Lol at calling Ukip racists . Why u mad that some ppl want strict control on immigration into the country?

There is an important discussion to be had on immigration. Making up wildly inflated statistics is probably not the most constructive way to go about it.

It's not the press that are to blame for the rise of Ukip, although that is a part of it, it's the fault of the mainstream parties and their alienation from the general voting public. Ukip certainly have some very weird members with backward views but many people seem to forgive that on the basis that at least they are 'real people' and not career politicians etc who are only capable of spouting offical party lines and are incapable of answering a straight question with a straight answer. People simply don't trust the main political parties.

Look at the Labour party for example, I honestly stuggle to tell you what they are all about these days other than going for short term head line grabbing policies (tax the bankers, tax the power companies etc) and then a lot of vague ideas or promises that don't seem to be part of any cohesive plan.

Should point out I am not a UKip voter

Yeah, whatever, xenophobic hate, not racial hate (but also racial hate for the vast majority).

I'm mad because it's stupid and wrong - morally, economically logically and factually wrong!

WTF reason could someone have to say they are against immigration even if that immigration would make the country better economically other than hate. When they talk about changing British culture that is barely even a dog whistle.

Britain already has pretty strict immigration control.

UKIP, assisted by sections of the right wing British press, have done a great job of making immigration the issue dominating political discussion. The main parties are taking on UKIP on their terms. Why, for example, have Labour not made a bigger deal about just how Thatcherite the rest of their policies are?

UKIP's xenophobic policies work because large swathes of the British population are, unfortunately, xenophobic. That's the reason these weekly "scandals" exposed by the press are not hurting their popularity. Farage revealing he wouldn't want Romanians moving next door because anybody who would potentially vote UKIP doesn't want Romanian neighbours either.

I want to play the EU election results night drinking game. Somebody come up with some rules!

Shot of beer for every seat the Lib Dems win is what they play down at the AA meet.

Lib Dems are definitely getting a kicking.

Shot for every earthquake/seismic shift analogy

Shot for every extrapolation to GE result

Fact they're the only openly pro-EU party and this is an EU election is a ray of light for Liberals everywhere, especially if you remember the majority of Brits want to stay in the EU.

Lib Dems:

Surprised the Conservatives aren't down more given the large increase that Ukip are getting.

Labour should be doing a lot better. Ed is doing his best to do as bad a job as possible.

Getting very ugly.

It's too simplistic to say UKIP are just taking Tory votes. Northerners tend to be very anti immigration while being a usual strong area for Labour. UKIP will have won a decent amount of votes from people that have not voted in a long time, looks like the turnout may be a up a good few points.

Or maybe not, looking about the same

The other thing to take into account is the BNP have been wiped out this time. Around 6% of the national vote last time.

So 6% there, 4% off the Tories, then another 5% from somewhere.

Anyone really going Lib -> UKIP?

Down your drink. Lib Dems win a seat.

Saw a poll suggesting it was a tiny % of their expected increase a few weeks ago

Yes, a not totally insignificant % of Lib Dem's have moved to UKIP. I'll try to find a source.

Starting to make more sense.

Lab taking Lib Dem and some Green votes.

UKIP taking Con and BNP plus a couple of percent on top.

Four party politics makes for a fun night next May. Can't see how Con can win with any significant UKIP vote.

That's some serious disillusion with the European dream in five years.

Isn't it a bit undignified for people like Hannan and Nuttall to earn their wage from an institution they don't believe should exist? It's like a vegetarian working at a butchers.

More that they're now a party of power, they're losing segments of their protest vote to the Greens and a token amount to UKIP. A big chunk of the Lib Dem left (8% of the electorate IIRC) has moved to Labour.

Very much so. It's scary how the EU has become more powerful whilst simultaneously becoming less democratic - a big chunk of the European Parliament will be held by people who don't want the institution to exist.