Jump to content
Main menu Navigation ●Main page ●Contents ●Current events ●Random article ●About Wikipedia ●Contact us ●Donate Contribute ●Help ●Learn to edit ●Community portal ●Recent changes ●Upload file
●Create account ●Log in ●Create account ● Log in Pages for logged out editors learn more ●Contributions ●Talk
View source for UK Independence Party

●Article ●Talk ●Read ●View source ●View history Tools Actions ●Read ●View source ●View history General ●What links here ●Related changes ●Upload file ●Special pages ●Page information ●Get shortened URL ●Download QR code ●Wikidata item Appearance ← UK Independence Party You do not have permission to edit this page, for the following reason:
This page is currently semi-protected so that only established, registered users can edit it.
Why is the page protected?

While most articles can be edited by anyone, semi-protection is sometimes necessary to prevent vandalism to popular pages.
The reason for protection can be found in the protection log. If there are no relevant entries in the protection log, the page may have been moved after being protected.
What can I do?

If you have a user account, log in first. If you do not yet have an account, you may create one; after 4 days and 10 edits, you will be able to edit semi-protected pages.
Discuss this page with others.
For move-protected pages, see requested moves.
Request that the page's protection level be reduced.
Find out more about how to get started editing Wikipedia.
If you have noticed an error or have a suggestion for a simple, non-controversial change, you can submit an edit request by clicking the button below and following the instructions. An established user may then make the change on your behalf. Please check the talk page first in case the issue is already being discussed.
Submit an edit request
If you wrote any text, please save it temporarily to your device until you can edit this page.
You can view and copy the source of this page:
{{short description|British political party}}
{{pp-semi|small=yes}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Infobox political party
| name             = UK Independence Party
| logo             = UK Independence Party logo (2022).svg
| logo_size        = 150px
| colorcode        = {{party color|UK Independence Party}}
| abbreviation     = UKIP
| leader1_title    = [[UK Independence Party#Leadership|Interim leader]]
| leader1_name     = Nick Tenconi<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-25 |title=Party Leadership Update |url=https://www.ukip.org/party-leadership-update |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=UKIP.org |language=en}}</ref>
| leader2_title    = Honorary President
| leader2_name     = [[Neil Hamilton (politician)|Neil Hamilton]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ukip.org/leadership|title=UKIP – Leadership|website=www.ukip.org}}</ref>
| leader3_title    = Chairman
| leader3_name     = Ben Walker
| leader4_title    = General Secretary
| leader4_name     = Donald Mackay<ref name="ukip">{{cite web|url=https://www.ukip.org/our-people|title=UKIP – Our People|website=www.ukip.org}}</ref>
| leader5_title    = Treasurer
| leader5_name     = Ian Garbutt<ref name="ukip"/>
| leader6_title    = 
| leader6_name     = 
| founder          = [[Alan Sked]]
| foundation       = {{Nowrap|{{start date and age|df=yes|1993|9|3}}}}
| dissolution      = 
| predecessor      = [[Anti-Federalist League]]
| headquarters     = Henleaze Business Centre, 13 Harbury Road, Henleaze, Bristol, BS9 4PN<ref>{{cite web |title=UKIP United Kingdom Independence Party |url=https://www.ukip.org/ |access-date=30 November 2021}}</ref>
| youth_wing       = Young Independence
| membership_year  = 2020
| membership       = {{decrease}} 3,888<ref name="31 December 2020 membership">{{cite web |title=United Kingdom Independence Party Limited (a company limited by guarantee) report and accounts 31 December 2020 |url=http://search.electoralcommission.org.uk/Api/Accounts/Documents/23513 |website=Electoral Commission |date=31 December 2020 |access-date=19 October 2021}}</ref>
| ideology         = <!-- Please do NOT add "Libertarianism" here, even if sourced. Reliable sources dispute whether UKIP is actually libertarian. Consensus should be achieved on the talk page before it is added. -->{{ubl|class=nowrap|
 |[[Euroscepticism]]{{sfnm|1a1=Lynch|1a2=Whitaker|1a3=Loomes|1y=2012|1p=733|2a1=Tournier-Sol|2y=2015|2pp=141–42}}<ref name="parties-and-elections.eu"/>
 |[[Right-wing populism]]<ref name="parties-and-elections.eu"/>{{sfnm|1a1=Abedi|1a2=Lundberg|1y=2009|1p=72|2a1=Jones|2y=2011|2p=245|3a1=Dolezal|3y=2012|3p=142|4a1=Liebert|4y=2012|4p=123|5a1=Art|5y=2011|5p=188|6a1=Driver|6y=2011|6p=149}}
 |[[National conservatism]]<ref>{{cite book|title=Aligning Geopolitics, Humanitarian Action and Geography in Times of Conflict|year=2019|first=Gerry|last=O'Reilly|publisher=Springer|page=47}}</ref>
 |[[Economic liberalism]]<ref name="parties-and-elections.eu">{{cite web |last=Nordsieck |first=Wolfram |title=United Kingdom |url=http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/unitedkingdom.html |url-status=dead |work=Parties and Elections in Europe |year=2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190309175330/http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/unitedkingdom.html |archive-date=9 March 2019}}</ref>
 |[[British nationalism]]<ref>{{cite news|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=18 April 2018|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/18/world/europe/britain-snap-election-brexit-theresa-may-questions.html|title=Key Points About a Snap Election in Britain|access-date=20 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920085527/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/18/world/europe/britain-snap-election-brexit-theresa-may-questions.html|archive-date=20 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
| position         = {{nowrap|[[Right-wing]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Schindler |first=Jörg |title=We Want Fundamental Political Change |url=https://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/interview-with-brexit-party-leader-nigel-farage-a-1267728.html |url-status=live |work=Der Spiegel |date=16 May 2019 |access-date=22 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521223810/https://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/interview-with-brexit-party-leader-nigel-farage-a-1267728.html |archive-date=21 May 2019}}</ref> to [[far-right]]<ref>{{bulleted list|{{cite book |last1=Havlík |first1=Vlastimil |last2=Hloušek |first2=Vít |last3=Kaniok |first3=Petr |title=Europeanised Defiance – Czech Euroscepticism since 2004 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8CRpDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA108 |publisher=Verlag Barbara Budrich |year=2017 |page=108 |isbn=978-3-8474-1085-0}}|{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/03/new-ukip-members-shifting-party-far-right|title=Revealed: Ukip membership surge shifts party to far right|last1=Walker|first1=Peter|last2=Halliday|first2=Josh|date=3 March 2019|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=21 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321175746/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/03/new-ukip-members-shifting-party-far-right|archive-date=21 March 2019|url-status=live}}|{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/angry-brexiteers-are-splitting-into-factions-as-ukip-is-taken-over-by-far-right-extremists-6xhnkhcct|title=Angry Brexiteers are splitting into factions as Ukip is taken over by far-right extremists|last=Goodwin|first=Matthew|date=3 February 2019|work=[[The Times]]|access-date=21 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321175744/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/angry-brexiteers-are-splitting-into-factions-as-ukip-is-taken-over-by-far-right-extremists-6xhnkhcct|archive-date=21 March 2019|url-status=live}}}}</ref>}}
| national         = 
| international    = 
| europarl         = [[Europe of Democracies and Diversities]] (1999–2004) <br /> [[Independence/Democracy]] (2004–2009) <br /> [[Europe of Freedom and Democracy]] (2009–2014) <br /> [[Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy]] (2014–2018) <br /> [[Alliance for Direct Democracy in Europe]] (2014–2017) <br /> [[Europe of Nations and Freedom]] (2019)
| slogan           = "People not politics"
| colours          = {{color box|{{party color|UK Independence Party}}|border=darkgray}} [[Purple (color)|Purple]] <br> {{color box|gold|border=darkgray}} [[Gold (color)|Gold]]
| website          = {{URL|ukip.org}}
| country          = the United Kingdom
}}

The '''UK Independence Party''' ('''UKIP''' {{IPAc-en|ˈ|juː|k|ɪ|p|audio=UKIP.ogg}} {{respell|YOO|kip}}) is a [[Eurosceptic]], [[right-wing populist]] political party in the United Kingdom. The party reached its greatest level of success in the mid-2010s, when it gained two [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|members of parliament]] (both through defections) and was the largest party representing the UK in the [[European Parliament]]. UKIP's visibility and success was chiefly associated with two-time leader [[Nigel Farage]]; since his second departure in 2016, the party has seen a steep decline in support and eleven different leaders, the most recent being Lois Perry who resigned after just 34 days.
Following Perry’s resignation, the party has been led in the interim by Nick Tenconi since June 2024.

UKIP originated as the [[Anti-Federalist League]], a [[single-issue]] Eurosceptic party established in London by [[Alan Sked]] in 1991. It was renamed ''UKIP'' in 1993, but its growth remained slow. It was largely eclipsed by the Eurosceptic [[Referendum Party]] until the latter's 1997 dissolution. In 1997, Sked was ousted by a faction led by Farage, who became the party's preeminent figure. In 2006, Farage officially became leader and, under his direction, the party adopted a wider policy platform and capitalised on concerns about rising immigration, in particular among the [[white British]] working class. This resulted in significant breakthroughs at the [[2013 United Kingdom local elections|2013 local elections]], [[2014 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2014 European parliamentary elections]], and [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]]. After the UK voted to [[Brexit|leave the EU]] in the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|2016 Brexit referendum]], Farage stepped down as UKIP leader, later joining the [[Brexit Party]]. UKIP subsequently saw its vote share and membership heavily decline, losing almost all of its elected representatives amid much internal instability and a drift toward a [[far-right]], anti-Islam message.

Ideologically positioned on the [[right-wing]] of British politics, UKIP is characterised by [[political scientists]] as a right-wing populist party. Its primary emphasis has been on hard Euroscepticism; it was one of the first to call for the United Kingdom's exit from the [[European Union]] (<span class="ltr">EU</span>). It promotes a [[British unionist]] and [[British nationalist]] agenda, encouraging a unitary British identity in opposition to growing [[Welsh nationalism|Welsh]], [[Irish nationalism|Irish]] and [[Scottish nationalism]]s. UKIP has also placed emphasis on lowering immigration, rejecting [[multiculturalism]], and opposing what it calls the "[[Islamization|Islamification]]" of Britain. Influenced by [[Thatcherism]] and [[classical liberalism]], it describes itself as [[Right-libertarianism|economically libertarian]] and promotes [[liberal economic]] policies. On social issues such as [[LGBT rights by country or territory|LGBT rights]], education policy, and criminal justice it is [[Social conservatism|traditionalist]]. Having an ideological heritage stemming from the right-wing of the [[Conservative Party (<span class="ltr">UK</span>)|Conservative Party]], it has distinguished itself from the political establishment through heavy use of [[populist]] rhetoric, for example, through Farage's description of its supporters as the "People's Army".

Governed by its leader and national executive committee, UKIP is divided into 12 regional groups. While gaining electoral support from various sectors of British society, [[psephologists]] established that at its height, UKIP's primary voting base consisted of older, working-class white men living in England. UKIP has faced a critical reception from mainstream political parties, much of the media, and [[anti-fascist]] groups. Its discourse on immigration and cultural identity generated accusations of [[racism]] and [[xenophobia]], both of which it denies.

==History==
===Foundation and early years: 1991–2004===
[[File:UKIP Logo (Original).svg|thumb|The initial UKIP logo]]
UKIP began as the [[Anti-Federalist League]], a Eurosceptic political party established in 1991 by the historian [[Alan Sked]]. The League opposed the recently signed [[Maastricht Treaty]] and sought to sway the governing [[Conservative Party (<span class="ltr">UK</span>)|Conservative Party]] towards [[Brexit|removing the United Kingdom]] from the [[European Union]] (<span class="ltr">EU</span>).{{sfnm|1a1=Usherwood|1y=2008|1p=256|2a1=Abedi|2a2=Lundberg|2y=2009|2p=78|3a1=Ford|3a2=Goodwin|3y=2014|3p=21|4a1=Tournier-Sol|4y=2015|4p=142}} A former [[Liberal Party (<span class="ltr">UK</span>)|Liberal Party]] candidate, member of the [[Bruges Group (United Kingdom)|Bruges Group]], and professor at the [[London School of Economics]] (LSE), Sked had converted to Euroscepticism while teaching the LSE's European Studies programme.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|p=21}} Under the Anti-Federalist League's banner, Sked was a candidate for member of parliament (<span class="ltr">MP</span>) for [[Bath (UK Parliament constituency)|Bath]] at the [[1992 United Kingdom general election|1992 general election]], gaining 0.2% of the vote.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|p=22}} At a party meeting held in the LSE on 3 September 1993, the group was renamed the UK Independence Party, deliberately avoiding the term "British" so as to avoid confusion with the far-right [[British National Party]] (BNP).{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|pp=22, 24}}<ref name=BBC3May13>{{cite news |last=Hunt |first=Alex |title=UKIP: The story of the UK Independence Party's rise |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21614073 |url-status=live |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=10 October 2014 |access-date=29 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161212042321/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21614073 |archive-date=12 December 2016}}</ref>

UKIP contested the [[1994 European Parliament election]] with little financing and much infighting, securing itself as the fifth-largest party in that election with 1% of the vote.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|pp=24–25}} During this period, UKIP was viewed as a typical [[single-issue party]] by commentators, some of whom drew comparisons with the French [[Pierre Poujade|Poujadist movement]].{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|p=3}} Following the election, UKIP lost much support to the [[Referendum Party]]; founded by the multi-millionaire [[James Goldsmith]] in 1994, it shared UKIP's Eurosceptic approach but was far better funded.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|pp=26–27}} In the [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997 general election]], UKIP fielded 194 candidates and secured 0.3% of the national vote; only one of its candidates, [[Nigel Farage]] in [[Salisbury (UK Parliament constituency)|Salisbury]], secured over 5% of the vote and had his deposit returned.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|p=30}} UKIP was beaten by the Referendum Party in 163 of the 165 seats in which they stood against each other.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|p=30}} The Referendum Party disbanded following Goldsmith's death later that year, and many of its candidates joined UKIP.{{sfnm|1a1=Ford|1a2=Goodwin|1y=2014|1pp=32–33|2a1=Etheridge|2y=2014|2p=11}}

[[File:UKIP bus.jpg|thumb|left|A UKIP [[campaign bus]], 2004]]

After the election, Sked was pressured into resigning by a party faction led by Farage, [[David Lott]] and [[Michael Holmes (politician)|Michael Holmes]], who deemed him too intellectual and dictatorial.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|pp=32–33}} Sked left the party, alleging that it had been infiltrated by [[racist]] and far-right elements, including BNP spies.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|pp=36–37}}<ref>{{cite news |last=Cohen |first=Nick |author-link=Nick Cohen |date=6 February 2005 |title=No truth behind Veritas |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/feb/06/otherparties.politicalcolumnists |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=22 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216062723/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/feb/06/otherparties.politicalcolumnists |archive-date=16 February 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> This connection was emphasised in the press, particularly when Farage was photographed meeting with BNP activists.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|pp=36–37}} Holmes took over as party leader, and in the [[1999 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|1999 European Parliament elections]]—the first British election for the European Parliament to use [[proportional representation]]—UKIP received 6.5% of the vote and three seats, in [[South East England (European Parliament constituency)|South East England]] (Farage), [[South West England (European Parliament constituency)|South West England]] (Holmes), and the [[East of England (European Parliament constituency)|East of England]] ([[Jeffrey Titford]]).{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|pp=33–34}}

An internal power struggle ensued between Holmes and the party's national executive committee (NEC), which was critical of Holmes after he called for the [[European Parliament]] to have greater powers over the [[European Commission]]. Led by Farage, the NEC removed Holmes from power, and Titford was elected leader.{{sfnm|1a1=Ford|1a2=Goodwin|1y=2014|1pp=35, 37|2a1=Etheridge|2y=2014|2pp=11–12}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/684384.stm |publisher=BBC News |title=Former UKIP leader quits party |date=21 March 2000 |access-date=22 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920061015/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/684384.stm |archive-date=20 September 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001 general election]], UKIP secured 1.5% of the vote, and six of its 428 candidates retained their deposits. It had lost much of its support to the Conservatives, whose leader [[William Hague]] had adopted increasingly Eurosceptic rhetoric during his campaign.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|pp=38–41}} In 2002, the former Conservative MP [[Roger Knapman]] was elected UKIP leader, bringing with him the experience of mainstream politics that the party had lacked.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|p=42}} Knapman hired the political campaign consultant [[Dick Morris]] to advise UKIP. The party adopted the slogan "say no" and launched a national billboard campaign.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|pp=43–44}} In 2004, UKIP reorganised itself nationally as a [[private company limited by guarantee]].{{sfn|Etheridge|2014|pp=13–14}}

===Growing visibility: 2004–2014===
{{See also|2010s in United Kingdom political history}}[[File:Nigel Farage Autumn 2008.JPG|thumb|upright|[[Nigel Farage]], leader of the party from 2006 to 2009 and again from 2010 to 2016, and an [[Member of the European Parliament|MEP]] from 1999 to 2020.]]

