies.

[QUOTE=Jon27;28453175]Oh god. If they ever scrape second, I'm out of here before I get trapped. It may be many years, but the bunch of extremists and idiotic un-educated chavs that support UKIP because they think 'The fucking muslims are terrorists and don't belong here' are growing in number every election. I agree with bravehat, UKIP and BNP are both far too facist for a western government. And again, on immigration, I have to stress how this country's services NEED the skill-set of foreigners. My GP is a second-generation african, I think, so I would probably be in a whole load of shit without him. Many, many people in this country have probably had their lives saved by foreign doctors and nurses who've grown up in parts of the world with better, cheaper (as this becomes ever more important) education and better standards of life, and would strongly disagree with the UKIP/BNP racist ideals. And why the fuck do we need our forces any BIGGER? I disagree with the bungling of the Navy's Aircraft Carriers but we don't need MORE troops to send off to die fruitlessly in the middle east, leaving orphans and widows behind. Besides anything else, we don't have the money to sustain our forces.[/QUOTE] My dad works as a ward manager in a hospital near me and he says that some of the best doctors he's ever known, as both a person and a doctor were indian and pakistani, immigrants really, they come here and feel they have something to prove so they work hard as fuck and get their jobs done to the highest standards, why the fuck get rid of them? I fucking hate these political parties, it's like we fought the second world war for fucking nothing, it's like no one has learned the fucking lessons from it and I'm fucking livid over it, millions died trying to stop people from being slaughtered because of fucking fascism and we're just rolling straight back towards it, the fact these fuckers are the 4th biggest party in the UK is fucking degrading to any sane person living in Britian. I understand having a strong armed forces, fuck I intend to join in the near future after I get some shit sorted out, but there's no need to build up a bigger army, our army is dandy for home defense and still capable of taking the fight across the world and helping out other countries, the only reason we could possibly need for building it up is for an invasion. And Sgt Doom don't bother coming back this place is going to the dogs cause of all this fucking hysteria and islamophobia and all the chavs.