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The United Kingdom Independence Party (commonly known as UKIP, pronounced /ˈjuːkɪp/) is a British political party. Its principal aim is the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union. UKIP currently has one seat in the House of Commons, 10 seats in the European Parliament and two in the House of Lords. It also has around 60 local councillors on principal authorities, town and parish councils. It claims a membership of around 16,700. ^{[3] [4]} Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Nigel Paul Farage (born 3 April 1964 in Farnborough, Kent) is a British politician, and leader of the eurosceptic United Kingdom Independence Party. ... A Member of the European Parliament (English abbreviation MEP)[1] is a member of the European Unions directly-elected legislative body, the European Parliament. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... You may be looking for Newton Abbot (UK Parliament constituency) , Newton Abbot is a market town in Devon, England on the River Teign, with a population of 23,580 (2001 census). ... This is an overview of the ideologies of parties. ... Euroscepticism has become a general term for opposition to the process of European integration. ... Conservatism is a term used to describe political philosophies that favor tradition and gradual change, where tradition refers to religious, cultural, or nationally defined beliefs and customs. ... IND/DEM logo The Independence and Democracy (IND/DEM) group, formed July 20, 2004 is a euro-sceptic political group with 36 MEPs in the European Parliament. ... A purple plasma ball. ... This article is about the color. ... The House of Commons is a component of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also includes the Sovereign and the House of Lords. ... Established 1952, as the Common Assembly President Hans-Gert Pöttering (EPP) Since 16 January 2007 Vice-Presidents 14 Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (EPP) Alejo Vidal-Quadras (EPP) Gérard Onesta (Greens – EFA) Edward McMillan-Scott (ED) Mario Mauro (EPP) Miguel Angel Martínez Martínez (PES) Luigi Cocilovo (ALDE) Mechtild... This article is about the British House of Lords. ...

The party's policy is that the United Kingdom "shall again be governed by laws made to suit its own needs by its own Parliament, which must be directly and solely accountable to the electorate of the UK".^[5] Other policies include the reduction of taxation, the preservation of the pound sterling, promises to be tough on crime, and tighter controls on immigration.^{[citation needed]} GBP redirects here. ...

In the 2004 European elections, UKIP received 2.7 million votes (16.8% of the national vote), gaining twelve seats in the European Parliament. In the 2005 general election, the party received 618,000 votes (2.38% of the national vote). The party gained its first MP when Bob Spink, who had been sitting as an Independent Conservative, defected in April 2008.^[6] Elections to the European Parliament were held from June 10, 2004 to June 13, 2004 in the 25 member states of the European Union, using varying election days according to local custom. ... Established 1952, as the Common Assembly President Hans-Gert Pöttering (EPP) Since 16 January 2007 Vice-Presidents 14 Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (EPP) Alejo Vidal-Quadras (EPP) Gérard Onesta (Greens – EFA) Edward McMillan-Scott (ED) Mario Mauro (EPP) Miguel Angel Martínez Martínez (PES) Luigi Cocilovo (ALDE) Mechtild... The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005. ... Dr Robert Michael Spink (born 1 August 1948, Worth Valley, Yorkshire) is a politician in the United Kingdom. ...

History

Early years

UKIP was founded in 1993 by Alan Sked and other members of the all-party Anti-Federalist League. Its central aim was withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. The new party attracted some members of the anti-European wing of the Conservative Party, which was split on the European question after the pound was forced out of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism in 1992 and the struggle over ratification of the Maastricht Treaty. UKIP candidates stood in the 1997 general election, but were overshadowed by James Goldsmith's Referendum Party. After the election, Sked resigned the leadership and left the party, which was, he said, 'doomed to remain on the political fringes'. However, Goldsmith died soon after the election and his Referendum Party was dissolved, with a resulting influx of new UKIP supporters. The leadership election was won by millionaire businessman Michael Holmes, and in the 1999 elections to the European Parliament UKIP gained three seats and 7% of the vote. In that election, Nigel Farage (South East England), Jeffrey Titford (East of England), and Michael Holmes (South West England) were elected. Dr Alan Sked (born 1947) is a senior lecturer in International History at the London School of Economics. ... For the 18th century American faction, see Anti-Federalist Party The Anti-Federalist League was a small cross-party organisation in Britain, formed in 1991 to campaign against the Maastricht Treaty. ... GBP redirects here. ... The European Exchange Rate Mechanism, ERM, was a system introduced by the European Community in March 1979, as part of the European Monetary System (EMS), to reduce exchange rate variability and achieve monetary stability in Europe, in preparation for Economic and Monetary Union and the introduction of a single currency... The Maastricht Treaty (formally, the Treaty of European Union, TEU) was signed on February 7, 1992 in Maastricht, Netherlands after final negotiations in December 1991 between the members of the European Community and entered into force on November 1, 1993 during the Delors Commission. ... The UK general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997. ... James Goldsmith as he appeared in his Referendum Party’s mass-mailed video tape, March 1997. ... The Referendum Party were a single-issue party in the United Kingdom formed to contest the 1997 General Election. ... For Michael Holmes the broadcaster see Michael Holmes Michael Holmes is a former leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party and MEP for South West England. ... Established 1952, as the Common Assembly President Hans-Gert Pöttering (EPP) Since 16 January 2007 Vice-Presidents 14 Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (EPP) Alejo Vidal-Quadras (EPP) Gérard Onesta (Greens – EFA) Edward McMillan-Scott (ED) Mario Mauro (EPP) Miguel Angel Martínez Martínez (PES) Luigi Cocilovo (ALDE) Mechtild... The constituency within England. ... East of England is a constituency of the European Parliament. ... The constituency (first used 2004) within England; Gibraltar is in the inset. ...