UKIP's support increased during the [[2004 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2004 European Parliament elections]], when it placed third, securing 2.6&nbsp;million votes (16.1%) and winning 12 seats. This had been made possible through increased funding from major donors and the celebrity endorsement of former chat show host [[Robert Kilroy-Silk]], who stood as a candidate in the [[East Midlands (European Parliament constituency)|East Midlands]].{{sfnm|1a1=Abedi|1a2=Lundberg|1y=2009|1p=80|2a1=Ford|2a2=Goodwin|2y=2014|2pp=4, 44–46, 48}} Kilroy-Silk then criticised Knapman's leadership, arguing that UKIP should stand against Conservative candidates, regardless of whether they were Eurosceptic or not. This position was rejected by many party members, who were uneasy regarding Kilroy-Silk. After Farage and Lott backed Knapman, Kilroy-Silk left the party in January 2005.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|pp=49–52}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1473236/Kilroy-Silk-wants-UKIP-leadership.html |title=Kilroy-Silk wants UKIP leadership |access-date=19 October 2014 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=3 October 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019195240/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1473236/Kilroy-Silk-wants-UKIP-leadership.html |archive-date=19 October 2014 |url-status=live}}<br />– {{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3958273.stm |title=Kilroy quits UKIP group of MEPs |access-date=19 October 2014 |publisher=BBC News |date=27 October 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111163420/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3958273.stm |archive-date=11 January 2009 |url-status=live}}<br />– {{cite news |last=Tempest |first=Matthew |author-link=Matthew Tempest |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2004/oct/27/otherparties.uk |title=Kilroy resigns Ukip whip |access-date=26 December 2016 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=27 October 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226072558/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2004/oct/27/otherparties.uk |archive-date=26 December 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> Two weeks later, he founded his own rival, [[Veritas (political party)|Veritas]], taking a number of UKIP members—including both of its [[London Assembly]] members—with him.{{sfnm|1a1=Abedi|1a2=Lundberg|1y=2009|1p=73|2a1=Ford|2a2=Goodwin|2y=2014|2p=66}}

After Kilroy-Silk's defection, UKIP's membership declined by a third and donations dropped by over a half.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|p=62}} UKIP continued to be widely seen as a single-issue party and in the [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005 general election]]—when it fielded 496 candidates—it secured only 2.2% of the vote, and 40 candidates had their deposits returned.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|pp=5–6, 65}} Electoral support for the BNP grew during this period, with academics and political commentators suggesting that the parties were largely competing for the same voter base, a section of about 20% of the UK population.{{sfnm|1a1=Driver|1y=2011|1p=148|2a1=Ford|2a2=Goodwin|2y=2014|2pp=7–8, 66–70}} Given that the BNP had outperformed UKIP in most of the seats that they both contested, many UKIP members, including several figures on the NEC, favoured an electoral pact with them, a proposal that Farage strongly condemned.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|pp=73–75}}

In 2006, Farage was [[2006 UK Independence Party leadership election|elected leader]].{{sfnm|1a1=Usherwood|1y=2008|1p=256|2a1=Ford|2a2=Goodwin|2y=2014|2p=71}} To attract support, he cultivated an image of himself as a "man of the people", openly smoking and drinking, showing disdain for the established parties, and speaking in an open manner that appeared unscripted.{{sfn|Winlow|Hall|Treadwell|2017|p=41}} He sought to broaden UKIP's image from that of a single-issue party by introducing an array of conservative policies, including reducing immigration, tax cuts, restoring [[grammar schools]], and [[climate change denial]].{{sfnm|1a1=Lynch|1a2=Whitaker|1a3=Loomes|1y=2012|1p=736|2a1=Ford|2a2=Goodwin|2y=2014|2p=72}} In doing so he was attempting to attract disenfranchised former Conservatives who had left the party after its leader, [[David Cameron]], had moved in a [[socially liberal]] direction.{{sfnm|1a1=Ford|1a2=Goodwin|1y=2014|1pp=70–71|2a1=Goodwin|2a2=Milazzo|2y=2015|2p=22}} According to Farage, Cameron was "a [[socialist]]" whose priorities were "gay marriage, foreign aid, and wind farms".{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|p=63}} Cameron was highly critical of UKIP, referring to them as "fruitcakes, loonies, and closet racists".{{sfnm|1a1=Driver|1y=2011|1p=148|2a1=Ford|2a2=Goodwin|2y=2014|2p=71|3a1=Etheridge|3y=2014|3p=15|4a1=Goodwin|4a2=Milazzo|4y=2015|4pp=4–5}} The Conservatives' largest donor, [[Stuart Wheeler]], donated £100,000 to UKIP after criticising Cameron's stance towards the [[Treaty of Lisbon]] and the EU.<ref>{{cite news |last=Coates |first=Sam |date=29 March 2009 |title=Tory donor Stuart Wheeler faces expulsion over UKIP support |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/tory-donor-stuart-wheeler-faces-expulsion-over-ukip-support-xt9mtkxvbpf |newspaper=The Times |access-date=15 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180415190932/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/tory-donor-stuart-wheeler-faces-expulsion-over-ukip-support-xt9mtkxvbpf |archive-date=15 April 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> After trust in the mainstream parties was damaged by the [[United Kingdom parliamentary expenses scandal|parliamentary expenses scandal]], UKIP received an immediate surge in support.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|pp=75–76}} This helped it in the [[2009 European Parliament election]], in which it secured 2.5&nbsp;million votes (16.5%), resulting in 13 MEPs, becoming the second largest party in the European Parliament after the Conservatives.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|pp=6, 76}}<ref name="2009election">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/elections/euro/09/html/ukregion_999999.stm|title=European Election 2009: UK Results|date=8 June 2009|publisher=BBC News|access-date=22 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170127030910/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/elections/euro/09/html/ukregion_999999.stm|archive-date=27 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> During the election UKIP outperformed the BNP, whose electoral support base collapsed shortly afterward.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|pp=77–78}}

[[File:Malcolm Pearson.jpg|thumb|left|[[Malcolm Pearson, Baron Pearson of Rannoch|Lord Pearson]] led the party in 2009]]

In September 2009, Farage resigned as leader.{{sfnm|1a1=Lynch|1a2=Whitaker|1a3=Loomes|1y=2012|1p=737|2a1=Ford|2a2=Goodwin|2y=2014|2p=78}}<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8235626.stm | title=Farage to stand against Speaker |work=BBC News | date=3 September 2009}}</ref> The subsequent [[2009 UK Independence Party leadership election|leadership election]] was won by [[Malcolm Pearson, Baron Pearson of Rannoch|Lord (Malcolm) Pearson]], who emphasised UKIP's opposition to high immigration rates and [[Islamism in the United Kingdom|Islamism in Britain]], calling for a ban on the [[burqa]] being worn in public.{{sfnm|1a1=Lynch|1a2=Whitaker|1a3=Loomes|1y=2012|1p=737|2a1=Ford|2a2=Goodwin|2y=2014|2pp=80–83}}<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8381992.stm|title=Lord Pearson elected leader of UK Independence Party|date=27 November 2009|access-date=27 August 2013|publisher=BBC News}}</ref>{{sfnm|1a1=Lynch|1a2=Whitaker|1a3=Loomes|1y=2012|1p=737|2a1=Ford|2a2=Goodwin|2y=2014|2pp=82–84}} Pearson was unpopular with the UKIP grassroots, who viewed him as an establishment figure too favourable to the Conservatives.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|pp=81–83, 85}} In the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]], UKIP fielded 558 candidates and secured 3.1% of the vote (919,471 votes), but won no seats.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|pp=8, 87}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/elections/results/general_elections |title=Electoral Commission website |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=30 November 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227122036/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/elections/results/general_elections |archive-date=27 December 2010 }}</ref> Pearson stood down as leader in August, and Farage was re-elected in the [[2010 UK Independence Party leadership election|leadership election]] with more than 60% of the vote.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|p=89}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gabbatt |first=Adam |date=17 August 2010 |title=Lord Pearson stands down as Ukip leader because he is 'not much good' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/aug/17/lord-pearson-stands-down-as-ukip-leader |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=15 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226072644/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/aug/17/lord-pearson-stands-down-as-ukip-leader |archive-date=26 December 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{sfnm|1a1=Ford|1a2=Goodwin|1y=2014|1p=89|2a1=Etheridge|2y=2014|2p=16}}<ref>{{cite news|title=Nigel Farage re-elected to lead UK Independence Party|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11700220|publisher=BBC News|access-date=27 August 2013|date=5 November 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101105044448/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11700220|archive-date=5 November 2010}}</ref>

Farage placed new emphasis on developing areas of local support through growth in local councils.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|p=94}} Observing that the party had done well in areas dominated by [[white people|white]] [[blue-collar worker]]s with no educational attainment, and that conversely it had done poorly in areas with high numbers of graduates and ethnic minorities, UKIP's campaign refocused directly at the former target vote.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|p=95}} UKIP support would be bolstered by dissatisfaction with the [[Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government]] and the perception that its [[austerity]] policies benefited the socio-economic elite while imposing hardship on most Britons.{{sfn|Clarke|Whiteley|Borges|Sanders|2016|pp=149–50}} During this year, UKIP had witnessed far greater press coverage and growing support, with opinion polls placing it at around 10% support in late 2012.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|p=9}} UKIP put up a record number of candidates for the [[2013 United Kingdom local elections|2013 local elections]], achieving its strongest local government result, polling an average of 23% in the wards where it stood, and increasing its number of elected councillors from four to 147.<ref name="bbc">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22328898|title=Local election 2013: Ken Clarke brands UKIP 'clowns'|date=28 April 2013|access-date=3 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502192450/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22328898|archive-date=2 May 2013|url-status=live|publisher=BBC News}}</ref>{{sfn|Tournier-Sol|2015|p=140}}<ref name="local">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/ukip/10036463/Local-elections-2013-Nigel-Farages-Ukip-surges-to-best-ever-showing-winning-150-seats.html |title=Local elections 2013: Nigel Farage's Ukip surges to best ever showing, winning 150 seats |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=5 May 2013 |first=Christopher |last=Hope |access-date=4 May 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130504090045/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/ukip/10036463/Local-elections-2013-Nigel-Farages-Ukip-surges-to-best-ever-showing-winning-150-seats.html |archive-date=4 May 2013}}</ref> This was the best result for a party outside the [[List of political parties in the United Kingdom#Major parties in the House of Commons|big three]] in British politics since the [[Second World War]],<ref name="GuardianMay3">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/may/03/nigel-farage-ukip-change-british-politics|title=Ukip will change face of British politics like SDP, says Nigel Farage|date=3 May 2013|newspaper=The Guardian|first=Nicholas|last=Watt|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226072542/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/may/03/nigel-farage-ukip-change-british-politics|archive-date=26 December 2016}}</ref> with UKIP being described as "the most popular political insurgency" in Britain since the [[Social Democratic Party (<span class="ltr">UK</span>)|Social Democratic Party]] during the 1980s.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|p=225}}

===Entering mainstream politics: 2014–2016===

[[File:European Parliament election, 2014 (United Kingdom).svg|thumb|right|upright|Results of the [[2014 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|European Parliament election, 2014]] in Great Britain. Districts where UKIP received the largest number of votes are shown in purple.]]
In March 2014, [[Ofcom]] awarded UKIP "major party status".{{sfn|Deacon|Wring|2016|p=178}} In the [[2014 United Kingdom local elections|2014 local elections]], UKIP won 163 seats, an increase of 128, but did not take control of any council.<ref>{{cite news|title=Local elections 2014: results updated live|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2014/may/22/local-elections-2014-live-results-updated|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=25 May 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140524172549/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2014/may/22/local-elections-2014-live-results-updated|archive-date=24 May 2014}}</ref> In the [[2014 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2014 European Parliament elections]], UKIP received the greatest number of votes (27.5%) of any British party, which elected 24 MEPs.<ref name="bbc2">{{cite news|title=Vote 2014: UK European election results|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/events/vote2014/eu-uk-results|date=26 May 2014|publisher=BBC News|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609080832/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/events/vote2014/eu-uk-results|archive-date=9 June 2017}}</ref>{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|p=52}} The party won seats in every region of Britain, including its first in Scotland.<ref name=breakthrough>{{cite news |title=Farage: UKIP has 'momentum' and is targeting more victories |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27567744 |publisher=BBC News |date=26 May 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527083245/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27567744 |archive-date=27 May 2014}}</ref> It made strong gains in traditionally [[Labour Party (<span class="ltr">UK</span>)|Labour]] voting areas within Wales and the North of England; it for instance came either first or second in all 72 council areas of the latter.{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|p=64}} The victory established Farage and UKIP as "truly household names".{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|p=104}} It was the first time since 1906 that a party other than Labour or the Conservatives had won the most votes in a UK-wide election.{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|p=4}}

UKIP gained its first MP when Conservative defector [[Douglas Carswell]] won the seat of [[Clacton (UK Parliament constituency)|Clacton]] during an [[2014 Clacton by-election|October 2014 by-election]].{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|pp=124–129, 174}}<ref name="Clacton">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29549414 "UKIP gains first elected MP with Clacton win"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009210509/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29549414 |date=9 October 2014}}, BBC News. Retrieved 10 October 2014.</ref> In November fellow Conservative defector [[Mark Reckless]] became UKIP's second MP in a [[2014 Rochester and Strood by-election|Rochester and Strood by-election]].{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|pp=135–136, 141–142, 174}}<ref name=reckless>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30140747 "Rochester: Farage looks to more UKIP gains after success"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141121053443/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30140747 |date=21 November 2014}}, BBC News. Retrieved 22 November 2014.</ref> In the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]], UKIP secured over 3.8&nbsp;million votes (12.6% of the total), replacing the [[Liberal Democrats (<span class="ltr">UK</span>)|Liberal Democrats]] as the third most popular party, but only secured one seat,{{sfnm|1a1=Goodwin|1y=2015|1p=13|2a1=Goodwin|2a2=Milazzo|2y=2015|2p=273|3a1=Dennison|3a2=Goodwin|3y=2015|3p=169|4a1=Clarke|4a2=Whiteley|4a3=Borges|4a4=Sanders|4y=2016|4p=137}} with Carswell retaining his seat and Reckless losing his.{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|p=269}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Nigel Farage resigns as UKIP leader as the party vote rises |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32633719 |publisher=BBC News |date=8 May 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508003727/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32633719 |archive-date=8 May 2015}}</ref> In the run-up to the election, Farage stated that he would resign as party leader if he did not win [[South Thanet (UK Parliament constituency)|South Thanet]].{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|pp=257–258}}<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/nigel-farage/11467045/Nigel-Farage-If-I-lose-in-South-Thanet-its-curtains-for-me-I-will-have-to-quit-as-Ukip-leader.html |title = Nigel Farage: If I lose in South Thanet, it's curtains for me: I will have to quit as Ukip leader |date = 15 March 2015 |newspaper = The Telegraph |last = Farage |first = Nigel |author-link = Nigel Farage |access-date = 10 May 2015 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150518155245/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/nigel-farage/11467045/Nigel-Farage-If-I-lose-in-South-Thanet-its-curtains-for-me-I-will-have-to-quit-as-Ukip-leader.html |archive-date = 18 May 2015 }}</ref> On failing to do so, he resigned,{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|pp=289–291}}<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/52-minutes-shook-britain-miliband-5661173 |title = 52 minutes that shook Britain: Miliband, Clegg and Farage all resign in election bloodbath |date = 8 May 2015 |newspaper = Daily Mirror |last = Bloom |first = Dan |access-date = 10 May 2015 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150510055207/http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/52-minutes-shook-britain-miliband-5661173 |archive-date = 10 May 2015 }}</ref> although was reinstated three days later when the NEC rejected his resignation.{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|pp=292–296}}<ref name="bbc.co.uk">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32734220 |title=UKIP rocked by Nigel Farage leadership row |publisher=BBC News |date=14 May 2015 |access-date=13 October 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151013133517/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32734220 |archive-date=13 October 2015 }}</ref> A period of 'civil war' broke out among senior membership between those who favoured Farage's leadership and those seeking a change.{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|p=296}}  In the [[2015 Oldham West and Royton by-election]] the party attacked [[Jeremy Corbyn]] as a security risk, but only gained a small increase in support at the expense of the Conservative Party. In the [[2016 National Assembly for Wales election]], UKIP nearly tripled their share of votes (from 4.7 per cent to 12.5 per cent) and won seven seats.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2016-wales-36207410|title=Welsh Election 2016: Labour just short as UKIP wins seats|publisher=BBC News|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509171751/http://www.bbc.com/news/election-2016-wales-36207410|archive-date=9 May 2016}}</ref> UKIP had also won control of its first UK council, in Thanet, in May 2015; it took overall control from Labour and increased its seats on the council from two to 33.<ref>{{cite news |last=Feeney |first=David |title=Ukip wins control of its first UK council |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/09/ukip-wins-control-of-its-first-uk-council |work=The Guardian |date=9 May 2015 |access-date=2 March 2022}}</ref>

=== 2016 Brexit referendum  ===

To counter the loss of further votes to UKIP, the governing Conservatives, led by [[David Cameron]], promised a [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|referendum on the UK's continued membership of the EU]].{{sfnm|1a1=Goodwin|1a2=Milazzo|1y=2015|1p=126|2a1=Reed|2y=2016|2p=228}} Rather than taking part in the official [[Vote Leave]] campaign, to which various Eurosceptic Conservative and Labour politicians were linked, UKIP affiliated itself with the [[Leave.EU]] campaign group.{{sfn|Usherwood|2016a|p=28}} Farage gained regular press coverage during the campaign, in which Leave.EU emphasised what it characterised as the negative impact of immigration on local communities and public services.{{sfn|Usherwood|2016a|p=28}} The June 2016 referendum produced a 51.89% majority in favour of leaving the EU: the accomplishment of UKIP's ''raison d'être'' raised questions about the party's future.{{sfn|Usherwood|2016a|p=27}} The loss of its MEPs would result in the loss of its primary institutional representation and a key source of its funding.{{sfn|Usherwood|2016a|p=29}}

===Decline: 2016–present===
{{main|September 2016 UK Independence Party leadership election|November 2016 UK Independence Party leadership election|2017 UK Independence Party leadership election|2018 UK Independence Party leadership election}}

