Are UKIP finished?

westernpromise

If the party's leader can't beat a Labour candidate who called Brexit "a steaming pile of 5h it" in a seat which was the capital of Brexit, where can they win?

michaels

I know we shouldn't be judgemental on looks but Nutall just looks like he would be at home in the BNP and this puts voters off in a way that cuddly Nige didn't - all this has absolutely nothing to do with the policies either of them espouse but that's politics.

I did mention on the other thread, part of the problem is the Tories are too popular at the moment - normally the incumbent parties vote would have collapsed in this sort of by election giving more scope for the third party to make progress.

Out,_Vile_Jelly

I suspect Nuttall would have been much closer if he'd been more professional and chosen some vaguely competent people for his team. It's not a "mainstream media conspiracy" to point out blatant and easily disproved lies on a website. It's alarming how thick those who wish to run our country regularly turn out to be when it comes to social media and personal vanity (please text me a picture of your winkie, ageing fat man; because I really think you're sexy, honest!!!).

Doshwaster

westernpromise wrote: »

If the party's leader can't beat a Labour candidate who called Brexit "a steaming pile of 5h it" in a seat which was the capital of Brexit, where can they win?

Not only that, Nutall only beat the baby faced Tory candidate by 80 votes in a seat where Tories are traditionally thin on the ground. If he had finished in third place then he certainly would be toast.

kinger101

I don't think UKIP will go away at any time soon. Not at least until we've finally left the EU, and Labour have got rid of their worst leader in their history. The loss in Stoke was a verdict on Nuthall and his distasteful attempt to portray himself a victim of Hillsborough.

It's worth remembering for most of it's existence, UKIP has not had a single MP.

wellused

Surely Aaron Banks will only take so much underachievement?

Ballard

I suspect that I'm not alone in thinking that Nuttall lost it by blatantly lying on his website, particularly the Hillsborough stuff. Blaming it on his secretary wouldn't have gone down well either. I would have expected Farage to have won had he stood.

To me, it does show just how poor UKIP are. They couldn't have had any procedure in place to vet the man who became leader. I think that they have to get a new leader sooner rather than later but with all of their troubles leader-wise over the last year that in itself would look desperate.

I don't happen to like the man and don't agree with anything that he has to say but Farage is an excellent orator.

UKIP aren't dead but they are seriously wounded.

Thrugelmir

michaels wrote: »

I did mention on the other thread, part of the problem is the Tories are too popular at the moment - normally the incumbent parties vote would have collapsed in this sort of by election giving more scope for the third party to make progress.

Only a 37% turnout. In an area where only 49% turned out for the 2015 General Election. So much apathy towards politics one suspects. As far removed from London as one can get. Not a result to read much into.

BobQ

UKIP will remain an influential protest group until the next election. Once we have left the EU, it will revert to a protest movement about the immigration May has failed to stop and on the outcome of the exit arrangements.

zagubov

I don't get the point of UKIP. If they'd lost the referendum, it might have reinvigorated them and given them a challenge.

In the Scottish referendum I'd have thought that were the SNP to win, they'd possibly come to an end by maybe splitting into new parties..

But UKIP have won their referendum. I don't get what they are for now. Somebody enlighten me, please.

michaels

Well I guess they see themselves representing the socially comservative working class who are not represented by the tories by definition nor my the metropolitan liberal labour party. Ie exacrtly the demographic who supported Trump in the US.