Over the following months there was a power struggle between the leader, Michael Holmes, and the party's National Executive Committee (NEC). This was partly due to Holmes making a speech perceived as calling for greater powers for the European Parliament against the European Commission. Ordinary party members forced the resignation of both Holmes and the entire NEC. Holmes resigned from the party itself in March 2000. There was a legal battle when he tried to continue as an independent MEP until resigning from the European Parliament in December 2002, when he was replaced by Graham Booth, the second candidate on the UKIP list in South West England. Established 1952, as the Common Assembly President Hans-Gert Pöttering (EPP) Since 16 January 2007 Vice-Presidents 14 Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (EPP) Alejo Vidal-Quadras (EPP) Gérard Onesta (Greens – EFA) Edward McMillan-Scott (ED) Mario Mauro (EPP) Miguel Angel Martínez Martínez (PES) Luigi Cocilovo (ALDE) Mechtild... Berlaymont, the Commissions seat The European Commission (formally the Commission of the European Communities) is the executive branch of the European Union. ... Graham H. Booth (born 1940) is an English politician, and Member of the European Parliament for South West England. ...

Jeffrey Titford was narrowly elected to the vacant leadership. Jeffrey William Titford is an British politician, former leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party, and member of the European Parliament for the East of England. ...

2001 general election

UKIP put up candidates in more than 420 seats in the 2001 general election, coming fifth in terms of votes cast (with 1.5% of the vote) and failing to win any representation at Westminster. It also failed to break through in the elections to the Scottish Parliament or the Welsh Assembly, despite those elections being held under proportional representation. In 2002 Titford stood down as party leader, but continued to sit as a UKIP MEP. He was replaced as leader by Roger Knapman. Tony Blair William Hague Charles Kennedy The UK general election, 2001 was held on 7 June 2001 and was dubbed the quiet landslide by the media. ... For the national legislative body up to 1707, see Parliament of Scotland. ... Proportional representation (sometimes referred to as full representation, or PR), is a category of electoral formula aiming at a close match between the percentage of votes that groups of candidates (grouped by a certain measure) obtain in elections and the percentage of seats they receive (usually in legislative assemblies). ... Roger Maurice Knapman (born 20 February 1944 in Crediton, Devon) is a British politician, and is the former leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP). ...

Robert Kilroy-Silk

In late 2004, reports in the mainstream UK press speculated on if or when former Labour Party MP and chat-show host Robert Kilroy-Silk would take control of the party. These reports were heightened by Kilroy-Silk's speech at the UKIP party conference in Bristol on 2 October 2004, in which he called for the Conservative Party to be "killed off" (following UKIP's forcing the Conservatives into fourth place in Hartlepool). The Labour Party is a political party in the United Kingdom. ... Robert Michael Kilroy-Silk (born 19 May 1942) is a British politician and is well-known as the presenter of his former daytime television confessional talk show Kilroy. ... is the 275th day of the year (276th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Conservative Party, officially though less commonly known as the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a political party in the United Kingdom. ... Location of Hartlepool constituency On July 23, 2004, the Member of Parliament for Hartlepool, Peter Mandelson (Labour), was nominated as Britains new European Commissioner. ...