==== Downward turn (2016–2018) ====
After the referendum, Farage resigned as UKIP leader.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mason |first=Rowena |date=4 July 2016 |title=Nigel Farage resigns as Ukip leader after 'achieving political ambition' of Brexit |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/04/nigel-farage-resigns-as-ukip-leader |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=4 July 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705150119/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/04/nigel-farage-resigns-as-ukip-leader |archive-date=5 July 2016}}</ref> [[Diane James]] was elected as his successor, but resigned after 18 days.<ref>{{cite news|date=16 September 2016 |title=Diane James becomes UKIP leader|publisher=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37387162|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916150548/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37387162|archive-date=16 September 2016}}<br />– {{cite news |date=4 October 2016 |title=UKIP leader Diane James standing down|publisher=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37558485|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161004221034/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37558485|archive-date=4 October 2016}}</ref> Farage's former deputy, [[Paul Nuttall]], was elected leader that month.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-38125432|title=Paul Nuttall elected as UKIP leader|publisher=BBC News|date=28 November 2016|access-date=28 November 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161128031722/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-38125432|archive-date=28 November 2016}}</ref> In March 2017, the party's only MP, Carswell, left the party to sit as an independent.<ref name="bbc3">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39393213|title=Douglas Carswell quitting UKIP|date=25 March 2017|publisher=BBC News|access-date=25 March 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325115612/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39393213|archive-date=25 March 2017}}</ref> The following month, Reckless also left UKIP.<ref>{{cite news |last=Servini |first=Nick |title=UKIP's Mark Reckless to join Conservatives in assembly |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-39513743 |url-status=live |publisher=BBC News |date=6 April 2017 |access-date=6 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406135159/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-39513743 |archive-date=6 April 2017}}<br />– {{cite news |title=Mark Reckless quits Ukip to rejoin Conservatives |url=http://www.itv.com/news/2017-04-06/tory-defector-mark-reckless-quits-ukip-to-join-conservatives/ |url-status=live |work=ITV News |date=6 April 2017 |access-date=6 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406210454/http://www.itv.com/news/2017-04-06/tory-defector-mark-reckless-quits-ukip-to-join-conservatives/ |archive-date=6 April 2017}}<br />– {{cite tweet |user=MarkReckless |number=849956389279739904 |date=6 April 2017 |title=Job done: Why I am joining the Conservative Group in the Welsh Assembly|first=Mark|last=Reckless|access-date=6 April 2017}}</ref> In the [[2017 United Kingdom local elections|2017 local elections]], UKIP lost all 145 seats it was defending, but gained one on [[Lancashire County Council]].<ref name=BBC050517>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39815444|title=Local elections: UKIP suffers big losses across England|date=5 May 2017|work=BBC News|access-date=5 May 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505084441/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39815444|archive-date=5 May 2017}}</ref> These results led several prominent former UKIP members to call for the party to be disbanded.<ref>Christopher Hope, [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/05/ukip-finished-electoral-force-says-biggest-donor-arron-banks/ "Ukip is 'finished as an electoral force' says biggest donor Arron Banks after local election wipeout"], ''The Daily Telegraph'', 5 May 2017. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170508140717/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/05/ukip-finished-electoral-force-says-biggest-donor-arron-banks/ |date=8 May 2017}}<br />– Douglas Carswell, [https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/may/05/ukip-finished-i-am-elated-theresa-may-anti-establishment-candidate "Ukip, my old party, is finished. And I'm elated about it"], ''The Guardian'', 5 May 2017. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170622212137/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/may/05/ukip-finished-i-am-elated-theresa-may-anti-establishment-candidate |date=22 June 2017 }}</ref> In the following [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017 general election]], UKIP received fewer than 600,000 votes and won no seats. The following day, Nuttall resigned and [[Steve Crowther]] took over as interim party leader.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Elgot |first1=Jessica |last2=Walker |first2=Peter |last3=Halliday |first3=Josh |title=Paul Nuttall stands down as Ukip leader after disastrous election result|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jun/09/paul-nuttall-stands-down-as-ukip-leader-after-disastrous-election-result|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=15 October 2017|date=9 June 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919062343/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jun/09/paul-nuttall-stands-down-as-ukip-leader-after-disastrous-election-result|archive-date=19 September 2017}}</ref> In July 2017, it lost its majority on [[Thanet District Council|Thanet council]] when Councillor Beverly Martin defected to the Conservatives;<ref>{{cite news |last=Da Silva |first=Chantal |author-link=Chantal Da Silva |date=24 July 2017 |title=Ukip just lost control of its last council |newspaper=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ukip-loses-control-final-council-majority-nigel-farage-paul-nuttall-peter-whittle-anne-marie-waters-a7856606.html |url-status=live |access-date=15 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816065108/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ukip-loses-control-final-council-majority-nigel-farage-paul-nuttall-peter-whittle-anne-marie-waters-a7856606.html |archive-date=16 August 2017}}</ref> in September all three UKIP councillors on [[Plymouth City Council]] defected to the Conservatives,<ref>{{cite news|last=O'Leary|first=Miles|title=All three of Plymouth's Ukip councillors have just quit the party|url=https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/plymouth-news/three-plymouths-ukip-councillors-just-454040|newspaper=[[The Herald (Plymouth)|The Herald]]|location=Plymouth|access-date=15 October 2017|date=10 September 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913043913/http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/plymouth-news/three-plymouths-ukip-councillors-just-454040|archive-date=13 September 2017}}</ref> as did [[Alexandra Phillips (Brexit Party politician)|Alexandra Phillips]], who had been UKIP's head of media for three years.<ref>Alexandra Phillips, [https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2016/09/alexandra-phillips-why-i-left-ukip-and-joined-mays-conservative-party.html Alexandra Phillips: Why I left UKIP and joined May's Conservative Party] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828044117/https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2016/09/alexandra-phillips-why-i-left-ukip-and-joined-mays-conservative-party.html |date=28 August 2019}} dated 20 September 2016 at conservativehome.com, accessed 26 May 2019.</ref>

[[File:UKIP logo (2017).svg|thumb|left|The UKIP logo, used briefly by the party from 2017 to 2018]]In 2017, [[Henry Bolton (British politician)|Henry Bolton]], a former soldier, was [[2017 UK Independence Party leadership election|elected]] leader.<ref>{{cite news|title=Henry Bolton elected UKIP leader|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-41447568|access-date=29 September 2017|work=BBC News|date=29 September 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929151110/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-41447568|archive-date=29 September 2017}}</ref> In January 2018, UKIP MEP [[Jonathan Arnott]] resigned from the party.<ref name=ukipresign>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-42745613|title=UKIP loses another MEP as Jonathan Arnott quits party|author=<!--Staff writer(<span class="ltr">s</span>); no by-line.-->|publisher=BBC News|date=19 January 2018|access-date=19 January 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180120072123/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-42745613 |archive-date=20 January 2018}}</ref> In December 2017, former UKIP [[Suffolk County Council]] member and parliamentary candidate from the general election in [[Central Suffolk and North Ipswich (UK Parliament constituency)|Central Suffolk and North Ipswich]], Stephen Searle, murdered his wife [[Murder of Anne Searle|Anne Searle]] at their home in [[Stowmarket]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/former-ukip-councillor-stephen-searle-in-court-charged-with-murder-of-wife-anne-in-stowmarket-1-5339624|title=Former Stowmarket UKIP councillor Stephen Searle in court charged with murder of wife|last=Potter|first=Tom|website=East Anglian Daily Times|date=2 January 2018|access-date=14 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-44861508|title=Ex-UKIP councillor guilty of wife murder|date=17 July 2018|access-date=14 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/stephen-searle-ukip-murder-strangle-14919712|title=Ex-UKIP councillor murdered wife after his affair with son's partner|last1=Lumby|first1=Tommy|last2=Pilgrim|first2=Tom|date=17 July 2018|website=cambridgenews|access-date=14 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Hartley|first=Laura|url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/uk-world-news/ukip-councillor-14920599|title=Ex-UKIP Councillor guilty of wife's murder after affair with son's partner|date=17 July 2018|newspaper=Coventrylive|access-date=14 January 2020}}</ref> In January 2018, UKIP's NEC delivered a [[Motion of no confidence|vote of no confidence]] in Bolton; only Bolton voted against the motion.<ref name="BBC-vote">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-42767657|title=UKIP leader given vote of 'no confidence'|publisher=BBC News|date=21 January 2018|access-date=21 January 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180121171810/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-42767657|archive-date=21 January 2018}}</ref> He nevertheless refused to resign.<ref name="BBC-vote" /> In protest, [[Margot Parker]] resigned as deputy leader,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-42770361|title=UKIP deputy leader Margot Parker resigns over Henry Bolton|publisher=BBC News|date=22 January 2018|access-date=22 January 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180122055608/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-42770361|archive-date=22 January 2018}}</ref> as did the party's spokesmen for government, education, immigration, and trade and industry.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-42770361|work=BBC News|title=Defiant UKIP leader Henry Bolton aims to 'drain the swamp'|date=22 January 2018|access-date=21 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180122055608/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-42770361|archive-date=22 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> A few days later, all 17 UKIP members of [[Thurrock Council]] left the party and formed [[Thurrock Independents]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-42830757 |title=Thurrock's 17 UKIP councillors all resign from party |work=BBC News |date=26 January 2018 |access-date=26 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126144523/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-42830757 |archive-date=26 January 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> In February, UKIP members passed a vote of no confidence in Bolton, removing him as leader. He was replaced by [[Gerard Batten]] as interim leader until a new leadership election could be held.<ref>{{cite news |last=Quinn |first=Ben |date=18 February 2018 |title=Ukip members oust Henry Bolton as leader after only five months |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/feb/18/ukip-members-oust-henry-bolton-as-leader-after-five-months |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=14 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180501095259/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/feb/18/ukip-members-oust-henry-bolton-as-leader-after-five-months |archive-date=1 May 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> When the election occurred in April, Batten stood unopposed and was elected.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.sky.com/story/ukip-confirms-gerard-batten-as-new-leader-11331630 | title=UKIP confirms Gerard Batten as new leader | access-date=6 August 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010123206/https://news.sky.com/story/ukip-confirms-gerard-batten-as-new-leader-11331630 | archive-date=10 October 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Association with the far right (2018–2019) ====
[[File:GerardBattenwithProtestors-cropped (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Under [[Gerard Batten]]'s leadership, UKIP moved towards a far-right stance]]
In the [[2018 United Kingdom local elections|2018 local elections]], UKIP lost 124 of the 126 seats it was defending, and gained a single seat in [[Derby]], for a net loss of 123.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/topics/cz3nmp2eyxgt/england-local-elections-2018|title=England local elections 2018|publisher=BBC News|access-date=10 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510004646/http://www.bbc.com/news/topics/cz3nmp2eyxgt/england-local-elections-2018|archive-date=10 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> MEP [[James Carver]] left UKIP to sit as an independent on 28 May 2018, becoming the sixth UKIP MEP to leave since 2014.<ref>{{cite tweet |number=1001130468606185473 |user=JamesJimCarver |last=Carver |first=James |title=After 22 years' tireless campaigning for #UKIP, I announce my resignation. |date=28 May 2018 |access-date=21 June 2018}}</ref>

Under the leadership of Henry Bolton, party membership was understood to have fallen to around 18,000 by January 2018.<ref>Rayner, Tom, [https://news.sky.com/story/ukip-working-with-alt-right-activists-to-target-younger-voters-11462820 "UKIP working with alt-right activists to target younger voters"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807034737/https://news.sky.com/story/ukip-working-with-alt-right-activists-to-target-younger-voters-11462820 |date=7 August 2018}}, [[Sky News]], 6 August 2018</ref> During Batten's interim leadership term, the party avoided insolvency after a financial appeal to members.<ref>[https://news.sky.com/story/ukip-confirms-gerard-batten-as-new-leader-11331630 "UKIP confirms Gerard Batten as new leader"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010123206/https://news.sky.com/story/ukip-confirms-gerard-batten-as-new-leader-11331630 |date=10 October 2018}}, Sky News, 14 April 2018<br />– {{cite web |last=Mance |first=Henry |title=Ukip avoids bankruptcy after raising funds to cover costs |url=https://www.ft.com/content/848384f8-374f-11e8-8b98-2f31af407cc8|work=Financial Times|date=3 April 2018|access-date=3 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618230133/https://www.ft.com/content/848384f8-374f-11e8-8b98-2f31af407cc8|archive-date=18 June 2018|url-status=live}}{{subscription required}}</ref> As the new permanent leader, Batten focused the party more on opposing Islam, which he described as a "death cult",<ref>{{cite news|last=Gavin|first=Harvey|title=New Ukip leader defends Islam 'death cult' comments – 'I am right'|work=Daily Express|url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/920877/gerard-batten-new-ukip-leader-defends-islam-death-cult-comments-sky-news-lbc-interview|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211072443/https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/920877/gerard-batten-new-ukip-leader-defends-islam-death-cult-comments-sky-news-lbc-interview|archive-date=11 December 2019}}</ref> sought closer relations with the far-right activist [[Tommy Robinson (activist)|Tommy Robinson]] and his followers,<ref>{{cite news |last=Dearden |first=Lizzie |title=Ukip being turned into 'anti-Islamic party' that could soon have Tommy Robinson as leader, defectors say |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ukip-tommy-robinson-suzanne-evans-resignation-edl-islamophobia-muslims-party-leader-a8665401.html |access-date=10 December 2018 |work=The Independent |date=4 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205102943/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ukip-tommy-robinson-suzanne-evans-resignation-edl-islamophobia-muslims-party-leader-a8665401.html |archive-date=5 December 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> and made Muslim-only prisons party policy (which was criticised as "the first step to Muslim concentration camps").<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ukip-party-conference-muslim-prisons-islam-farage-gerard-batten-a8549426.html |title=Ukip proposes creation of Muslim-only prisons in interim manifesto|website=[[Independent.co.uk]]|date=21 September 2018}}</ref> UKIP was criticised as an "explicitly far-right party" after they invited [[Paul Joseph Watson]] as a spokesman.<ref>{{cite web |date=3 March 2019 |title=Revealed: Ukip membership surge shifts party to far right |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/03/new-ukip-members-shifting-party-far-right |website=[[TheGuardian.com]]}}</ref> The party saw its membership rise by 15% in July 2018, following the publication of the [[Chequers Agreement]] and allowing three prominent far-right activists to join the party.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/aug/02/ukip-membership-surges-15-per-cent-in-a-month|title=Ukip membership surges 15% in a month|last=Walker|first=Peter|date=2 August 2018|journal=The Guardian|access-date=22 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925025504/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/aug/02/ukip-membership-surges-15-per-cent-in-a-month|archive-date=25 September 2018|url-status=live}}<br />– {{cite news |last=Oppenheim |first=Maya |title=Ukip gains 500 new members since allowing prominent far-right activists to join party |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ukip-alt-right-members-paul-joseph-watson-mark-meechan-carl-benjamin-a8418116.html |url-status=live |work=The Independent |date=26 June 2018 |access-date=22 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011030938/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ukip-alt-right-members-paul-joseph-watson-mark-meechan-carl-benjamin-a8418116.html |archive-date=11 October 2018}}</ref> Previous leader [[Nigel Farage]] stated he was "really upset" that Robinson could be allowed into the party and that he believed Gerard Batten was marginalising the party.<ref>{{cite news |last=Maidment |first=Jack |title=Ukip civil war as Nigel Farage and party leader clash over giving Tommy Robinson membership |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/09/21/ukip-war-nigel-farage-gerard-batten-clash-tommy-robinson-membership/ |url-status=live |journal=The Telegraph |date=21 September 2018 |access-date=3 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003095643/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/09/21/ukip-war-nigel-farage-gerard-batten-clash-tommy-robinson-membership/ |archive-date=3 October 2018}}</ref>

Batten's appointment of Robinson as an adviser was followed by a wave of high-profile resignations from the party. Farage announced his decision to resign in December 2018, calling Batten "obsessed" with Islam and saying that "UKIP wasn't founded to be a party based on fighting a religious crusade".<ref>{{cite news |last=Morris |first=James |title=Nigel Farage Quits UKIP over Tommy Robinson appointment |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/nigel-farage-quits-ukip-over-tommy-robinson-appointment-a4008401.html |url-status=live |access-date=4 December 2018 |work=Evening Standard |date=4 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205005047/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/nigel-farage-quits-ukip-over-tommy-robinson-appointment-a4008401.html |archive-date=5 December 2018}}</ref> Former deputy chair [[Suzanne Evans]] had left earlier that week after Batten survived a vote of confidence from the party NEC.<ref>{{cite web |last=Johnston |first=John |url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/uk-independence-party/news/100272/former-ukip-deputy-chair-suzanne-evans |title=Former Ukip deputy chair Suzanne Evans quits party over Tommy Robinson appointment |website=PoliticsHome |date=3 December 2018 |access-date=7 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181204005806/https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/uk-independence-party/news/100272/former-ukip-deputy-chair-suzanne-evans |archive-date=4 December 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> The former leader of the party in the Welsh Assembly, [[Caroline Jones (politician)|Caroline Jones]], and the MEP [[William Legge, 10th Earl of Dartmouth|William Dartmouth]] had also cited the party's trajectory to the right as reasons for leaving the party.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-45485926|title=UKIP AM quits party over 'far-right move'|last=Deans|first=David|date=12 September 2018|publisher=BBC News|access-date=22 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123062702/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-45485926|archive-date=23 November 2018|url-status=live}}<br />– {{cite news |url=https://news.sky.com/story/ukip-mep-william-dartmouth-quits-party-over-anti-islam-stance-11509416|title=MEP Lord Dartmouth quits UKIP saying party is 'widely perceived as both homophobic and anti-Islamic'|publisher=Sky News|access-date=22 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181213055801/https://news.sky.com/story/ukip-mep-william-dartmouth-quits-party-over-anti-islam-stance-11509416|archive-date=13 December 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Another former leader, [[Paul Nuttall]], also left for the same reason.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.sky.com/story/ex-ukip-leader-paul-nuttall-quits-party-over-tommy-robinson-role-11573773 |title=Ex-UKIP leader Paul Nuttall quits party over Tommy Robinson role |publisher=Sky News |date=7 December 2018 |access-date=7 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181208151741/https://news.sky.com/story/ex-ukip-leader-paul-nuttall-quits-party-over-tommy-robinson-role-11573773 |archive-date=8 December 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> By December 2018, a majority of the party's MEPs had left. Others leaving included [[Peter Whittle (politician)|Peter Whittle]], the party's top vote-winner on the London Assembly.

