UKIP's Nigel Farage Says 'Send in the Clowns'
BBC: Nigel Farage says Thursday's local elections in England and Wales signal "a real sea change" in British politics, after UKIP made early gains.

The party is averaging 26% of the vote in the wards where it is standing, something Mr Farage says puts them in a strong position for 2015.

In a jubilant mood, he told the BBC, "send in the clowns", referring to jibes from senior Tories in the war of words before Thursday's vote. Watch BBC video » | Friday, May 03, 2013

Special Report: What Voters Should Know About UKIP
THE INDEPENDENT: Is there more to the party than an obsession with immigration and getting Britain out of the European Union?


Suddenly, the UK Independence Party is the wild card of British politics. It left the Conservative Party bruised and traumatised by beating it in the Eastleigh by-election. It is tipped to win a large share of the vote in next year's European elections, may well cost David Cameron's party victory at the next general election, and is the force whose electoral magnetism many say will pull the Tories ever rightward. It is also the party – its programme and personalities – that has so far escaped scrutiny. Until now.

If Ukip had a name that truly reflected its priorities, it might be called the UK Immigrationphobe Party. Ostensibly the anti-EU party, an obsession with immigration and exit from Europe as a means to close Britain's doors is its prevailing motive. The word immigration runs through its policy statements like red lettering in seaside rock, and its proposed five-year ban on entries to the UK is the message it rams home on every doorstep.

That is far from all. It is deeply sceptical of global warming, wants to abolish inheritance tax, employers' National Insurance contributions, aims to partially reverse the recent hunting and smoking bans, and would increase defence spending by some 40 per cent. It is, in thought if not yet in personnel, the extreme right-wing of the Conservative Party in exile; a party run in the main by self-made businessmen with an agenda to match. And it has a record of defections, internecine squabbles and acrimony, plus scandals that have led two of its former MEPs to jail. » | David Randall, Brian Brady | Sunday, March 03, 2013

Eastleigh By-election: Open Tory Revolt to David Cameron's Leadership after UKIP Thrashing
LONDON EVENING STANDARD: Right wingers demand tougher policies as Lib Dems cling on to seat / Late Ukip surge fails to defeat Lib Dems / Embarrassment for Tories as they finish in third place / Mike Thornton held on to the seat vacated by disgraced ex minister Chris Huhne

Tory MPs were in open revolt against David Cameron’s touchy-feely leadership style today after being thrashed into third place behind Ukip at the Eastleigh by-election.

Right-wingers said Mr Cameron brought on the disaster by trampling on traditional Conservative values with policies like gay marriage and husky hugging.

In a strongly worded warning, backbencher Stewart Jackson, who quit as a ministerial aide over Europe, told the Standard: “Unless things are demonstrably different in terms of public perception by the early summer he will have great difficulty in persuading the electorate that we can win a general election.

“He is out of touch with the party. Both gay marriage and EU migration feed into a narrative that too much emphasis is going to the Liberal metropolitan elite and not enough to the blue-collar working vote that Margaret Thatcher had the support of.” Epping Forest’s Eleanor Laing said: “Loyalty is a two-way thing and the leadership of the Conservative Party asks for loyalty from our supporters but those supporters don’t feel that they’re getting loyalty back.”

Tory supporters felt “hurt and left out” and MPs were “in despair about the number of people who are resigning from the Party”, she told the BBC’s World at One. Backbencher Douglas Carswell urged the PM: “Don’t alienate base in return for pundit applause. Pundits don’t have many votes.”

There were calls for tougher policies on immigration, Europe and marriage. Ominously, some MPs said Mr Cameron was now on probation and a full-blown leadership crisis would blow up if the party is routed in May’s council elections. The Tory day of anger followed a night of pure drama in Eastleigh. » | Joe Murphy | Friday, March 01, 2013

Nigel Farage on Islam in the UK