Interviewed by Channel 4 television, Kilroy-Silk did not deny having ambitions to lead the party, but stressed that Roger Knapman would lead it into the next general election. However, the next day, on Breakfast with Frost, he criticised Knapman's leadership. After further disagreement with the leadership, on 27 October 2004 Kilroy-Silk resigned the UKIP whip in the European Parliament. Initially he remained a member, while seeking a bid for the party leadership. However, this was not successful, and Kilroy-Silk resigned completely from UKIP on 20 January 2005, calling it a "joke". Two weeks later, he founded his own party, Veritas, taking several UKIP members, including both London Assembly members, with him. Kilroy-Silk has subsequently resigned from Veritas. This article is about the British television station. ... Sir David Paradine Frost, OBE (born April 7, 1939) is an English television presenter. ... is the 300th day of the year (301st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 20 is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Veritas is a political party in the United Kingdom, formed in February 2005 by politician-celebrity Robert Kilroy-Silk following a split from the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP). ...

2006 leadership election

In October 2005, Petrina Holdsworth resigned as Chairman of UKIP and from the party's National Executive Committee. She was replaced as Chairman "on an interim basis" by the party's former leader, Jeffrey Titford MEP. In December 2005, David Campbell-Bannerman, a former Conservative, became the new party chairman, appointed by the party leader, Roger Knapman MEP. Knapman's four-year term as leader ended in June 2006, triggering a leadership contest that saw four challengers: (Richard Suchorzewski, David Campbell-Bannerman, David Noakes and Nigel Farage), from which Farage emerged as victor on 12 September 2006. Petrina Holdsworth Petrina Holdsworth is a British Politician, formerly National Chairman of the UK Independence Party History In October 2005 she resigned from the Party Chairmanship and NEC only to return as Chairman and NEC member a day later. ... Jeffrey William Titford is an British politician, former leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party, and member of the European Parliament for the East of England. ... David Campbell-Bannerman is a British politician and is Chairman of the UK Independence Party. ... Roger Maurice Knapman (born 20 February 1944 in Crediton, Devon) is a British politician, and is the former leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP). ... Richard Suchorzewski (born 1963) is a British politician and is Chairman of UKIP Wales. ... Nigel Paul Farage (born 3 April 1964 in Farnborough, Kent) is a British politician, and leader of the eurosceptic United Kingdom Independence Party. ... is the 255th day of the year (256th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Farage's stated intention is to broaden the public perception of UKIP beyond merely being a party seeking to get the UK out of the EU, to one of being a free market party broadly standing for traditional conservative and libertarian values. A free market is an idealized market, where all economic decisions and actions by individuals regarding transfer of money, goods, and services are voluntary, and are therefore devoid of coercion and theft (some definitions of coercion are inclusive of theft). Colloquially and loosely, a free market economy is an economy... Conservatism is a term used to describe political philosophies that favor tradition and gradual change, where tradition refers to religious, cultural, or nationally defined beliefs and customs. ... See also Libertarianism and Libertarian Party Libertarian,is a term for person who has made a conscious and principled commitment, evidenced by a statement or Pledge, to forswear violating others rights and usually living in voluntary communities: thus in law no longer subject to government supervision. ...

Proposed change of name

It was announced on 5 February 2007 that UKIP intended to change its name to Independence Party. This change was to be subject to a postal ballot of members, and would have to be accepted by the Electoral Commission under the Registration of Political Parties Act.^[7] is the 36th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... The Electorial Commission is an independent body with powers in the United Kingdom, which was created by an Act of Parliament, the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. ...

Some policies

Although the UKIP's original raison d'être was the EU, it has now expanded from being a single-issue party to developing a full domestic agenda, starting with a wide-ranging review and the establishment of a policy development group. UKIP has produced detailed policy documents on taxation ^[8] and education ^[9]. Its economic stance is based what it claims to be the need for much lower taxation in order to compete internationally, a position which has been reinforced since the election of Nigel Farage as leader in September 2006. A single-issue party is a political party that only campaigns on one issue. ...

On Europe

UKIP contends that Britain's membership is expensive and that Britain's sovereignty is diluted by being part of a large bloc. In particular, it perceives the latter issue as being so fundamental a problem that only complete withdrawal from the Union can address it. For this reason, the aim of British withdrawal from the EU is written into UKIP's constitution. In line with this, one of UKIP's political goals is to break what it sees as the pro-EU consensus among the three established parties, and prevent the introduction of the euro and the adoption of a European constitution. For other uses, see Euro (disambiguation). ... The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, commonly referred to as the European Constitution, is an international treaty intended to create a constitution for the European Union. ...

Economic policies

UKIP favours a 'Flat Tax' as well as cuts in corporation taxes and the abolition of inheritance taxes.^[10] A flat tax, also called a proportional tax, is a system that taxes all entities in a class (typically either citizens or corporations) at the same rate (as a proportion on income), as opposed to a graduated, or progressive, scheme. ...