On 9 December 2018, before an important vote on [[Brexit]] legislation, UKIP led a "Brexit Betrayal" rally in central London fronted by Robinson, alongside prominent far-right groups.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-46495595 "Rival marches ahead of Brexit vote"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210180415/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-46495595 |date=10 December 2018 }}, ''BBC News'', 9 December 2018<br />– Colin Drury, [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/brexit-betrayal-march-tommy-robinson-ukip-attendance-figure-far-right-protest-a8675246.html "‘This turned into the Tommy Robinson show’: Cracks begin to appear after far-right unites with Ukip for Brexit march"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211010105/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/brexit-betrayal-march-tommy-robinson-ukip-attendance-figure-far-right-protest-a8675246.html |date=11 December 2018 }}, ''The Independent'', 9 December 2018.<br />– Catherine Wylie & Sam Blewett, [https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/tommy-robinson-leads-brexit-betrayal-13709691 "Tommy Robinson leads 'Brexit betrayal' march – where props include a NOOSE for Theresa May"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209210918/https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/tommy-robinson-leads-brexit-betrayal-13709691 |date=9 December 2018 }}, ''Mirror'', 9 December 2018.</ref> By April 2019, of 24 UKIP MEPs elected in the 2014 European Election, only four remained members of UKIP.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-47934021|title=What happened to UKIP's class of 2014?|last=Whannel|first=Kate|date=16 April 2019|access-date=19 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419170514/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-47934021|archive-date=19 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Ten of these MEPs would later move to Nigel's Farage's new [[Brexit Party]], whilst O'Flynn defected to the [[Social Democratic Party (UK, 1990–present)|SDP]]. Most others continued to sit as [[Independent politician|Independent MEPs]].

By April 2019, the British government had agreed an extension to EU membership with the EU until 31 October 2019, which would mean the UK would take part in the [[2019 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2019 European Parliament elections]]. Candidates selected by UKIP to run in the election included right-wing [[YouTube]] personalities [[Carl Benjamin]] and [[Mark Meechan]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/sargon-of-akkad-ukip-mep-european-election-candidate-carl-benjamin-a8867986.html|title=Anti-feminist YouTuber Sargon of Akkad selected as Ukip election candidate|date=12 April 2019|website=The Independent|access-date=19 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412234646/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/sargon-of-akkad-ukip-mep-european-election-candidate-carl-benjamin-a8867986.html|archive-date=12 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Benjamin had caused controversy by making "inappropriate" comments in 2016 about the rape threats to a female Labour MP [[Jess Phillips]], with the UKIP Swindon branch chair calling for him to be deselected.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-wiltshire-47974036|title=UKIP candidate not sorry for rape comments|date=18 April 2019|access-date=19 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419152858/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-wiltshire-47974036|archive-date=19 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Videos made by Benjamin in which he used racist terms also caused controversy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/ukip-mep-carl-benjamin-racist-video-a4126986.html|title=UKIP MEP candidate: 'Personally I find racist jokes funny'|date=26 April 2019|website=Evening Standard|access-date=26 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426111540/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/ukip-mep-carl-benjamin-racist-video-a4126986.html|archive-date=26 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>  In May, the [[2019 United Kingdom local elections]] saw UKIP lose around 80% of the seats it was defending. The party was criticised for failing "to capitalise on the collapse of the Conservatives" by commentators.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ukip-local-election-council-eu-conservative-mep-labour-a8898496.html|title=Ukip loses 80% of council seats in local election hammering after lurch to far-right|last=Stone|first=Jon|date=3 May 2019|website=The Independent|access-date=4 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503212953/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ukip-local-election-council-eu-conservative-mep-labour-a8898496.html|archive-date=3 May 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In the European elections later that month, UKIP received 3.3% of the vote and lost all its remaining seats.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/topics/crjeqkdevwvt/the-uks-european-elections-2019|title=The UK's European elections 2019|access-date=27 May 2019|website=BBC News|publisher=[[BBC]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810175828/https://www.bbc.com/news/topics/crjeqkdevwvt/the-uks-european-elections-2019|archive-date=10 August 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 2 June 2019, Batten resigned his post as party leader as he had promised if he lost his MEP position.<ref>{{cite tweet|user=GerardBattenMEP|number=1135142814294183936|title=My term as UKIP Leader ends today|first=Gerard|last=Batten|author-link=Gerard Batten|date=2 June 2019|access-date=2 June 2019}}<br />– {{cite news|url=https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/gerard-batten-ukip-nigel-farage-european-elections-islam/|title=Gerard Batten quits as Ukip leader after losing every Ukip MEP seat, including his own|first=Johanna|last=Whitehead|newspaper=[[i (newspaper)|i]]|publisher=[[JPIMedia]]|date=2 June 2019|access-date=3 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602182715/https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/gerard-batten-ukip-nigel-farage-european-elections-islam/|archive-date=2 June 2019|url-status=live}}<br />– {{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ukip-leader-european-parliament-elections-gerard-batten-vote-a8901976.html|title=Ukip to hold leadership contest after European Parliament elections|first=Jane|last=Dalton|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|issn=0951-9467|date=6 May 2019|access-date=2 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190519064008/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ukip-leader-european-parliament-elections-gerard-batten-vote-a8901976.html|archive-date=19 May 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[2019 UK Independence Party leadership election|2019 UKIP leadership election]], [[Richard Braine (politician)|Richard Braine]] was elected UKIP leader and attempted to appoint Batten as deputy leader.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/UKIP/posts/2529282813760260|title=UK Independence Party (UKIP)|website=Facebook|access-date=15 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929031409/https://www.facebook.com/UKIP/posts/2529282813760260|archive-date=29 September 2019|url-status=live}}[[Wikipedia:SPS|{{sup|[''self-published'']}}]]</ref> Braine's attempt to appoint Batten as the party's deputy leader was blocked by its NEC. Braine was criticised in the press for comments he has made which were considered racist and offensive, including one incident in which he claimed he "often confused" London mayor [[Sadiq Khan]] with [[Mohammad Sidique Khan]], one of the [[7 July 2005 London bombings|7/7 terror attackers]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ukip-leader-richard-braine-dickbraine-twitter-george-osborne-a9055681.html|title=Ukip leader 'getting a bit fed up with all this dickbraine stuff'|date=13 August 2019|website=The Independent|access-date=16 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816203225/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ukip-leader-richard-braine-dickbraine-twitter-george-osborne-a9055681.html|archive-date=16 August 2019|url-status=live}}<br />– {{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/08/15/name-richard-braine-endless-mockery/|title=What's in a name? If you're Richard Braine, endless mockery...|last=Lytton|first=Charlotte|date=15 August 2019|work=The Telegraph|access-date=16 August 2019|issn=0307-1235|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815181833/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/08/15/name-richard-braine-endless-mockery/|archive-date=15 August 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Braine later further came under fire when he announced he planned to boycott the September 2019 UKIP Party conference in [[Newport, Wales|Newport]], after less than 450 tickets were sold for the conference. The chairman of UKIP, Kirstan Herriot, told members that Braine had attempted to cancel the conference due to the low turnout and was highly critical of this attempted action.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/17/ukip-leader-accused-of-insulting-party-over-conference-no-show|title=Ukip leader accused of insulting party over conference no-show|last=Parveen|first=Nazia|work=The Guardian|access-date=18 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190918012335/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/17/ukip-leader-accused-of-insulting-party-over-conference-no-show|archive-date=18 September 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Internal instability and wipeout (2019–present) ====
[[File:Logo of UKIP.svg|thumb|alt=Logo of UKIP until 2022|150x150px|The UKIP logo used until 2022]]
In October 2019, UKIP underwent a leadership crisis in the run-up to its NEC elections after it suspended Braine's membership, and by extension, his eligibility to be party leader, over allegations of data theft from party databases. Three other members associated with Braine – Jeff Armstrong, the party's general secretary appointed by Braine; NEC candidate Mark Dent; and Tony Sharp – were also suspended.<ref name="bbc4">{{cite news|date=21 October 2019|title=UKIP leader suspended over data theft allegations|publisher=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-50125853|url-status=live|access-date=21 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023163526/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-50125853|archive-date=23 October 2019}}</ref> In response, Braine accused the NEC of carrying out a purge of members.<ref name="dispute">{{cite news |last=Walawalkar |first=Alan |title=Ukip attempts to suspend leader amid fresh power struggle within party |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/oct/19/ukip-attempts-to-suspend-leader-amid-fresh-power-struggle-within-party-richard-braine |newspaper=[[The Observer]] |date=19 October 2019 |access-date=16 January 2022}}</ref> All four members were reported to the [[National Fraud Intelligence Bureau]].<ref name="bbc4"/> On 30 October 2019, Braine resigned as leader of the party. He cited "internal conflict" and an inability to "prevent a purge of good members from the party", referring to the NEC's decision to add "Integrity", an anti-Islam faction within UKIP supporting Tommy Robinson, Batten and Braine, to the party's proscribed list of organisations.<ref name="Braineresigns">{{cite web |last=Cockburn |first=Harry |title=Ukip loses eighth leader since Brexit referendum as Richard Braine resigns ahead of general election |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/richard-braine-ukip-leader-resign-brexit-general-election-latest-a9177516.html |url-status=live |website=The Independent |date=30 October 2019 |access-date=30 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030133152/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/richard-braine-ukip-leader-resign-brexit-general-election-latest-a9177516.html |archive-date=30 October 2019}}</ref>

On 7 November 2019, Welsh Assembly Member and UKIP group leader [[Gareth Bennett (politician)|Gareth Bennett]] resigned from UKIP and chose to sit as an independent in the [[Senedd|Welsh Assembly]]. He stated that he wanted to support [[Boris Johnson]]'s [[Brexit deal]]. As a result, the sole remaining UKIP member of the Welsh Assembly was [[Neil Hamilton (politician)|Neil Hamilton]].<ref>{{cite news |title=UKIP down to one AM, after Bennett quits the party |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-50321640 |url-status=live |publisher=BBC News |date=7 November 2019 |access-date=10 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109052505/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-50321640 |archive-date=9 November 2019}}</ref>

On 16 November 2019, NEC member [[Patricia Mountain]] was appointed interim leader in preparation for the December general election and the upcoming UKIP leadership election.<ref name="Patricia Mountain">[https://twitter.com/UKIP/status/1195813693965111297 UKIP announces new interim leader] Retrieved 20 November 2019.</ref> Only 44 UKIP candidates stood in the [[2019 United Kingdom general election|December 2019 general election]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://candidates.democracyclub.org.uk/elections/parl.2019-12-12/|title=Known candidates for each ballot in the UK Parliament elections|website=candidates.democracyclub.org.uk|access-date=21 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031123547/https://candidates.democracyclub.org.uk/elections/parl.2019-12-12/|archive-date=31 October 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> targeting constituencies that voted to leave the European Union in which the Brexit Party withdrew their candidates for the Conservatives or where the Conservative candidate was in favour of remaining in the EU. On 2 December 2019, Mountain appeared on [[Sky News]] for an interview with journalist [[Adam Boulton]] as a part of the launch of the election manifesto for UKIP; it lasted for eight minutes and the interview was described by the ''[[Evening Standard]]'' as a "car crash",<ref>{{cite web|title=Reclining in parliament, melting ice sculptures and that staring contest – the wildest political moments of 2019|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/politics-2019-summary-funny-brexit-interviews-government-a9263441.html|date=30 December 2019|website=The Independent}}</ref> and there were reports that she was mistaken for the titular character of ''[[Catherine Tate's Nan]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indy100.com/article/ukip-leader-pat-mountain-interview-sky-catherine-tate-character-9230511|title=People think the new Ukip leader is a Catherine Tate character|date=3 December 2019|website=indy100|access-date=30 January 2020|archive-date=1 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101005753/https://www.indy100.com/article/ukip-leader-pat-mountain-interview-sky-catherine-tate-character-9230511|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/ukips-new-interim-leader-patricia-mountain-bungles-her-way-through-car-crash-interview-as-party-a4302456.html |title=Ukip's new interim leader bungles her interview on manifesto day|date=2 December 2019|website=Evening Standard|access-date=30 January 2020}}</ref> Mountain was unable to name a single seat her party was contending and "accidentally called her party racist".<ref name="theneweuropean">{{cite web|url=https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/pat-mountain-enters-ukip-leadership-candidate-1-6507090|title=UKIP search for replacement for Dick Braine – despite reports party is close to insolvency|last=Read|first=Jonathon|website=The New European|access-date=9 March 2020|archive-date=20 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200520130220/https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/pat-mountain-enters-ukip-leadership-candidate-1-6507090|url-status=dead}}</ref> UKIP failed to win any seats it contested in the election, and nationwide the party received only 22,817 votes (0.1% of the vote share). This result was the lowest the party had achieved in a general election in its history.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election/2019/results|title=Results of the 2019 General Election|website=BBC News|access-date=13 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213002620/https://www.bbc.com/news/election/2019/results|archive-date=13 December 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The party also failed to retain any deposits, only received more than 1,000 votes in two seats, and, in another two seats, finished behind the [[Political satire|satirical]] [[Official Monster Raving Loony Party]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://candidates.democracyclub.org.uk/elections/parl.2019-12-12/ |title=Known candidates for each ballot in the UK Parliament elections |access-date=17 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031123547/https://candidates.democracyclub.org.uk/elections/parl.2019-12-12/ |archive-date=31 October 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In January 2020, [[David Kurten]], UKIP's last remaining [[London Assembly]] Member, left UKIP to stand as an [[Independent politician|independent candidate]] in the [[2021 London Assembly election|2020 London Assembly election]] and the [[2020 London mayoral election]]. Kurten described the politics of both UKIP and the Brexit Party as needing "rebranding" once Britain left the EU on 31 January. Kurten's departure ended UKIP's presence on the London Assembly.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.harrowtimes.co.uk/news/18191327.david-kurten-announces-run-mayor-london/|title=Brexit assembly member launches mayoral bid|website=Harrow Times|date=28 January 2020 |access-date=30 January 2020}}</ref>

In March 2020, according to a tweet by former leader Gerard Batten, the party was reported to be "close to [[insolvency]]".<ref name="theneweuropean"/>

On 25 June 2020, [[Freddy Vachha]] was elected unopposed as leader.<ref name = "Interim">{{cite web|title=Neil Hamilton Appointed Interim Leader of UKIP|url=https://www.ukip.org/neil-hamilton-appointed-interim-leader-of-ukip|date=14 September 2020|access-date=2 April 2021|publisher=UKIP}}</ref> He stated that the party "went astray quite a few years ago" and that under his leadership it would "return to our libertarian freedom-loving principles".<ref>{{cite news|title=New leader: 'Time for Ukip to get back to business'|publisher=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-politics-53139717/new-ukip-leader-freddy-vachha-time-for-ukip-to-get-back-to-business|access-date=25 June 2020}}</ref> On 12 September 2020, it was reported that Vachha had been suspended from the party following a formal complaint of bullying and harassment. Later that day, UKIP Wales leader [[Neil Hamilton (politician)|Neil Hamilton]] was made interim leader.<ref name = "Interim"/><ref>{{Cite web|last=Duffield|first=Charles|date=13 September 2020|title=Neil Hamilton becomes interim Ukip leader after party churns through six leaders in four years|url=https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/neil-hamilton-interim-ukip-leader-party-sixth-leader-brexit-referendum-644220|access-date=16 October 2020|website=i}}</ref> Vachha argued a short time later that he was still leader, and that his suspension was unconstitutional, as he claimed to have appointed Marietta King as chairman in place of Ben Walker a few days earlier.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nation.cymru/news/new-ukip-head-neil-hamilton-faces-tussle-as-deposed-leader-claims-he-still-has-the-top-job/ |title=New UKIP head Neil Hamilton faces tussle as deposed leader claims he still has the top job |publisher=Nation.Cymru |date=14 September 2020 |access-date=14 September 2020}}</ref> Vachha decided to take legal action, however in December a judge refused his request to fast-track the case. Vachha then dropped his legal case and was ordered to pay the party's legal costs.<ref>{{cite web|title=Clarity on UKIP legal challenge|url=https://us17.campaign-archive.com/?u=47fc6f660d6ba7553eae37012&id=5326dd534d|access-date=6 January 2021|website=us17.campaign-archive.com}}</ref>

In the [[2021 Senedd election]], UKIP performed poorly and suffered a "complete collapse" of voter support, with the Conservative Party gaining a number of voters who had in previous elections voted UKIP. The party finished seventh with 1.56% of regional list votes.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=Election results: What the data reveals about Labour's performance – and the reasons for it|url=https://news.sky.com/story/election-results-what-the-data-reveals-about-labours-performance-and-the-reasons-for-it-12297591|access-date=9 May 2021|publisher=Sky News}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web |title=Far-right candidates perform dismally across UK elections |url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/may/09/far-right-candidates-perform-dismally-across-uk-elections |website=The Guardian |date=9 May 2021 |access-date=10 May 2021}}</ref> [[Neil Hamilton (politician)|Neil Hamilton]], Interim UKIP leader and UKIP's sole [[Member of the Senedd|MS]] in the [[Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament|Welsh Senedd]] lost his seat, ending any representation UKIP had outside of [[local government in England]]. In the [[2021 Scottish Parliament election|Scottish Parliament election]], the party received just 3,848 (0.14%) list votes across the whole country despite standing in every region in Scotland.<ref>{{cite news |title=Scottish Parliament election 2021 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/c37d28xdn99t/scottish-parliament-election-2021 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref> In the [[2021 United Kingdom local elections|2021 local elections]], UKIP lost all the seats it was defending from the previous elections in those council areas. Furthermore, in the [[2021 London mayoral election|London mayoral election]], the UKIP candidate, Peter Gammons, achieved 0.6% of the total vote, finishing 13th. The party finished ninth in the [[2021 London Assembly election|London Assembly election]], down from fourth in 2016.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Voce|first1=Antonio|last2=Leach|first2=Anna|last3=Clarke|first3=Seán|last4=Kommenda|first4=Niko|last5=Voce|first5=Antonio |last6=Leach|first6=Anna|last7=Clarke|first7=Seán|last8=Kommenda|first8=Niko|title=2021 election results: latest from local, Scottish and Welsh votes|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2021/may/06/2021-elections-results-may-local-scottish-welsh-polls|access-date=9 May 2021|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=England local elections 2021|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/c481drqqzv7t/england-local-elections-2021#england-council|access-date=9 May 2021|publisher=BBC News}}</ref>

After a period as acting leader, Hamilton was elected as leader in October 2021, receiving 498 votes of 631 cast (78.9%) against challenger John Poynton.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ukip.org/elections-2021|title=2021 NEC and Leadership Election – The Results!|publisher=UKIP|access-date=27 November 2021}}</ref><ref name=hamilton>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-58968868|work=BBC News|title=UKIP: Ex-Conservative minister Neil Hamilton elected party leader|date=19 October 2021}}</ref> In April 2023, the party removed a longstanding ban of current or former members of far-right groups and parties – including the [[British National Party]] (BNP) – from joining the party, and replaced it with a ban of members of several [[Anti-fascism|anti-fascist]], left-wing, and environmentalist groups.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Withers |first=Matt |date=2023-06-22 |title=How Ukip came crashing down to earth |url=https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/how-ukip-came-crashing-down-to-earth/ |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=The New European |language=en-GB}}</ref> In the [[2023 United Kingdom local elections|May 2023 local elections]], it lost all of its remaining council seats leaving the party without representation at any level.<ref name="localcouncil">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election/2023/england/results|title=Local election results 2023 in England|website=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ukip-neil-hamilton-richard-tice-bournemouth-christchurch-b2333710.html|title=Ukip loses all six seats in local elections|date=6 May 2023|website=The Independent}}</ref>

At the start of 2024, Hamilton announced that he would retire as party leader that May, leading to a new leadership contest. [[Bill Etheridge]], Lois Perry, and [[Anne Marie Waters]], who had rejoined the party the previous year after having left to form the [[For Britain Movement]], were announced as candidates for the contest,<ref>UKIP.org: [https://www.ukip.org/leadership-election-2024 Leadership Election 2024]</ref> though Waters subsequently withdrew her candidacy for unspecified personal reasons.<ref>UKIP.org: [https://www.ukip.org/leadership-election-2024-update Leadership Election 2024 - Update]</ref> Lois Perry was elected on 13 May 2024,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moldoveanu |first=Rucsandra |date=2024-05-13 |title=UKIP's new leader is a climate denier and woke-mind-virus warrior |url=https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/uk-world-news/who-ukip-new-leader-lois-9282599 |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=Nottinghamshire Live |language=en}}</ref> and announced upon the calling of the [[2024 United Kingdom general election]] later that month that the party would be entering into an electoral alliance with the [[English Democrats]].<ref>UKIP.org: [https://www.ukip.org/the-july-2024-uk-general-election The July 2024 UK General Election]</ref> On 15 June, after just 34 days as leader, Perry resigned due to health issues.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-16 |title=Newly elected UKIP Leader quits |url=https://www.searchlightmagazine.com/2024/06/newly-elected-ukip-leader-quits/ |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=Searchlight Magazine |language=en}}</ref> Deputy leader Nick Tenconi took over as leader for the duration of the campaign, which saw the party's vote further decline from its 2019 levels, earning just 6,350 votes nationwide. Of the 26 candidates nominated, all but three of them finished with fewer than 300 votes, with 17 of them finishing in last place in their constituency.<ref>[https://candidates.democracyclub.org.uk/elections/parl.2024-07-04/ Democracy Club]</ref> Unlike the 2019 election, however, the party did succeed in retaining one deposit by winning 6.3% of the vote in [[Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge (UK Parliament constituency)|Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge]], largely due to [[Reform UK]] (as the Brexit Party had renamed itself after the previous election) not nominating a candidate there; the 2,638 votes won by the UKIP candidate single-handedly accounted for 41.5% of the party's national vote share.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-06 |title=The election: breakthrough for Farage, disaster for the rest of the extreme right. |url=https://www.searchlightmagazine.com/2024/07/the-election-modest-wins-for-farage-disaster-for-the-rest-of-the-extreme-right/ |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=Searchlight Magazine |language=en}}</ref>

==Ideology and policies==
===Right-wing populism===
UKIP is situated on the right-wing of the [[left–right political spectrum]].{{sfn|Tournier-Sol|2015|p=147}} More specifically, academic political scientists and commentators have described UKIP as a [[right-wing populist]] party,{{sfnm|1a1=Abedi|1a2=Lundberg|1y=2009|1p=72|2a1=Jones|2y=2011|2p=245|3a1=Dolezal|3y=2012|3p=142|4a1=Liebert|4y=2012|4p=123|5a1=Art|5y=2011|5p=188|6a1=Driver|6y=2011|6p=149}} and as part of Europe's wider [[Radical right (Europe)|radical right]].{{sfnm|1a1=Art|1y=2011|1p=188|2a1=Driver|2y=2011|2p=149|3a1=Ford|3a2=Goodwin|3y=2014|3p=13|4a1=Bale|4a2=Hough|4a3=Van Kessel|4y=2013|4p=97|5a1=Goodwin|5y=2015|5p=15|6a1=Hayton|6y=2016|6p=402|7a1=Evans|7a2=Mellon|7y=2016|7p=465}} The term ''[[populism]]'' refers to political groups which ideologically contrast "the people" against an elite or group of "dangerous others" whom the populists claim threaten the sovereignty of "the people",{{sfn|Deacon|Wring|2016|p=160}} and during its establishment in 1993, UKIP's founders explicitly described it as a populist party.{{sfn|Tournier-Sol|2015|p=149}} At the time, its "ideological heritage" lay within the right-wing of the Conservative Party,{{sfn|Hayton|2016|p=401}} and UKIP was influenced by the "Tory populism" of Conservative politicians [[Margaret Thatcher]] and [[Enoch Powell]].{{sfn|Tournier-Sol|2015|p=147}}

[[File:Nigel Farage of UKIP.jpg|thumb|left|Farage at the 2009 UKIP Conference]]

The political scientists Amir Abedi and Thomas Carl Lundberg characterised UKIP as an "Anti-Political Establishment" party.{{sfnm|1a1=Abedi|1a2=Lundberg|1y=2009|1pp=72, 74|2a1=Dye|2y=2015|2p=8}} The party's rhetoric presents the idea that there is a fundamental divide between the British population and the elite who govern the country.{{sfnm|1a1=Abedi|1a2=Lundberg|1y=2009|1p=76|2a1=Tournier-Sol|2y=2015|2p=149|3a1=Dye|3y=2015|3p=8}} UKIP claims to stand up for ordinary people against this political elite.{{sfn|Tournier-Sol|2015|p=150}} UKIP politician [[Bill Etheridge]] for instance claimed that his party represented "a democratic revolution... the people of Britain rising up and fighting to wrestle power from the elite".{{sfn|Etheridge|2014|p=8}} Contributing to this anti-establishment message, Farage describes the party's supporters as "the People's Army",{{sfnm|1a1=Goodwin|1a2=Milazzo|1y=2015|1p=52|2a1=Hayton|2y=2016|2p=406}} and he regularly held photo-opportunities and journalistic interviews in a [[pub]], thus cultivating an "erudite everyman" image that contrasted with his past as a [[Commodity market|commodities trader]].{{sfn|Deacon|Wring|2016|p=175}}

UKIP uses recurring populist rhetoric—for instance by describing its policies as "[[common sense]]" and "straight talking"—in order to present itself as a straightforward alternative to the mainstream parties and their supposedly elusive and complex discourse.{{sfn|Tournier-Sol|2015|p=150}} UKIP presents the UK's three primary parties—the Conservatives, Labour, and Liberal Democrats—as being essentially interchangeable, referring to them with the [[portmanteau]] of "LibLabCon".{{sfnm|1a1=Abedi|1a2=Lundberg|1y=2009|1p=76|2a1=Lynch|2a2=Whitaker|2a3=Loomes|2y=2012|2p=736|3a1=Tournier-Sol|3y=2015|3p=150}} Farage accused all three parties of being [[social democracy|social-democratic]] in ideology and "virtually indistinguishable from one another on nearly all the key issues".{{sfn|Etheridge|2014|p=16}} Farage has also accused the [[Scottish National Party]] of being "the voice of anti-Englishness", suggesting that elements of the [[Scottish nationalism|Scottish nationalist]] movement are "deeply racist, with a total hatred of the English".{{sfn|Hayton|2016|p=404}}

===Nationalism and British unionism===
[[File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg|thumb|right|UKIP espouses a form of British nationalism; it states that it is a "civic" rather than an "ethnic" nationalism, although this categorisation has been disputed by political scientists{{sfn|Mycock|Hayton|2014|p=264}}]]

UKIP has always had the politics of [[national identity]] at its core.{{sfn|Hayton|2016|p=400}} The party is nationalist, and its "basic claim—that the highest priority for the British polity is to assure that it is fully governed by the national state—is a nationalist one."{{sfn|Dye|2015|p=11}} The party describes its position as being that of [[civic nationalism]], and in its manifesto explicitly rejects [[ethnic nationalism]] by encouraging support from Britons of all ethnicities and religions.{{sfnm|1a1=Ford|1a2=Goodwin|1y=2014|1p=7|2a1=Mycock|2a2=Hayton|2y=2014|2p=264}} Rejecting claims that it is racist, both Sked and later Farage described UKIP as a "non-racist, non-sectarian party".{{sfnm|1a1=Ford|1a2=Goodwin|1y=2014|1p=29|2a1=Etheridge|2y=2014|2p=15}} In UKIP's literature, the party has placed an emphasis on "restoring Britishness" and counteracting what it sees as a "serious existential crisis" exhibited by the "[[Islamification]]" of Britain, the "pseudo-nationalisms" of [[Wales]], [[Scotland]], and Ireland, and the multicultural and [[Supranational union|supranational]] policies promoted by "the cultural left", describing its own stance as being "unashamedly unicultural".{{sfn|Mycock|Hayton|2014|p=264}} It has been suggested that this attitude compromises the party's claim that its form of [[British nationalism]] is civic and inclusive.{{sfn|Mycock|Hayton|2014|p=264}}

UKIP considers itself to be a [[British unionist]] party,{{sfnm|1a1=Mycock|1a2=Hayton|1y=2014|1p=264|2a1=Hayton|2y=2016|2p=401}} although its support base is centred largely in England.{{sfn|Mycock|Hayton|2014|p=264}} Farage characterised his party's growth as "a very English rebellion",{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|p=8}} and has described UKIP as "unashamedly patriotic, proud to be who we are as a nation".{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|p=7}} The political scientist Richard Hayton argued that UKIP's British unionism reflects "Anglo-Britishness", a perspective that blurs the distinction between Britain and England.{{sfn|Hayton|2016|p=401}} With Mycock, Hayton argued that in conflating [[Englishness]] with [[Britishness]], UKIP exhibited an "inherent Anglocentrism" that negates the distinct culture of the [[Scottish people|Scottish]], [[Welsh people|Welsh]], and [[People of Northern Ireland|Northern Irish]] peoples of the United Kingdom.{{sfn|Mycock|Hayton|2014|p=264}} Hayton suggests that UKIP tap into "a vein of nostalgic cultural nationalism" within England,{{sfn|Hayton|2016|p=402}} and it has been noted that UKIP's discourse frames the image of Englishness in a nostalgic manner, harking back to the years before the collapse of the [[British Empire]].{{sfn|Reed|2016|p=228}}

UKIP has emphasised the need to correct what it perceives as the United Kingdom's imbalance against England resulting from the "[[West Lothian question]]" and the [[Barnett formula]].{{sfn|Mycock|Hayton|2014|p=265}} The party has mobilised [[English nationalist]] sentiment brought on by English concerns following the devolution within the UK and the rise of Welsh and Scottish nationalisms.{{sfnm|1a1=Reed|1y=2016|1p=228|2a1=Hayton|2y=2016|2p=405|3a1=Goodwin|3a2=Milazzo|3y=2015|3p=5}} The party initially opposed [[federalism]] in the UK,{{sfn|Hayton|2016|p=401}} criticising the establishment of the [[Welsh Assembly]] and [[Scottish Parliament]].{{sfn|Abedi|Lundberg|2009|p=75}} However, in September 2011 Farage and the NEC announced their support for the establishment of an [[English Parliament]] to accompany the other devolved governments.{{sfn|Mycock|Hayton|2014|p=265}} In its 2015 manifesto, it promised to make [[St. George's Day]] and [[St. David's Day]] [[bank holiday]]s in England and Wales, respectively.{{sfn|Hayton|2016|p=403}} Similarly, UKIP's 2017 manifesto pledged to declare 23 June British Independence Day and observe it annually as a [[Public holiday|national holiday]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.lbc.co.uk/politics/elections/general-election-2017/manifestos/ukip-manifesto-we-read-it-so-you-dont-have-to/ |title=Ukip Manifesto: We Read It So You Don't Have To |website=[[LBC]] |date=26 May 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628140524/http://www.lbc.co.uk/politics/elections/general-election-2017/manifestos/ukip-manifesto-we-read-it-so-you-dont-have-to/ |archive-date=28 June 2017 }}<br /> {{cite news |url=http://www.theweek.co.uk/general-election-2017/84971/ukip-manifesto-2017-paul-nuttalls-key-policies/ |title=Ukip manifesto 2017: Paul Nuttall's key policies |work=[[The Week]] |date=7 June 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170614065605/http://www.theweek.co.uk/general-election-2017/84971/ukip-manifesto-2017-paul-nuttalls-key-policies |archive-date=14 June 2017 }}<br />– {{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/0/ukip-manifesto-general-election-2017-key-points-policies-summary/ |title=Ukip manifesto for General Election 2017: Key points, policies and summary |work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] |date=7 June 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170612211904/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/0/ukip-manifesto-general-election-2017-key-points-policies-summary/ |archive-date=12 June 2017 }}</ref>

===Euroscepticism, immigration, and foreign policy===
UKIP embraces the ideology of [[hard Euroscepticism]],{{sfnm|1a1=Lynch|1a2=Whitaker|1a3=Loomes|1y=2012|1p=733|2a1=Tournier-Sol|2y=2015|2pp=141–42|3a1=Dye|3y=2015|3p=7}} also known as "Eurorejectionism".{{sfn|Dye|2015|p=7}} Opposition to the United Kingdom's continued membership of the European Union has been its "core issue" and is "central to the party's identity".{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|pp=193, 195}} UKIP characterises the EU as a fundamentally undemocratic institution and stresses the need to regain what it describes as the UK's [[national sovereignty]] from the EU.{{sfn|Tournier-Sol|2015|p=142}} It presents the EU as being an exemplar of non-accountability, corruption, and inefficiency, and views it as being responsible for the "flooding" of the UK with migrants, in particular from Eastern Europe.{{sfn|Deacon|Wring|2016|p=173}} UKIP emphasises Euroscepticism to a far greater extent than any of Western Europe's other main radical right parties,{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|pp=187–88}} and it was only post-2010 that it began seriously articulating other issues.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|p=233}} Hayton nevertheless suggested that Euroscepticism still remains "the lens through which most of its other policy positions are framed and understood".{{sfn|Hayton|2016|p=400}}
[[File:Starcross , The Strand, UKIP Poster and Starcross Sign - geograph.org.uk - 1345072.jpg|thumb|left|UKIP placard on the side of the road in [[Starcross]], Devon, declaring: "Say NO to European Union"]]

The party opposed the [[2004 enlargement of the European Union]] into [[Eastern Europe]].{{sfn|Etheridge|2014|p=14}} UKIP advocated leaving the European Union, stopping payments to the EU, and withdrawing from [[Treaties of the European Union|EU treaties]], while maintaining trading ties with other European countries.<ref name="Local elections: What does UKIP stand for?">{{cite news|title=Local elections: What does UKIP stand for?|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22396690|work=BBC News |date=3 May 2013 |access-date=10 May 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328054833/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22396690|archive-date=28 March 2016}}</ref> Initially, UKIP's policy was that, in the event of winning a general election, it would remove the UK from the EU without a referendum on the issue.{{sfn|Usherwood|2016a|p=28}} The party leadership later suggested a referendum, expressing the view that in the case of an exit vote, it could negotiate favourable terms for the country's withdrawal, for instance through ensuring a [[free trade agreement]] between the UK and EU.{{sfnm|1a1=Lynch|1a2=Whitaker|1a3=Loomes|1y=2012|1p=741}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20205730 |title=Nigel Farage on trade, National Insurance and expenses |work=BBC News |date=5 November 2012 |access-date=12 June 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130610020938/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20205730 |archive-date=10 June 2013 }}</ref> UKIP eventually committed to a referendum in its 2015 manifesto.{{sfn|Usherwood|2016a|p=28}} In contrast to involvement in the EU, UKIP has emphasised the UK's global connections, in particularly to member states of the [[Commonwealth of Nations]].{{sfn|Tournier-Sol|2015|p=144}} UKIP rejected the description that they were "Europhobes", maintaining that its stance was anti-EU, not anti-European.{{sfn|Tournier-Sol|2015|p=144}}

UKIP has placed great emphasis on the issue of immigration to the UK,{{sfnm|1a1=Lynch|1a2=Whitaker|1a3=Loomes|1y=2012|1p=754|2a1=Tournier-Sol|2y=2015|2p=146}} and in 2013 Farage described it as "the biggest single issue facing this party".{{sfn|Tournier-Sol|2015|p=146}} UKIP attributes British membership of the EU as the core cause of immigration to the UK, citing the Union's open-border policies as the reason why large numbers of East European migrants have moved to Britain.{{sfn|Tournier-Sol|2015|p=146}} On their campaign billboards, UKIP have presented EU migrants as a source of crime, as well as a pressure on housing, the welfare state, and the health service.{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|p=42}} Farage has emphasised not only the economic impact of migration but also the public anxieties regarding the cultural changes brought by immigration.{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|p=42}} In its 2009 electoral manifesto, UKIP proposed a five-year ban on any migrants coming to the UK.{{sfn|Deacon|Wring|2016|p=173}} By 2015, it had modified this to the view that the five-year ban should apply only to unskilled migrants.{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|p=231}} To regulate the arrival of skilled migrants, it called for the UK to adopt a points-based system akin to that employed by Australia.{{sfnm|1a1=Goodwin|1a2=Milazzo|1y=2015|1pp=172, 231|2a1=Heywood|2y=2015|2p=139}} It advocated the establishment of a watchdog to help curb immigration, and bring the levels of net annual immigration down from the hundreds of thousands to between 20,000 and 50,000, which was the average level in the UK between 1950 and 2000.{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|p=231}} UKIP calls for all immigrants to require compulsory health insurance,{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|p=231}} and proposes that migrants be barred from claiming any state benefits until they had been resident in the UK for at least five years.{{sfn|Deacon|Wring|2016|p=183}}