ID cards

UKIP are against the planned introduction of identity cards, believing them to be ineffective as a way of combating fraud and terrorism, and an infringement of individual liberty. In December 2004 UKIP affiliated to the anti-ID card campaign, No2ID. Concern for civil liberties also led UKIP to oppose the Civil Contingencies Act 2004^[11], which gives additional powers to the UK Home Secretary in broadly defined "emergency situations". UKIP's Jeffrey Titford MEP condemned the bill as "totalitarian". ^[12] Enabling legislation for the British national identity card was passed under the Identity Cards Act 2006. ... The NO2ID coalition was formed in 2004 to campaign against the United Kingdom governments plans to introduce UK ID Cards and the associated National Identity Register. ... The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the United Kingdom Home Office and is responsible for internal affairs in England and Wales, and for immigration and citizenship for the whole United Kingdom (including Scotland and Northern Ireland). ... Jeffrey William Titford is an British politician, former leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party, and member of the European Parliament for the East of England. ... A Member of the European Parliament (English abbreviation MEP)[1] is a member of the European Unions directly-elected legislative body, the European Parliament. ...

Devolution and unionism

Although UKIP is strongly opposed to the centralisation of power and to political union in Europe, it is a strong supporter of the centralisation of power and political union in the UK. It argues that, within the UK itself, all political power should reside at Westminster. UKIP therefore both opposes the notion of a devolved English parliament and argues that the Scottish Parliament and Welsh and Northern Irish Assemblies should be abolished, with all parliamentary powers returning to Westminster^{[citation needed]}. EU redirects here. ... Act of Union can mean: United Kingdom The Act of Union is a name given to several acts passed by the English, Scottish and British Parliaments from 1536 onwards. ... A devolved English Parliament, giving separate decision-making powers to representatives for voters in England similar to the representation given by the Welsh Assembly, Scottish Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly, is currently an issue in British politics. ... For the national legislative body up to 1707, see Parliament of Scotland. ... Established 1999 by the Government of Wales Act 1998 Presiding Officer Lord Elis-Thomas AM (Plaid) Since May 12, 1999 Deputy Presiding Officer Rosemary Butler AM (Lab) Leader of the House Carwyn Jones AM (Lab) Chief Executive and Clerk to the Assembly Claire Clancy Political parties 6 Welsh Labour (26... The logo of the Northern Ireland Assembly, a six flowered linen or flax plant. ... Type Bicameral Houses House of Commons House of Lords Speaker of the House of Commons Michael Martin MP Speaker of the House of Lords Hélène Hayman, PC Members 1377 (646 Commons, 731 Peers) Political groups Labour Party Conservative Party Liberal Democrats Scottish National Party Plaid Cymru Democratic Unionist...

Climate change

UKIP argues in favour of the expansion of nuclear power for reasons of energy security as well as to cut carbon emissions. It does not think large-scale cuts of carbon emissions are necessary. It also argues that plans to invest in wind power are uneconomic.^[13] Nuclear power plants in United Kingdom (view)  Active plants  Closed plants As of 2006, the United Kingdom operates 24 nuclear reactors generating one-fifth of its electricity (19. ... Wind power in the United Kingdom passed the milestone of 2 GW installed capacity on 9 February 2007, equivalent to two coal fired power stations, with the opening of the Braes ODoune wind farm, near Stirling. ...

Electoral performance 2004-2008

UKIP's first electoral success was the election of three MEPs in 1999, and it made further advances in 2004. Although it increased its share of the vote in both the 2001 general election and 2005 general election, it did not achieve the same levels of vote as in those elections to the European Parliament. Tony Blair William Hague Charles Kennedy The UK general election, 2001 was held on 7 June 2001 and was dubbed the quiet landslide by the media. ... The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005. ...

UKIP's expectations were high before the 2004 European Parliament election, with a number of opinion polls – starting with one from YouGov - showing them on course to beat the Liberal Democrats and pick up a dozen MEPs. The prediction proved accurate, with UKIP winning 16.8% of the vote and taking third place nationally, with 12 seats. UKIP won seats in eight regions, taking votes from all three major political parties. It came second, ahead of both Labour and the Liberal Democrats, in four regions: South West, South East, Eastern and East Midlands. In the East Midlands region, UKIP came within a percentage point of being top of the poll. UKIP received assistance in coordinating its 2004 election campaign from Dick Morris, formerly Bill Clinton's campaign advisor, who has since emerged as an advocate of US unilateralism and an opponent of the EU. Elections to the European Parliament were held from June 10, 2004 to June 13, 2004 in the 25 member states of the European Union, using varying election days according to local custom. ... YouGov is a British internet-based market research firm. ... The Liberal Democrats, often shortened to Lib Dems, is a liberal political party in the United Kingdom formed in 1988 by the merger of the Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party; the two parties had already been in an alliance for seven years prior to this, since not long... Dick Morris (born November 28, 1948 in New York City) is an American political author, newspaper columnist, and commentator who previously worked as a pollster, political campaign consultant, and general political consultant. ... William Jefferson Bill Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III[1] on August 19, 1946) was the 42nd President of the United States, serving from 1993 to 2001. ... Look up Unilateralism in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