[[File:Exeter , Cowley Bridge Road and UKIP Hoarding - geograph.org.uk - 1345943.jpg|thumb|right|UKIP poster in [[Exeter]] in 2009: "Say NO to Unlimited Immigration"]]

UKIP gained traction from the fact that post-2008, immigration had come to the forefront of many Britons' minds as a result of increased EU migration and its concomitant social changes.{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|pp=28–30}} By the 2015 general election, the political scientists James Dennison and Matthew Goodwin argued, UKIP had secured "ownership" of the immigration issue among British voters, having secured it from the Conservatives.{{sfn|Dennison|Goodwin|2015|pp=169, 179}} However, the party's campaign against immigration has been accused of using racism and xenophobia to win votes.{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|p=43}} Political scientist David Art suggested that in its campaign to restrict immigration, UKIP had "flirted with xenophobia",{{sfn|Art|2011|p=104}} while Daniel T. Dye stated that part of the party's appeal was its "sometimes-xenophobic populism",{{sfn|Dye|2015|p=2}} and the journalist [[Daniel Trilling]] stated that UKIP tapped into the "anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim populism" that was popular in the late 2000s.{{sfn|Trilling|2012|p=154}} The political scientist Simon Usherwood stated that UKIP's hardening of immigration policy "risked reinforcing the party's profile as a quasi-far-right grouping",{{sfn|Usherwood|2008|p=258}} elsewhere stating that the party was only held together by its opposition to the EU and immigration, suggesting that it had "no ideological coherence" beyond that.{{sfn|Usherwood|2016a|p=29}}

In its 2015 campaign, UKIP called for the foreign aid budget to be cut.{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|p=238}} It has also advocated a 40% increase in the UK's national defence budget.{{sfn|Tournier-Sol|2015|p=146}} It opposes British military involvement in conflicts that are not perceived to be in the national interest, specifically rejecting the concept of [[regime change war]]s through [[humanitarian intervention]]ism.{{sfn|Tournier-Sol|2015|p=146}} For instance, in 2014 it opposed the Cameron government's plans to intervene militarily against the government of [[Bashar al-Assad]] in the [[Syrian civil war]].{{sfnm|1a1=Ford|1a2=Goodwin|1y=2014|1p=96|2a1=Tournier-Sol|2y=2015|2p=146}} In 2018, UKIP pledged to work with anti-EU populist group [[The Movement (populist group)|The Movement]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/steve-bannon-movement-ukip-brexit-a8464846.html|title=Ukip to team up in 'unholy alliance' with Steve Bannon's new far-right European movement|last=Stone|first=Jon|date=26 July 2018|website=[[The Independent]]|access-date=10 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910101621/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/steve-bannon-movement-ukip-brexit-a8464846.html|archive-date=10 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The party was known for its [[Russophilia|pro-Russia]] stance on foreign policy.<ref name="Fomina2020">{{cite book|first=Joanna|last=Fomina|chapter=The Emerging European Public Sphere in the Far of Russia’s Information War|editor-first=Malgorzata|editor-last=Winiarska-Brodowska|title=In Search of a European Public Sphere: Challenges, Opportunities and Prospects|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=30bhDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA70|year=2020|publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing|isbn=978-1-52-754874-9|page=70}}</ref>

===Economic policy===
{{quote box|width=25em|align=right|quote="So what kind of party is UKIP? Ideologically, the party combines a mix of old-style liberal commitments to free markets, limited government and individual freedom with conservative appeals to national sovereignty and traditional social values."|source=— Political scientist Stephen Driver, 2011{{sfn|Driver|2011|p=147}}}}

On economic policy, UKIP shares the main three parties' acceptance of the core principles of a capitalist market economy,{{sfn|Winlow|Hall|Treadwell|2017|p=44}} and the party is generally at ease with the global [[free market]].{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|p=7}} The academics Simon Winlow, Steve Hall, and James Treadwell commented that on economic issues, "UKIP wants to have its cake and eat it. It wants to retain the best bits of the market economy while discarding what it considers the negative outcomes of 21st-century neoliberalism."{{sfn|Winlow|Hall|Treadwell|2017|pp=43–44}} They noted for instance that it wanted "free movement of capital" yet wanted to curtail "the free movement of workers across borders".{{sfn|Winlow|Hall|Treadwell|2017|p=43}}

On economic issues, UKIP's original activist base was largely [[Right-libertarianism|libertarian]], supporting an [[economically liberal]] approach.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|p=277}} Its economic libertarian views have been influenced by [[classical liberalism]] and [[Thatcherism]], with Thatcher representing a key influence on UKIP's thought.{{sfn|Tournier-Sol|2015|p=145}} Farage has characterised UKIP as "the true inheritors" of Thatcher, claiming that the party never would have formed had Thatcher remained Prime Minister of the UK throughout the 1990s.{{sfn|Tournier-Sol|2015|p=145}} Winlow, Hall, and Treadwell suggested that a UKIP government would pursue "hard-core Thatcherism" on economic policy.{{sfn|Winlow|Hall|Treadwell|2017|p=43}} UKIP presents itself as a [[libertarian party]],{{sfnm|1a1=Ford|1a2=Goodwin|1y=2014|1p=7|2a1=Tournier-Sol|2y=2015|2p=145|3a1=Lynch|3a2=Whitaker|3y=2013|3p=296}} and the political scientists David Deacon and Dominic Wring described it as articulating "a potent brand of libertarian populism".{{sfn|Deacon|Wring|2016|p=170}} However, commentators writing in ''[[The Spectator]]'', ''[[The Independent]]'', and the ''[[New Statesman]]'' have all challenged the description of UKIP as libertarian, highlighting its [[Cultural conservatism|socially conservative]] and economically [[protectionist]] policies as being contrary to a libertarian ethos.<ref>{{cite news |title=UKIP is not a libertarian party |first=Alex |last=Massie |newspaper=The Spectator |date=27 November 2012 |url=http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/alex-massie/2012/11/dont-be-fooled-ukip-is-not-a-libertarian-party/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150601084820/http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/alex-massie/2012/11/dont-be-fooled-ukip-is-not-a-libertarian-party/ |archive-date=1 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ukip are by no means libertarian |first=Tim |last=Wigmore |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/ukip-are-by-no-means-libertarian-8424411.html |newspaper=The Independent |date=18 December 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701114941/http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/ukip-are-by-no-means-libertarian-8424411.html |archive-date=1 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Wigmore |first=Tim |title=Is Ukip the most divided party in British politics? |url=http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2014/11/ukip-most-divided-party-british-politics |url-status=live |work=New Statesman |date=19 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722194852/http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2014/11/ukip-most-divided-party-british-politics |archive-date=22 July 2015}}</ref>

UKIP would allow businesses to favour British workers over migrants,<ref name="wilfully misinterpreted">{{cite news |last1=Mason |first1=Rowena |last2=Watt |first2=Nicholas |title=Nigel Farage says his discrimination law remarks were wilfully misinterpreted |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/mar/12/nigel-farage-ukip-discrimination-law-wilfully-misinterpreted |url-status=live |newspaper=The Guardian |date=12 March 2015 |access-date=25 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529160126/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/mar/12/nigel-farage-ukip-discrimination-law-wilfully-misinterpreted |archive-date=29 May 2015}}</ref> and would repeal "much of" Britain's racial discrimination law, which was described as "shocking" by the [[Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition government]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Nigel Farage would axe 'much of' race discrimination law |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31846453 |publisher=BBC News |date=12 March 2015 |access-date=25 May 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522052013/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31846453 |archive-date=22 May 2015}}</ref> and viewed as discriminatory by others.<ref>{{cite news |last=Grice |first=Andrew |title=Nigel Farage sparks race row by insisting discrimination in the workplace should be legalised|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nigel-farage-sparks-another-race-row-by-calling-for-end-to-out-of-date-legislation-on-discrimination-in-the-workplace-10102133.html|newspaper=The Independent|date=12 March 2015|access-date=25 May 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529160253/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nigel-farage-sparks-another-race-row-by-calling-for-end-to-out-of-date-legislation-on-discrimination-in-the-workplace-10102133.html|archive-date=29 May 2015}}</ref> However, Farage insisted that his comments regarding his party's policies on these matters had been "wilfully misinterpreted".<ref name="wilfully misinterpreted" /> Although the party did not have an official stance on the [[Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership]], the party's former international trade spokesperson ([[William Legge, 10th Earl of Dartmouth|Lord Dartmouth]]) and former health and social care spokesperson ([[Louise Bours]]) stated that they did wish the [[National Health Service]] to be included in the trade deal, according to the ''[[International Business Times]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Birmingham |first=Finbarr |title=Rochester By-Election: What's Ukip's Policy on TTIP? |url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/rochester-by-election-whats-ukips-policy-ttip-1475884 |url-status=live |newspaper=International Business Times |date=21 November 2014 |access-date=25 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530002228/http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/rochester-by-election-whats-ukips-policy-ttip-1475884|archive-date=30 May 2015}}</ref>

===Social policy===
In ''[[The Guardian]]'', commentator Ed Rooksby described UKIP's approach to many social issues as being "traditionalist and socially conservative",<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/dec/19/ukip-conservatives|title=Ukip are True Libertarians|first=Ed|last=Rooksby|date=19 December 2012|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=22 April 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302095113/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/dec/19/ukip-conservatives|archive-date=2 March 2017}}</ref> while political scientist Stephen Driver has referred to the party's appeals to "traditional social values".{{sfn|Driver|2011|p=147}} UKIP opposed the introduction of [[same-sex marriage in the United Kingdom]].{{sfnm|1a1=Clements|1y=2014|1p=242|2a1=Tournier-Sol|2y=2015|2p=146}} UKIP wants to repeal the [[Human Rights Act 1998|Human Rights Act]],{{sfn|Abedi|Lundberg|2009|p=73}} and remove Britain from both the European Convention on Refugees and the [[European Convention on Human Rights]] (ECHR).{{sfn|Etheridge|2014|pp=42–43}}<ref name="Immigration policy"><!-- EU conventions and quotation -->{{cite web|url=http://www.ukip.org/index.php/issues/policy-pages/immigration|title=Immigration|publisher=UKIP|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607061340/http://www.ukip.org/index.php/issues/policy-pages/immigration|archive-date=7 June 2013}}<br /><!-- human rights act -->- {{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/mar/07/ukip-policies-manifesto-commitments|title=What would a Ukip Britain look like?|last=Booth|first=Robert|date=7 March 2013|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=24 May 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130906000134/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/mar/07/ukip-policies-manifesto-commitments|archive-date=6 September 2013}}</ref> On the repeal of Britain's signatory to the ECHR, UKIP would like to see a referendum on the reintroduction of the [[death penalty in the UK]].{{sfn|Etheridge|2014|p=43}}

In 2015, Farage attracted widespread press attention for suggesting that HIV positive patients who were not British citizens should not receive treatment on the NHS.{{sfn|Dennison|Goodwin|2015|p=168}} In that same speech he stated that the UK should put the NHS "there for British people and families, who in many cases have paid into the system for years".{{sfn|Dennison|Goodwin|2015|p=168}} Farage has spoken in favour of an insurance-based system in the past, which he said would resemble the French and Dutch style system rather than an American style private system, but this was rejected by the party. He has commented, "we may have to think about ways in the future about dealing with health care differently".<ref>{{cite news |title=Nigel Farage: UKIP supports NHS not private insurance |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30045935 |work=BBC News |date=14 November 2014 |access-date=16 November 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116092104/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30045935 |archive-date=16 November 2014 }}</ref> Critics of UKIP have claimed that the party's real desire is to dismantle and [[privatise]] the NHS,{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|p=134}} a claim bolstered by the publication of leaked documents showing that in 2013 the UKIP NEC privately spoke positively of NHS privatisation.{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|p=220}}

[[File:Ukipppc2010.jpg|thumb|left|A UKIP candidate campaigning in the run-up to the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]]]]

Although Farage had long been reticent about focusing on public anxieties surrounding Muslims in Britain, he spoke out following the [[Charlie Hebdo shooting|''Charlie Hebdo'' shooting]], claiming that there was a "fifth column" of Islamists in the UK who—while "mercifully small" in number—were "out to destroy our whole civilisation".{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|p=214}} At the same time he called for Western states to do more to promote their [[Judeo-Christian]] heritage,{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|p=214}} and criticised state [[multiculturalism]] for promoting social segregation, discouraging integration, and generating a "tick-box approach" to [[identity politics]].{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|p=214}} In its 2017 manifesto, UKIP pledged to abolish the existence of [[sharia|sharia courts]] in the UK and ban the wearing of the [[niqab]] and burka in public; it claimed that these were needed to promote the integration of Muslims with wider British society.<ref>{{cite news |title=General election 2017: UKIP manifesto to pledge a burka ban |date=24 April 2017 |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39682939?ocid=socialflow_facebook&ns_mchannel=social&ns_campaign=bbcnews&ns_source=facebook |access-date=23 April 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170527091610/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39682939?ocid=socialflow_facebook&ns_mchannel=social&ns_campaign=bbcnews&ns_source=facebook |archive-date=27 May 2017 }}<br />– {{cite news |title=Ukip to campaign to ban burqa and sharia courts, says Paul Nuttall |author=Elgot, Jessica |date=23 April 2016 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/apr/23/ukip-to-campaign-to-ban-burka-and-sharia-courts-says-paul-nuttall?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Facebook |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=23 April 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170424003019/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/apr/23/ukip-to-campaign-to-ban-burka-and-sharia-courts-says-paul-nuttall?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Facebook |archive-date=24 April 2017}}</ref>

UKIP is the only major political party in the United Kingdom that does not endorse [[renewable energy]] and lower carbon emissions,{{sfn|Reed|2016|p=229}} and its media output regularly promotes [[climate change denial]].{{sfn|Reed|2016|p=237}} Farage and other senior UKIP figures have repeatedly spoken out against the construction of [[wind farms]], deeming them a blot on the rural landscape.{{sfn|Reed|2016|pp=233–36}} UKIP's media present renewable energy as inefficient and unaffordable,{{sfn|Reed|2016|p=237}} and they promote the use of [[fossil fuels]], [[nuclear power|nuclear energy]] and [[fracking]].{{sfn|Reed|2016|p=238}} UKIP has announced that it would repeal the [[Climate Change Act 2008]] and has placed an emphasis on protecting the [[Green belt (United Kingdom)|Green Belt]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Ukip manifesto 2015: summary of key policies |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=7 May 2015 |last=Wilkinson |first=Michael |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/ukip/11536535/manifesto-2015-summary.html |access-date=25 September 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915231500/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/ukip/11536535/manifesto-2015-summary.html |archive-date=15 September 2016}}</ref>

[[File:UKIP poster in Alexandra Road - geograph.org.uk - 1362476.jpg|thumb|right|upright|UKIP poster in [[Egham]], Surrey, for the 2009 European elections]]

In its 2015 election manifesto, UKIP promised to teach a chronological understanding of "British history and achievements" in schools,{{sfn|Hayton|2016|p=403}} and it calls for the scrapping of [[sex education]] for children under 11.<ref name=Education>{{cite news |title=Ukip's education policies: you ask the questions |date=17 March 2015 |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/mar/17/ukip-education-policies-schools-paul-nuttall |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160928024104/https://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/mar/17/ukip-education-policies-schools-paul-nuttall |archive-date=28 September 2016}}</ref> UKIP would introduce an option for students to take an apprenticeship qualification instead of four non-core [[General Certificate of Secondary Education|GCSEs]] which can be continued at [[GCE Advanced Level|A Level]].<ref name=Education /> Schools would be investigated by [[OFSTED]] on the presentation of a petition to the Department for Education signed by 25% of parents or governors.<ref name=Education /> UKIP have promoted the scrapping of the government target that 50% of school leavers attend university, and present the policy that [[tuition fees]] would be scrapped for students taking approved degrees in science, medicine, technology, engineering or mathematics.<ref name=Education />

Farage argued that [[British Overseas Territories]] like [[Gibraltar]] should have representatives in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom]], akin to the privileges given to French overseas territories in France. Farage believes that all citizens for whom the British Parliament passes legislation, whether in the United Kingdom or its territories, deserve democratic representation in that Parliament.<ref>[http://en.mercopress.com/2013/05/22/falklands-and-other-bot-should-be-given-a-seat-in-the-commons-says-mep-farage "Falklands and other BOT should be given a seat in the Commons, says MEP Farage"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211155712/http://en.mercopress.com/2013/05/22/falklands-and-other-bot-should-be-given-a-seat-in-the-commons-says-mep-farage |date=11 February 2017 }}, ''MercoPress'', 22 May 2013</ref>

==Support==
===Financial backing===
[[File:UKIP campaigning in Newport High Street.jpg|thumb|[[Tadley|Tadley Town]] councillor and UKIP candidate for the [[Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner]], Stephen West, campaigning in [[Newport, Isle of Wight|Newport]] high street on the [[Isle of Wight]] in [[2012 England and Wales police and crime commissioner elections|2012]]. ]]

In 2008, Usherwood noted that UKIP relied heavily on a small number of major financial backers.{{sfn|Usherwood|2008|p=261}} According to ''The Guardian'', a leaked internal report to UKIP's executive committee dated to September 2012 shows that the party's leader argued that "the key to money for us will be the [[hedge fund]] industry".<ref>{{cite news |last=Syal |first=Rajeev |date=2 January 2015 |title=Nigel Farage targets hedge funds as key to Ukip's financial future |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jan/02/nigel-farage-ukip-target-hedge-fund-city-finances-report |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=26 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226072454/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jan/02/nigel-farage-ukip-target-hedge-fund-city-finances-report |archive-date=26 December 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

According to UKIP's annual returns to the [[Electoral Commission (United Kingdom)|Electoral Commission]],<ref>UK Independence Party, ''Report and Accounts. Year ended 31 December 2013''. Submitted to Electoral Commission 2 July 2014. Published by Electoral Commission, ref ST0009786, 28 July 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.</ref> in 2013 the party had a total income of £2,479,314. Of this, £714,492 was from membership and subscriptions, £32,115 from fundraising activities and £1,361,640 from donations. By law, individual donations over £7,500 must be reported.<ref>''Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000'', s62</ref>