In the 2005 general election, despite fielding 495 candidates, the party failed to win any seats at Westminster. UKIP gained 618,000 votes, or 2.4% of the total votes cast (an increase of 220,000 votes/0.9% from its result in the 2001 general election). Although this may be regarded as respectable for a small party, and was sufficient to place it fourth in terms of total votes cast behind the Liberal Democrats, the Liberal Democrats polled, as is customary, in excess of 20% of the total vote cast. UKIP's best result was in Boston & Skegness, where their candidate Richard Horsnell came third with 9.6% of the vote.

In the 2006 English local elections, UKIP won its first borough council seat in Hartlepool, when Stephen Allison was elected for the St. Hilda Ward. UKIP also beat Labour into fourth place in the Bromley and Chislehurst by-election in June 2006. The UKIP candidate, Nigel Farage, came third with 8.1% of the vote, against Labour's 6.6%. , Hartlepool (IPA: ) is a North Sea port in North East England. ... A by-election has been called for the UK parliament constituency of Bromley and Chislehurst, in London, following the death of Conservative Member of Parliament Eric Forth on 17 May 2006. ... Nigel Paul Farage (born 3 April 1964 in Farnborough, Kent) is a British politician, and leader of the eurosceptic United Kingdom Independence Party. ...

In May 2008 the Greater London Assembly elections saw the UKIP vote fall dramatically from over 8% to under 2% on the pan-London proportional list vote. In the London Mayoral election UKIP candidate, Gerard Batten's result was over 5% lower than Frank Maloney's result in 2004. However in the local elections in England and Wales, held on the same day, the UK Independence Party doubled its representation on Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, gaining two seats from the Labour Party, and gained its second councillor in Hartlepool. The London mayoral election, 2008 for the office of Mayor of London was held on 1 May 2008 and was won by Conservative party candidate Boris Johnson. ... Gerard Batten (born March 27, 1954 in London) is a Member of the European Parliament for London for the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP). ... Frank Maloney is a boxing manager and promoter and United Kingdom Independence Party politian. ... The Labour Party is a political party in the United Kingdom. ... , Hartlepool (IPA: ) is a North Sea port in North East England. ...

Relationship with other parties

The Conservatives

UKIP is often seen as a "Tory pressure group", whose main aim is to persuade the Conservative Party to support withdrawal from the European Union. Many prominent members of UKIP are former members of the Conservative Party, such as former UKIP leader Roger Knapman; in addition, some of the staff at Conservative Central Office are former UKIP candidates.^{[citation needed]}

Although UKIP did not come close to winning any seats at the 2005 general election, it polled well enough that their votes, if added to the Conservative candidates totals constituency by constituency, would have led to Conservative majorities in 22 more seats (13 of which were won by Labour, 9 by the Liberal Democrats). This has led to UKIP being criticised for preventing the election of eurosceptic Conservative MPs. UKIP counter by saying that they will not oppose any incumbent MPs from any party who support the Better Off Out campaign. A recent ConservativeHome survey revealed that 43% of surveyed members of the Conservative Party felt that UKIP was the closest party to their views (apart from the Conservative Party itself)^[14], with 66% either supporting or sympathising with the Better Off Out campaign. Six Conservative MPs have signed the Better Off Out petition. Better Off Out is the name of a campaign run by the Freedom Association to call for Britains withdrawal from the European Union. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Tim Montgomerie. ...

In April 2006 Conservative Party leader David Cameron called UKIP members "fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists" while talking on LBC radio in London after a question about UKIP using the Freedom of Information Act to force the disclosure of donors. UKIP demanded an apology for the "closet racists" remark and threatened legal action for slander, although this was later dropped, on the grounds that to sue the party would have to prove loss, and the comment had actually had a positive effect for UKIP. Conservative MP Bob Spink criticised his leader's remarks, as did the pro-Conservative Daily Telegraph. ^[15] The Conservative Party, officially though less commonly known as the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a political party in the United Kingdom. ... For the Canadian ice hockey player, see Dave Cameron. ... LBC Radio (originally the London Broadcasting Company) operates two London-based radio stations, with news and talk formats. ... Dr Robert Michael Spink (born 1 August 1948, Worth Valley, Yorkshire) is a politician in the United Kingdom. ... This article deals with The Daily Telegraph in Britain, see The Daily Telegraph (Australia) for the Australian publication The Daily Telegraph is a British broadsheet newspaper founded in 1855. ...

Defection of Conservative peers to UKIP

On 9 January 2007, two former Conservative peers defected from the Conservative Party to the UKIP. Lords Pearson and Willoughby de Broke joined the UKIP as they felt the Conservative Party was not producing policy to support their beliefs. They had previously had the Conservative whip withdrawn when they had encouraged voters to support UKIP. Other high-profile Conservatives have defected to UKIP, but this is the first example of sitting parliamentarians doing so. On 20 January 2007 the Earl of Dartmouth, also a former Tory peer, defected.^[16] On 22 April 2008 Conservative MP Bob Spink defected to UKIP, giving the party its first representative in the House of Commons.^[17] is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... Malcolm Everard MacLaren Pearson, Baron Pearson of Rannoch (20 July 1942— ) is a businessman and former Conservative member of the House of Lords. ... January 20 is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... The title of Earl of Dartmouth was created in the Peerage of Great Britain in 1711 for William Legge, 2nd Baron Dartmouth, who was then Secretary of State for the Southern Department. ... is the 112th day of the year (113th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... Dr Robert Michael Spink (born 1 August 1948, Worth Valley, Yorkshire) is a politician in the United Kingdom. ... The House of Commons is a component of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also includes the Sovereign and the House of Lords. ...

Far-right parties

UKIP's constitution contains a clause guaranteeing that the party will not discriminate on the grounds of race and will be non-sectarian, and the party's rules require all candidates to declare that they have no past or present links with far-right organisations.

Despite its stated policies, some critics of UKIP claim links between it and racist groups. Aidan Rankin, co-author of the party's 2001 manifesto, was once involved with the Third Way, which was founded by former members of the National Front (though he has since repudiated these views and has denied ever being a racist; it must also be stated that Third Way has never been as extreme as the NF). Alistair McConnachie, a five-times UKIP candidate and National Executive member, was expelled from UKIP for his views on the Holocaust. ^[18] Some other candidates were formerly members of the New Britain Party. Third Way General Election poster displayed by Party supporters in their windows National Liberal Party - The Third Way poster The Third Way is a British political party that was formed on 17 March 1990. ... The British National Front (most commonly called the National Front) is a British far right political party whose major political activities were during the 1970s and 1980s. ... “Shoah” redirects here. ... In existence since 1977, the New Britain Party (NBP) has been led since its inception by Dennis Delderfield, a newspaper owner. ...

It has been a stated policy of the British National Party (BNP) to "eliminate" UKIP, as they perceive that UKIP's existence prevents them from capitalising on the issue of EU membership. The BNP has infiltrated UKIP in the past, notably in the cases of Mark Deavin, a UKIP head office researcher (hired by the party founder Alan Sked) who was exposed as a BNP agent in 1997, and John Brayshaw in 2004. ^[19] The aim appears simply to have been to damage UKIP. The British National Party (BNP) is a white nationalist political party in the United Kingdom. ...

Minority members of UKIP

The first ethnic-minority candidate to represent UKIP in a parliamentary by-election was Ashwinkumar Tanna, a pharmacist who had previously been an independent candidate for Mayor of London. He represented UKIP in the Tottenham by-election, 2000; his campaign, which called for British withdrawal from the EU and fairer treatment for immigrants, was ignored by the media apart from a brief paragraph in Chemist and Druggist magazine. The mortar and pestle is an international symbol of pharmacists and pharmacies. ... This article is about the elected mayor of Greater London. ... The Labour Member of Parliament for Tottenham, Bernie Grant, died on April 8, 2000, creating a by-election in his constituency. ...

Perhaps the best-known black member of UKIP is former TV chef Rustie Lee, who stood as a candidate in the 2005 general election and also appeared in the party's election broadcast that year. The most senior black member of the UKIP leadership is Delroy Young, another general election candidate, who was elected to the party's NEC in 2006 (coming 2nd out of 46 candidates). Young recently received death threats, allegedly on the orders of a senior party member.^[20] UKIP's only Muslim local councillor to date was Mohammed Yaqub, originally elected as a Conservative to Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council. He and a colleague defected to UKIP in 2004 but were defeated in their re-election bids a few months later. Rustie Lee was a famous TV chef in the 1980s on UK morning show, TV-AM. She was born in Jamaica. ... The Conservative Party, officially though less commonly known as the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a political party in the United Kingdom. ... , Walsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. ...