UKIP has several high-profile backers. In March 2009, the Conservative Party's biggest-ever donor, Stuart Wheeler, donated £100,000 to UKIP after criticising Cameron's stance towards the Treaty of Lisbon. He was then expelled from the Conservatives and in 2011 appointed treasurer of UKIP.<ref>{{cite news |last=Woodhouse |first=Craig |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/former-tory-donor-named-as-ukips-new-treasurer-6553943.html |title=Former Tory donor named as Ukip's new treasurer |access-date=20 December 2014 |newspaper=[[London Evening Standard]] |date=10 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220202525/http://www.standard.co.uk/news/former-tory-donor-named-as-ukips-new-treasurer-6553943.html |archive-date=20 December 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> In October 2014, [[Arron Banks]], who previously gave £25,000 to the Conservatives, increased his UKIP donation from £100,000 to £1&nbsp;million after Hague said he had never heard of him.{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|pp=151–152}}<ref name="Halliday">{{cite news |last=Halliday |first=Josh |date=12 December 2014 |title=Richard Desmond makes £300,000 donation to Ukip |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/dec/12/richard-desmond-donation-ukip-nigel-farage |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=26 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226072144/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/dec/12/richard-desmond-donation-ukip-nigel-farage |archive-date=26 December 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> The multi-millionaire [[Paul Sykes (businessman)|Paul Sykes]] has helped finance the party, donating over £1&nbsp;million to its 2014 campaign at the European Parliament.{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|p=37}}

In December 2014, [[Richard Desmond]], proprietor of [[Express Newspapers]], donated £300,000 to UKIP.{{sfn|Deacon|Wring|2016|p=178}} Desmond had previously made the UKIP peer [[David Stevens, Baron Stevens of Ludgate|David Stevens]] his deputy chairman.{{sfn|Deacon|Wring|2016|p=183}}<ref name="Halliday" /> The donation indicated that Desmond's papers, the ''[[Daily Express]]'', ''[[Sunday Express]]'', ''[[Daily Star (British newspaper)|Daily Star]]'' and ''[[Daily Star Sunday]]'', would back UKIP in the 2015 general election.<ref>Loulla-Mae Eleftheriou-Smith, [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/express-newspapers-owner-richard-desmond-donates-300000-to-ukip-9922663.html "Express newspapers owner Richard Desmond donates £300,000 to Ukip"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225024448/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/express-newspapers-owner-richard-desmond-donates-300000-to-ukip-9922663.html |date=25 December 2014 }}, ''The Independent'', 13 December 2014</ref> Three weeks before the election, Desmond gave the party a further £1&nbsp;million.{{sfn|Deacon|Wring|2016|p=178}}<ref>Rowena Mason, [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/16/daily-express-owner-richard-desmond-ukip-donation "Daily Express owner Richard Desmond hands Ukip £1m"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226072226/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/16/daily-express-owner-richard-desmond-ukip-donation |date=26 December 2016 }}, ''The Guardian'', 17 April 2015</ref>

In September 2016, the major UKIP donor, Arron Banks, said that UKIP would be "dead in the water" if [[Diane James]] did not become leader.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/ukip-diane-james-arron-banks_uk_57d9755ee4b00f7417356350|title=Ukip Is 'Dead In The Water' If Diane James Doesn't Become Leader, Says Party Donor Arron Banks|newspaper=[[HuffPost]]|first=Owen|last=Bennett|date=15 September 2016|access-date=13 October 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013220641/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/ukip-diane-james-arron-banks_uk_57d9755ee4b00f7417356350|archive-date=13 October 2016}}</ref> Following her departure after 18 days, Banks said that he would leave UKIP if [[Steven Woolfe]] was prevented from running for leader, and if two other members remained in the party: "If [[Neil Hamilton (politician)|Neil Hamilton]] and [[Douglas Carswell]] [UKIP's only MP] remain in the party, and the NEC decide that Steven Woolfe cannot run for leader, I will be leaving UKIP".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/arron-banks-ukip-neil-hamilton-douglas-carswell-donor-a7349576.html|title=Arron Banks threatens to leave Ukip after being 'utterly disgusted' by party member's remarks following altercation|newspaper=The Independent|first=May|last=Bulman|date=6 October 2016|access-date=13 October 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011235708/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/arron-banks-ukip-neil-hamilton-douglas-carswell-donor-a7349576.html|archive-date=11 October 2016}}</ref>

===Membership===
UKIP's membership numbers increased from 2002 to the time of the 2004 European Parliament election, before hovering around the 16,000 mark during the late 2000s.<ref name=BBC3May13 /><ref name=brief>Feargal McGuinness, ''[http://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/SN05125.pdf Membership of UK political parties] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140401031422/http://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/SN05125.pdf |date=1 April 2014 }}'', House of Commons Library, 2012</ref> In 2004, the party claimed 20,000 members, with this remaining broadly stable, and in June 2007 it had a recorded 16,700 members.{{sfn|Abedi|Lundberg|2009|p=80}} By July 2013, the figure had grown to 30,000<ref>[[George Eaton (journalist)|George Eaton]], [http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2013/07/ukip-membership-hits-30000-could-it-overtake-lib-dems-next "UKIP membership hits 30,000. Could it overtake the Lib Dems next?"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130714121845/http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2013/07/ukip-membership-hits-30000-could-it-overtake-lib-dems-next |date=14 July 2013}}, ''New Statesman'', 12 July 2013</ref> before ending the year at 32,447.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25562198 "UKIP says it has signed up 13,000 new members in 2013"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103013113/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25562198 |date=3 January 2014}}, BBC News, 31 December 2013</ref> In 2014, the number was 36,000 on 22 April,<ref name="ExpressApril22">{{cite news|title=Ukip sets sights on dwarfing Lib Dems by general election in 2015 |url=http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/471718/Ukip-sets-sights-on-dwarfing-Lib-Dems-by-general-election-in-2015|newspaper=[[Daily Express]]|access-date=22 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140422072741/http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/471718/Ukip-sets-sights-on-dwarfing-Lib-Dems-by-general-election-in-2015|archive-date=22 April 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> by 7 May reached 37,000<ref name="ExpressMay7">{{cite news|url=http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/474420/Half-Ukip-s-Euro-voters-pledge-to-stay-loyal-to-Nigel-Farage-in-the-2015-General-Election|title=Half Ukip's Euro voters pledge to stay loyal to Nigel Farage in the 2015 General Election|date=7 May 2014|newspaper=Daily Express |first=Mercer|last=Hall|access-date=8 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508055145/http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/474420/Half-Ukip-s-Euro-voters-pledge-to-stay-loyal-to-Nigel-Farage-in-the-2015-General-Election|archive-date=8 May 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> and on 19 May, less than a fortnight later and only three days before the 2014 European Parliament election, rose to 38,000.<ref>{{cite news |last=Martin |first=Ian |title=Ukip and Nigel Farage: How far they've come… |url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/iainmartin1/100273153/ukip-and-nigel-farage-how-far-theyve-come/ |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=25 May 2014 |access-date=26 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527215718/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/iainmartin1/100273153/ukip-and-nigel-farage-how-far-theyve-come/ |archive-date=27 May 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In January 2015, UKIP membership was the fifth-highest of British parties.<ref name="BBC News 15 January 2015">{{cite news |title=Green Party says it has more members than UKIP |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30829222 |date=15 January 2015 |work=BBC News |access-date=16 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150116081228/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30829222 |archive-date=16 January 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Sabin |first=Lamiat |title=Greens get new member every 10 seconds to surge past Ukip's membership numbers ahead of general election |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/green-parties-overtaking-ukip-with-rapid-2000-rise-in-memberships-amid-tv-debate-exclusion-9979765.html |date=15 January 2015 |newspaper=The Independent |access-date=16 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115195118/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/green-parties-overtaking-ukip-with-rapid-2000-rise-in-memberships-amid-tv-debate-exclusion-9979765.html |archive-date=15 January 2015 |url-status=live}}<br />– {{cite news |last=Mason |first=Rowena |title=Greens close to overtaking Ukip and Lib Dems in number of members |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jan/14/green-party-overtaking-ukip-lib-dems-membership |date=14 January 2015 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=16 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150114221916/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jan/14/green-party-overtaking-ukip-lib-dems-membership |archive-date=14 January 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Membership was 45,000 in May 2015, but since then has fallen to 32,757 in November 2016,<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-38125432 Paul Nuttall elected as UKIP leader] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161128054953/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-38125432 |date=28 November 2016}}, BBC News, 28 November 2016</ref> and as low as 18,000 under Henry Bolton by January 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.sky.com/story/ukip-working-with-alt-right-activists-to-target-younger-voters-11462820 |title=UKIP working with alt-right activists to target younger voters |access-date=6 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807034737/https://news.sky.com/story/ukip-working-with-alt-right-activists-to-target-younger-voters-11462820 |archive-date=7 August 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2018, four political activists known through social media – [[Paul Joseph Watson]], [[Mark Meechan]], [[Carl Benjamin]], and [[Milo Yiannopoulos]] – joined the party. This was followed by the party gaining around 500 members.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ukip-alt-right-members-paul-joseph-watson-mark-meechan-carl-benjamin-a8418116.html| title=Ukip gains 500 new members since allowing prominent far-right activists to join party| date=26 June 2018| access-date=27 June 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628005220/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ukip-alt-right-members-paul-joseph-watson-mark-meechan-carl-benjamin-a8418116.html| archive-date=28 June 2018| url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2018, it was reported the party had attracted 3,200 new members, a 15% increase.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/aug/02/ukip-membership-surges-15-per-cent-in-a-month| title=Ukip membership surges 15% in a month| journal=The Guardian| date=2 August 2018| first=Peter| last=Walker| access-date=2 August 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802130346/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/aug/02/ukip-membership-surges-15-per-cent-in-a-month| archive-date=2 August 2018| url-status=live}}</ref>

The party's report to The Electoral Commission of its accounts as of 31 December 2020 stated the party had a membership of 3,888.<ref name="31 December 2020 membership"/>

===Voter base===
{{Quote box|width=25em|align=right|quote=UKIP's voters are not single-issue Europhobes or political protesters, they share a clear and distinct agenda, mixing deep Euroscepticism with clear ideas about immigration, national identity and the way British society is changing. The conflict between UKIP's voters and the political mainstream reflects a deep-seated difference in outlook among voters from different walks in life. Those who lead and staff the three main parties are all from the highly educated, socially liberal middle classes, who are comfortable in an ethnically and culturally diverse, outward looking society... Those who lead and staff UKIP, and those who vote for them, are older, less educated, disadvantaged and economically insecure Britons, who are profoundly uncomfortable in the 'new' society, which they regard as alien and threatening.|source=— Political scientists Robert Ford and Matthew Goodwin, 2014.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|p=11}} }}

In its early years, UKIP targeted itself towards southern English, middle-class Eurosceptic voters, those who had been supporters of the Conservative Party until [[John Major]]'s Conservative government signed the Maastricht Treaty.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|p=108}} This led to the widespread perception that UKIP's supporters were primarily middle-class ex-Conservative voters, with commentator [[Peter Oborne]] characterising UKIP as "the Conservative Party in exile".{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|p=145}}

After 2009, UKIP refocused its attention to appeal primarily to [[white British]], working-class, blue-collar workers; those who had traditionally voted Labour or in some cases for Thatcher's Conservatives but who had ceased voting or begun to vote BNP since the emergence of the [[New Labour]] project in the 1990s.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|p=108}} In this way, UKIP's support base does not line up with the historical left-right divide in British politics, instead being primarily rooted in class divisions.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|p=270}} This mirrored the voting base of other radical right parties across Western Europe which had grown since the early 1990s.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|pp=111–112}} This scenario had come about following the rapid growth of the middle-classes and the concomitant decline of the working-class population in Western Europe; the centre-left, social-democratic parties who had traditionally courted the support of the working classes largely switched their attention to the newly emergent middle-classes, leaving their initial support base increasingly alienated and creating the vacuum which the radical right exploited.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|pp=113–114}}

On the basis of their extensive study of data on the subject, in 2014 the political scientists [[Matthew Goodwin]] and [[Robert Ford (academic)|Robert Ford]] concluded that "UKIP's support has a very clear social profile, more so than any of the mainstream parties. Their electoral base is old, male, working class, white and less educated".{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|p=159}} They found that 57% of professed UKIP supporters were over the age of 54, while only one in 10 was under 35, which they attributed to the fact that UKIP's socially conservative and Eurosceptic platform appealed far more to Britain's older generations that their younger counterparts, who were more socially liberal and less antagonistic towards the EU.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|pp=156–158}}

57% of UKIP supporters were male, which Ford and Goodwin suggested was due to women voters being put off by a number of high-profile [[sexist]] remarks made by UKIP candidates.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|pp=154–155}} 99.6% of UKIP supporters identified as white, reflecting the fact that ethnic minorities tended to avoid the party.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|pp=158–159}} 55% of UKIP supporters had left school aged 16 or under, with only 24% having attended university, suggesting that the party primarily appealed to the least educated voters in society.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|p=154}} Ford and Goodwin also found that UKIP's support base was more working-class than that of any other party, with 42% of supporters in [[blue-collar]] jobs.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|p=152}} Ford and Goodwin described UKIP's voters as primarily comprising the "left behind" sector of society, "older, less skilled and less well educated working-class voters" who felt disenfranchised from the mainstream political parties which had increasingly focused on attracting the support of middle-class [[swing voters]].{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|p=10}}

Ford and Goodwin nevertheless noted that UKIP was "not a purely blue-collar party but an alliance of manual workers, employers and the self-employed."{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2016|p=482}}
Geoffrey Evans and Jon Mellon highlighted that UKIP receive "a greater proportion of their support from lower professionals and managers" than from any other class group.{{sfn|Evans|Mellon|2016|p=474}} They highlighted that polls repeatedly demonstrated that UKIP drew more votes from Conservative voters than Labour ones.{{sfn|Evans|Mellon|2016|pp=464–465}} They suggested that the assumption that working-class voters who supported UKIP had previously been Labour voters was misplaced,{{sfn|Evans|Mellon|2016|p=465}} suggesting that these people had ceased voting for Labour "a long time before UKIP were an effective political presence", having been alienated by Labour's "pro-middle class, pro-EU and, as it eventually turned out, pro-immigration agenda".{{sfn|Evans|Mellon|2016|p=467}}
In 2011, Goodwin, Ford, and David Cutts published a study that identified Euroscepticism as the main causal factor for voters supporting UKIP, with concern over immigration levels and distrust of the political establishment also featuring as important motives.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|Cutts|2011|p=204}} They noted, however, that during elections for the European Parliament, UKIP was able to broaden its support to gain the vote of largely middle-class Eurosceptics who vote Conservative in other elections.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|p=231}}

{{Quote box|width=25em|align=left|quote=Ukip has become more than the single issue on which it was founded: under Farage's leadership it has become a welcoming home for the many in British society who feel that 'the system' isn't working for them, or has left them behind, economically, socially or politically. In so doing, it has gained supporters from across the political spectrum, including many old Labour voters in economically distressed regions of the country.|source=— Political scientist Simon Usherwood, 2016.{{sfn|Usherwood|2016a|p=29}} }}

From their analysis of the data, Ford and Goodwin stated that UKIP's support base has "strong parallels" both with that of western Europe's other radical right parties and with the BNP during their electoral heyday.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|p=273}} Conversely, an earlier study by Richard Whitaker and Philip Lynch, based on polling data from [[YouGov]], concluded that UKIP voters were distinct from those of far-right parties. The authors found that voter support for UKIP correlated with concerns about the value of immigration and a lack of trust in the political system, but the biggest explanatory factor for their support of UKIP was Euroscepticism.{{sfn|Whitaker|Lynch|2011|p=359}} A further study by the same authors suggests that UKIP voters' core beliefs align very closely to those of the UKIP candidates; particularly so on issues surrounding European integration, which has resulted in Conservative voters switching to UKIP due to Conservative divisions on this issue.{{sfn|Lynch|Whitaker|Loomes|2012}} One study found that 63% of UKIP voters considered themselves to be right-wing, while 22% thought centrist and 16% thought leftist.{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|p=92}} 81% believed that immigration undermined British culture, a view shared by only half the wider British population.{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|pp=89–90}} On economic issues, there was a divide between UKIP voters and the party itself.{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|p=93}} In contrast to the party's economic liberalism, UKIP supporters often held more leftist attitudes to the economy, with almost 80% opining that [[big business]] took advantage of working people and almost 70% thinking that privatisation had gone too far.{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|p=94}}

UKIP has been most successful along England's eastern and southern coasts, in parts of south-west England, and in the Labour heartlands of Northern England and Wales.{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|p=73}} It has not done well in London and in [[university town]]s and urban areas with younger populations like Oxford, Cambridge, Manchester, and Brighton.{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|pp=73, 74–75}} It has done well in areas with large numbers of old, white, and poorer people, and weaker in areas with larger numbers of younger, more ethnically and culturally diverse, and financially secure people.{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|p=73}}
Ford and Goodwin noted that UKIP "barely registers" with young Britons, graduates, ethnic minorities, and [[pro-EU]] voters.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|p=256}}
According to an Opinium poll in December 2014 on the views of 17- to 22-year-olds, Farage was the least popular political leader. Only 3% of young people questioned said that they intended to vote for UKIP, compared with 19% among voters of all ages.<ref>Toby Helm, [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/dec/27/young-voters-shun-ukip-farage-clegg-lib-dems-general-election "Young voters shun Nigel Farage and Nick Clegg in general election poll"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226072251/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/dec/27/young-voters-shun-ukip-farage-clegg-lib-dems-general-election |date=26 December 2016}}, ''The Observer'', 28 December 2014</ref> The 17% who said they would vote outside the three main parties were four times more likely to vote for the [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green Party]] than for UKIP.<ref>Adam Withnall, [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/douglas-carswell-tells-ukip-to-stop-blaming-foreigners-as-youth-poll-shows-nigel-farage-is-even-less-popular-than-nick-clegg-9947202.html?origin=internalSearch "Douglas Carswell tells Ukip to stop blaming foreigners as youth poll shows Nigel Farage is even less popular than Nick Clegg"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925170042/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/douglas-carswell-tells-ukip-to-stop-blaming-foreigners-as-youth-poll-shows-nigel-farage-is-even-less-popular-than-nick-clegg-9947202.html?origin=internalSearch |date=25 September 2015 }}, ''The Independent'', 29 December 2014</ref> Conversely, a March 2015 [[Ipsos Mori]] poll found among 18- to 34-year-olds UKIP was polling nearly as well as the Green Party, somewhat contradicting the idea that Farage lacked appeal for younger voters.<ref>Alberto Nardelli, [https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2015/mar/04/election-2015-support-for-ukip-among-gen-y-voters-doubles-in-a-year "Election 2015: support for Ukip among Gen Y voters doubles in a year"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226072550/https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2015/mar/04/election-2015-support-for-ukip-among-gen-y-voters-doubles-in-a-year |date=26 December 2016 }}, ''The Guardian'', 4 March 2015</ref> On the basis of their fieldwork among supporters of the [[English Defence League]] (EDL), an anti-Islam social movement, Winlow, Hall, and Treadwell noted that most EDL supporters whom they encountered intended to vote for UKIP in the build-up to the 2015 general election.{{sfn|Winlow|Hall|Treadwell|2017|p=76}}