Membership

Current membership is claimed to be around 16,700. Members receive personal invitations to area events in advance, the full-colour party magazine Independence, and a membership card. Members also receive the magazine "Bulletin from Brussels" and regular newsletters from their local branches and MEPs.

Members are invited to, and may participate and vote at, the national conference, as well as annual and extraordinary general meetings. Membership costs £20.00 per annum, or £10.00 per annum for OAPs, students and those on benefits.

Current representatives

UKIP has three representatives in the Parliament of the United Kingdom: Bob Spink in the House of Commons, who joined the party in April 2008, and Lord Pearson of Rannoch and Lord Willoughby de Broke in the House of Lords. All three were selected or elected to Parliament representing the Conservative Party: Spink joined UKIP having already left the Conservatives, whilst the two Lords directly defected in January 2007. ^[21] UKIP has around 60 district, town and parish councillors. Although the party does not provide a list of councillors, an unofficial list is maintained on the British Democracy Forum. ^[22] Type Bicameral Houses House of Commons House of Lords Speaker of the House of Commons Michael Martin MP Speaker of the House of Lords Hélène Hayman, PC Members 1377 (646 Commons, 731 Peers) Political groups Labour Party Conservative Party Liberal Democrats Scottish National Party Plaid Cymru Democratic Unionist... Dr Robert Michael Spink (born 1 August 1948, Worth Valley, Yorkshire) is a politician in the United Kingdom. ... Type Lower House Speaker Michael Martin, (Non-affiliated) since October 23, 2000 Leader Harriet Harman, (Labour) since June 28, 2007 Shadow Leader Theresa May, (Conservative) since May 5, 2005 Members 659 Political groups Labour Party Conservative Party Liberal Democrats Scottish National Party Plaid Cymru Democratic Unionist Party Sinn Féin... Malcolm Everard MacLaren Pearson, Baron Pearson of Rannoch (20 July 1942— ) is a businessman and independent Conservative member of the House of Lords. ... This article is about the British House of Lords. ...

Ashley Mote, who was elected as a Member of the European Parliament for UKIP in 2004 but had the party whip withdrawn within days, joined the far-right Identity, Tradition and Sovereignty grouping in the European Parliament, alongside parties like the French National Front. Mote, who was elected for the South East England constituency, had the UKIP whip removed on 15 July 2004, because he had not informed them previously of an imminent court case involving housing benefit fraud. He was subsequently made to leave the party and is currently serving a 9-month jail sentence for several counts of fraud.^[23] On 28 February 2007 UKIP suspended Tom Wise due to his being under investigation by OLAF (the European Anti Fraud Office)^[24]. Ashley Mote is a Member of the European Parliament for South East England. ... A Member of the European Parliament (English abbreviation MEP)[1] is a member of the European Unions directly-elected legislative body, the European Parliament. ... In politics, a whip is a member of a political party in a legislature whose task is to ensure that members of the party attend and vote as the party leadership desires. ... Identity, Tradition and Sovereignty is a political group in the European Parliament composed of twenty MEPs from European parties variously described as far right and extreme nationalist. ... Established 1952, as the Common Assembly President Hans-Gert Pöttering (EPP) Since 16 January 2007 Vice-Presidents 14 Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (EPP) Alejo Vidal-Quadras (EPP) Gérard Onesta (Greens – EFA) Edward McMillan-Scott (ED) Mario Mauro (EPP) Miguel Angel Martínez Martínez (PES) Luigi Cocilovo (ALDE) Mechtild... The National Front (FN, French: ) is a French Far right, nationalist [1] political party, founded in 1972 by Jean-Marie Le Pen. ... The constituency within England. ... is the 196th day of the year (197th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Typically, defrauding a government by falsely claiming state help or money. ... is the 59th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... Tom Wise (born on 13 May 1948 in Bournemouth, Hampshire) is a Member of the European Parliament for the East of England for the United Kingdom Independence Party, part of the Independence and Democracy grouping. ... The given name Olav (Olaf, Olof, Olaus), the name of Saint Olav, patron of Norway, has also been borne by a number of other Norwegian kings. ...

The remaining MEPs are:

East Midlands is a constituency of the European Parliament. ... Derek Clark is a British politician, and Member of the European Parliament for the East Midlands region. ... East of England is a constituency of the European Parliament. ... Jeffrey William Titford is an British politician, former leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party, and member of the European Parliament for the East of England. ... London is a constituency of the European Parliament. ... Gerard Batten (born March 27, 1954 in London) is a Member of the European Parliament for London for the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP). ... The constituency within England. ... Dr John Whittaker (born June 7, 1945 in Oldham, Lancashire) is a Member of the European Parliament for the North West England region, for the United Kingdom Independence Party. ... The constituency within England. ... Nigel Paul Farage (born 3 April 1964 in Farnborough, Kent) is a British politician, and leader of the eurosceptic United Kingdom Independence Party. ... The constituency (first used 2004) within England; Gibraltar is in the inset. ... Graham H. Booth (born 1940) is an English politician, and Member of the European Parliament for South West England. ... Roger Maurice Knapman (born 20 February 1944 in Crediton, Devon) is a British politician, and is the former leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP). ... West Midlands is a constituency of the European Parliament. ... Mike Natrass is a British politician, and Member of the European Parliament for the West Midlands region for the United Kingdom Independence Party. ... Yorkshire and the Humber is a constituency of the European Parliament. ... Godfrey Bloom is a Member of the European Parliament for Yorkshire and the Humber for the United Kingdom Independence Party. ... East of England is a constituency of the European Parliament. ... Tom Wise (born on 13 May 1948 in Bournemouth, Hampshire) is a Member of the European Parliament for the East of England for the United Kingdom Independence Party, part of the Independence and Democracy grouping. ...

Leaders of the UK Independence Party since 1993

• Dr Alan Sked 1993-1997
• Craig Mackinlay 1997 (acting leader)
• Michael Holmes 1997-2000 (MEP from 1999 on)
• Jeffrey Titford, MEP 2000-2002
• Roger Knapman, MEP 2002-2006
• Nigel Farage, MEP 2006-present

Dr Alan Sked (born 1947) is a senior lecturer in International History at the London School of Economics. ... For Michael Holmes the broadcaster see Michael Holmes Michael Holmes is a former leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party and MEP for South West England. ... Jeffrey William Titford is an British politician, former leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party, and member of the European Parliament for the East of England. ... Roger Maurice Knapman (born 20 February 1944 in Crediton, Devon) is a British politician, and is the former leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP). ... Nigel Paul Farage (born 3 April 1964 in Farnborough, Kent) is a British politician, and leader of the eurosceptic United Kingdom Independence Party. ...

Eurosceptics in the European Parliament

In 2004, 37 MEPs from the UK, Poland, Denmark and Sweden founded a new European Parliament group called Independence and Democracy from the old Europe of Democracies and Diversities (EDD) group. The group's leaders are Nigel Farage of UKIP and Kathy Sinnott from Ireland.^[25] A Member of the European Parliament (English abbreviation MEP)[1] is a member of the European Unions directly-elected legislative body, the European Parliament. ... Established 1952, as the Common Assembly President Hans-Gert Pöttering (EPP) Since 16 January 2007 Vice-Presidents 14 Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (EPP) Alejo Vidal-Quadras (EPP) Gérard Onesta (Greens – EFA) Edward McMillan-Scott (ED) Mario Mauro (EPP) Miguel Angel Martínez Martínez (PES) Luigi Cocilovo (ALDE) Mechtild... IND/DEM logo The Independence and Democracy (IND/DEM) group, formed July 20, 2004 is a euro-sceptic political group with 36 MEPs in the European Parliament. ... Europe of Democracies and Diversities was a euro-sceptic political group with seats in the European Parliament between 1999 and 2004. ... Nigel Paul Farage (born 3 April 1964 in Farnborough, Kent) is a British politician, and leader of the eurosceptic United Kingdom Independence Party. ... Kathy Sinnott (born September 29, 1950 in Chicago, Illinois, USA) is an Irish disability rights campaigner and politician. ...

See also

• Euroscepticism

Euroscepticism has become a general term for opposition to the process of European integration. ...

References

This article deals with The Daily Telegraph in Britain, see The Daily Telegraph (Australia) for the Australian publication The Daily Telegraph is a British broadsheet newspaper founded in 1855. ... is the 112th day of the year (113th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see 5th October (Serbia). ... The Politics Show is an hour long BBC television programme broadcast in the United Kingdom on Sundays at Midday. ... This article is an overview article about the Crown chartered British Broadcasting Corporation formed in 1927. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 176th day of the year (177th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 290th day of the year (291st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 247th day of the year (248th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ...

External links

• Official UKIP homepage
• UKIP official YouTube channel
• UKIP's MEPs explain their aims
• Full history of UKIP : "Hard Pounding, The Story of the UK Independence Party"