UKIP supporters are sometimes nicknamed "Kippers". In May 2017, in response to large defections from the party, Goodwin said "Former Kippers did not walk but literally sprinted over to the Conservatives."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://uk.businessinsider.com/tchart-shows-how-theresa-may-has-taken-over-the-ukip-vote-2017-5|title=This chart shows how Theresa May has completely taken over the UKIP vote|first=Adam|last=Payne|work=Business Insider|date=10 May 2017|access-date=14 June 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517124416/http://uk.businessinsider.com/tchart-shows-how-theresa-may-has-taken-over-the-ukip-vote-2017-5|archive-date=17 May 2017}}</ref>

==Organisation==
===Leadership===
{{Infobox Political post
| post = Leader of the UK Independence Party
| body = 
| member_of = 
| image = 
| incumbent = Vacant
| incumbentsince = 16 June 2024
| deputy = Nick Tenconi
| residence = 
| appointer = 
| termlength = Four years
| formation = 3 September 1993
| inaugural = [[Alan Sked]]
| precursor = 
| website = 
}}

According to Part VII of the UKIP constitution, the party leader is voted for by postal ballot by all paid-up party members "in good standing". The winner is the candidate with the [[Majority|simple majority]] of votes cast. If there is only one valid candidate for the position, they are elected without the need for a ballot. While the default term length is four years, the leader can obtain an extension of up to a year if there is an imminent General or European Parliament election; this must be approved by at least two-thirds of the 12-person NEC. If at least nine NEC members endorse a [[vote of no confidence]] in the leader, an emergency general meeting (EGM) will be called. When the leadership becomes vacant unexpectedly, the NEC has 14 days to name an interim leader who exercises all leadership functions until the next leadership election. The leader has the power to name a Deputy Leader of their own choice and assign them whatever duty they choose.<ref name="const">{{cite web|url=https://www.ukip.org/ukip-page.php?id=07|title=The Constitution|publisher=UK Independence Party|access-date=26 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026222553/https://www.ukip.org/ukip-page.php?id=07|archive-date=26 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="2" style="width:20px;" |Leader
! style="width:130px;" |Took office
! style="width:130px;" |Left office
! style="width:200px;" |Notes
<!-- ! Deputy -->
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" | 1
| [[Alan Sked]] || 3 September 1993 || July 1997 || Party founder; left party in 1997
|-
| colspan="5"|''[[Craig Mackinlay]] was acting leader during this interim''
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" | 2
|[[Michael Holmes (politician)|Michael Holmes]] || September 1997 || 22 January 2000 || MEP 1999–2002; left party in 2000
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" | 3
|[[Jeffrey Titford]] || 22 January 2000 || 5 October 2002 || MEP 1999–2009; left party in 2023
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" | 4
|[[Roger Knapman]]  || 5 October 2002 || 12 September 2006 || MEP 2004–2009
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" | 5
|[[Nigel Farage]] || [[2006 UK Independence Party leadership election|12 September 2006]] || 27 November 2009 || Former chairman; MEP 1999–2020; left party in 2018
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" |  6
|[[Malcolm Pearson, Baron Pearson of Rannoch|The Lord Pearson of Rannoch]]  || [[2009 UK Independence Party leadership election|27 November 2009]] || 2 September 2010 || Member of House of Lords; left party in 2019
|-
| colspan="5"|''[[Jeffrey Titford]] was acting leader during this interim''
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" | (<span class="ltr">5</span>)
|[[Nigel Farage]] || [[2010 UK Independence Party leadership election|5 November 2010]] || 16 September 2016 ||
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" | 7
|[[Diane James]] || [[September 2016 UK Independence Party leadership election|16 September 2016]] || 4 October 2016{{refn| group="N" |name="legalleader"|Diane James won the [[September 2016 UK Independence Party leadership election|September 2016 leadership election]] but resigned 18 days later, prior to taking office. As the relevant paperwork required by the [[Electoral Commission (United Kingdom)|Electoral Commission]] was not processed before her resignation due to her writing ''[[vi coactus]]'' after her signature on the paperwork,<ref>https://inews.co.uk/essentials/news/politics/resignation-reluctant-ukip-leader-diane-james-paves-way-new-ballot-fresh-infighting/</ref> legally Farage remained the leader of UKIP during James's tenure.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/oct/05/nigel-farage-says-he-may-technically-still-be-ukip-leader|title=Nigel Farage declares himself interim Ukip leader|newspaper=The Guardian|first1=Heather|last1=Stewart|first2=Rowena|last2=Mason|date=5 October 2016|access-date=28 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161113141925/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/oct/05/nigel-farage-says-he-may-technically-still-be-ukip-leader|archive-date=13 November 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Farage continued to act as interim leader of UKIP until the [[November 2016 UK Independence Party leadership election|November 2016]] election.}}|| Leader-elect, MEP 2014–2019; left party in 2016
|-
| colspan="5"|''[[Nigel Farage]] was acting leader during this interim''
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" | 8
|[[Paul Nuttall]] ||[[November 2016 UK Independence Party leadership election|28 November 2016]] || 9 June 2017 || Deputy leader 2010–2016; MEP 2009–2019; left party in 2018
|-
| colspan="5"|''[[Steve Crowther]] was acting leader during this interim''
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" | 9
|[[Henry Bolton (British politician)|Henry Bolton]] ||[[2017 UK Independence Party leadership election|29 September 2017]] || 17 February 2018 || Left party in 2018
|-
| colspan="5"|''[[Gerard Batten]] was acting leader during this interim''
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" | 10
|[[Gerard Batten]] || [[2018 UK Independence Party leadership election|14 April 2018]] || 2 June 2019 || MEP 2004–2019
|-
| colspan="5"|''[[Piers Wauchope]] was acting leader during this interim''
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" | 11
|[[Richard Braine (politician)|Richard Braine]] || [[2019 UK Independence Party leadership election|10 August 2019]] || 30 October 2019 || Suspended from party in October 2019; subsequently resigned as leader
|-
| colspan="5"|''[[Patricia Mountain]] was acting leader during this interim until 25 April 2020''<ref name="Patricia Mountain" />
|-
| colspan="5"|''Leadership was vacant until 22 June 2020''
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" | 12
|[[Freddy Vachha]]||[[2020 UK Independence Party leadership election|22 June 2020]] || 12 September 2020 || Chairman of UKIP London, Leadership candidate in 2019. Suspended from party on 12 September 2020
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" | 13
|[[Neil Hamilton (politician)|Neil Hamilton]] || 12 September 2020 || 13 May 2024 || Initially served as interim leader;<ref name="auto">{{cite web |title=Leadership |website=UKIP |date=10 September 2020 |url=http://ukip.org/leadership |access-date=13 September 2020}}</ref> substantiated on 19 October 2021<ref name=hamilton/>
|- 
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white; | 14
| Lois Perry || 13 May 2024  || 15 June 2024 ||
|-
| colspan="5"|''Nick Tenconi was interim leader during this period''
|}

==== Timeline ====

{{#tag:timeline|
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
ImageSize  = width:1050 height:auto barincrement:12
Period     = from:01/01/1993 till:{{#time:d/m/Y}}
TimeAxis   = orientation:horizontal
AlignBars  = late
PlotArea  = top:10 bottom:100 right:130 left:20
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:2 start:01/01/1993
ScaleMinor = unit:month increment:6 start:01/01/1993

Define $today = {{#time:d/m/Y}}

Colors =
     id:leader   value:rgb(0.44,0.08,0.48)
     id:acting   value:rgb(0.72,0.54,0.74)
     id:disputed   value:rgb(0.22,0.04,0.24)
     id:actingdispute   value:rgb(0.36,0.27,0.36)

BarData =
  bar:Sked
  bar:Mackinlay
  bar:Holmes
  bar:Titford
  bar:Knapman
  bar:Farage
  bar:Pearson
  bar:James
  bar:Nuttall
  bar:Crowther
  bar:Bolton
  bar:Batten
  bar:Wauchope
  bar:Braine
  bar:Mountain
  bar:Vachha
  bar:Hamilton
  bar:Perry
  bar:Tenconi

PlotData=
  width:5 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till

 bar:Sked
  from: start till: 01/07/1997 color:leader text:"[[Alan Sked]]"

 bar:Mackinlay
  from: 01/07/1997 till: 01/09/1997 color:acting text:"[[Craig Mackinlay]]"

 bar:Holmes
  from: 01/09/1997 till: 22/01/2000 color:leader text:"[[Michael Holmes]]"

 bar:Titford
  from: 22/01/2000 till: 05/10/2002 color:leader
  from: 02/09/2010 till: 05/11/2010 color:acting text:"[[Jeffrey Titford]]"

 bar:Knapman
  from: 05/10/2002 till: 12/09/2006 color:leader text:"[[Roger Knapman]]"

 bar:Farage
  from: 12/09/2006 till: 27/11/2009 color:leader
  from: 05/11/2010 till: 16/09/2016 color:leader
  from: 04/10/2016 till: 28/11/2016 color:acting text:"[[Nigel Farage]]"

 bar:Pearson
  from: 27/11/2009 till: 02/09/2010 color:leader text:"[[The Lord Pearson of Rannoch]]"

 bar:James
  from: 16/09/2016 till: 04/10/2016 color:leader text:"[[Diane James]]"

 bar:Nuttall
  from: 28/11/2016 till: 09/06/2017 color:leader text:"[[Paul Nuttall]]"

 bar:Crowther
  from: 09/06/2017 till: 29/09/2017 color:acting text:"[[Steve Crowther]]"

 bar:Bolton
  from: 29/09/2017 till: 17/02/2018 color:leader text:"[[Henry Bolton]]"

 bar:Batten
  from: 17/02/2018 till: 14/04/2018 color:acting
  from: 14/04/2018 till: 02/06/2019 color:leader text:"[[Gerard Batten]]"

 bar:Wauchope
  from: 02/06/2019 till: 10/08/2019 color:acting text:"[[Piers Wauchope]]"

 bar:Braine
  from: 10/08/2019 till: 30/10/2019 color:leader text:"[[Richard Braine]]"

 bar:Mountain
  from: 30/10/2019 till: 25/04/2020 color:acting text:"[[Patricia Mountain]]"

 bar:Vachha
  from: 22/06/2020 till: 12/09/2020 color:leader text:"[[Freddy Vachha]]"

 bar:Hamilton
  from: 12/09/2020 till: 19/10/2021 color:acting
  from: 19/10/2021 till: 13/05/2024 color:leader text:"[[Neil Hamilton (politician)|Neil Hamilton]]"

 bar: Perry
  from: 13/05/2024 till: 15/06/2024 color:leader text: "Lois Perry"

 bar: Tenconi
  from: 15/06/2024 till: End color:acting text: "Nick Tenconi"
}}

===Deputy leadership===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="2" style="width:20px;" |Deputy Leader
! style="width:75px;" |Tenure
! style="width:150px;" |Notes
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" | 1
|[[Craig Mackinlay]] || 1997–2000 ||Left party in 2005
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" | 2
|[[Graham Booth]] || 2000–02 || MEP 2002–2008; died 2011
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" | 3
|[[Mike Nattrass]] || 2002–06 || MEP 2004–2014; left party in 2013
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" | 4
|[[David Campbell Bannerman]]  || 2006–10 || MEP since 2009; left party in 2011
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" | 5
|[[Christopher Monckton, 3rd Viscount Monckton of Brenchley|The Viscount Monckton of Brenchley]]  || Jun–Nov 2010 || Leader of UKIP in Scotland, 2013
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" | 6
|[[Paul Nuttall]] ||2010–16 || MEP since 2009; left party in 2018
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" |  7
|[[Peter Whittle (politician)|Peter Whittle]]  || 2016–17 || London AM since 2016; left party in 2018
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" |  8
|[[Margot Parker]]  || 2017–18 || MEP 2014–2019; left party in 2019
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" |  9
|[[Mike Hookem]]  || 2018–19 || MEP 2014–2019
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" |  10
|[[Pat Mountain (politician)|Pat Mountain]]  || 2020 || Interim Leader 2019, NEC Member
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" |  11
|[[Rebecca Jane]] || 2022–2024<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.searchlightmagazine.com/2024/01/5181/ |title=UKIP loses Deputy Leader as Rebecca Jane resigns |date=22 January 2024 |website=searchlightmagazine.com |publisher=Searchlight Magazine |access-date=22 January 2024}}</ref> ||
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" | 12
| Nick Tenconi || 13 May 2024 - present||
|}

===Party chairman===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="2" style="width:20px;" |Chairman
! style="width:75px;" |Tenure
! style="width:150px;" |Notes
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" | 1
|[[Nigel Farage]]|| 1998–2000 ||Later became Party Leader
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" | 2
|[[Mike Nattrass]]|| 2000–02 ||
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" | 3
|[[David Lott]]|| 2002–04 ||
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" | 4
|[[Petrina Holdsworth]]|| 2004–05 ||
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" | 5
|[[David Campbell Bannerman]]|| 2005–06 ||
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" | 6
|[[John Whittaker (UKIP politician)|John Whittaker]]||2006–08 ||
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" | 7
|[[Paul Nuttall]]|| 2008–2010 ||Later became Party Leader
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" | 8
|[[Steve Crowther]]|| 2010–2016 ||
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" | 9
|Paul Oakden  || 2016–18 ||
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" | 10
|Tony McIntyre  || 2018 ||
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" | 11
|Kirstan Herriot  || 2018–2019 ||
|-
! style="background:{{party color|UK Independence Party}}; color:white;" | 12
|Ben Walker  || 2020– ||
|}

===Spokespersons===

The front bench team is divided into departmental sub-units, the principal ones being the economy, foreign policy and immigration. Sometimes the front bench team consists of more than just the principal positions.

===Regions===
UKIP's organisation is divided into 12 regions: London, South East, South West, Eastern, East Midlands, West Midlands, Yorkshire, North East, North West, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland.<ref>{{cite web |title=Regions |url=http://www.ukip.org/regions  |publisher=UKIP |access-date=20 May 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140608160012/http://www.ukip.org/regions |archive-date=8 June 2014}}</ref> An additional 13th branch operates in the [[British Overseas Territories|British Overseas Territory]] of [[Gibraltar]]; it held its first public meeting at the Lord Nelson pub in April 2013.<ref>[http://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2013/04/30/ukip-launch-on-the-rock/ "UKIP launch on The Rock"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130911044301/http://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2013/04/30/ukip-launch-on-the-rock/ |date=11 September 2013}}. The Olive Press, 30 April 2013</ref>

At the end of 2013, UKIP Scotland was dissolved after infighting tore the regional party apart; the party's administrative body was dissolved, Mike Scott-Hayward (the chairman and chief fundraiser) quit, and Farage fired Lord [[Christopher Monckton|(Christopher) Monckton]] via email.<ref name=wipeout>{{cite news|last=Hutcheon|first=Paul|title=Ukip 'wiped out' north of the Border after its Scots leader is sacked|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13134304.Ukip__wiped_out__north_of_the_Border_after_its_Scots_leader_is_sacked/|newspaper=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]] |location=[[Glasgow]]|date=30 November 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129210704/http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13134304.Ukip__wiped_out__north_of_the_Border_after_its_Scots_leader_is_sacked/|archive-date=29 November 2016}}</ref> The national party and UKIP Scotland focused on supporting the candidates for the [[2014 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom]].<ref name=wipeout/> After [[David Coburn (politician)|David Coburn]] won an MEP seat in Scotland in those elections, he was elected as leader of UKIP Scotland.<ref>{{cite web|title=Key Figures|url=http://www.ukipscot.org/key-figures|publisher=UKIP Scotland|access-date=3 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003184958/http://www.ukipscot.org/key-figures|archive-date=3 October 2016}}</ref>

Veteran and former long-serving Antrim and Newtownabbey-based councillor, Robert Hill was appointed by Gerard Batten as UKIP's Spokesman for Northern Ireland in May 2018.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://ukipnorthernireland.uk/archives/972| title=Batten appoints Hill as UKIP Spokesman for NI| date=23 May 2018| access-date=6 August 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807034544/https://ukipnorthernireland.uk/archives/972| archive-date=7 August 2018| url-status=live}}</ref> In August 2018, Welsh Assembly Member [[Gareth Bennett (politician)|Gareth Bennett]] was elected as leader of UKIP in Wales after a membership ballot.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.itv.com/news/wales/2018-08-10/gareth-bennett-elected-as-ukip-leader-in-the-assembly-after-wining-vote/ | title=Gareth Bennett elected as UKIP leader in the Assembly after winning vote | date=10 August 2018 | access-date=12 August 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180812213131/http://www.itv.com/news/wales/2018-08-10/gareth-bennett-elected-as-ukip-leader-in-the-assembly-after-wining-vote/ | archive-date=12 August 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref>

==Representatives==
{{Main|UK Independence Party representation and election results}}

===House of Commons===
{{multiple image
| align = right
| image1 = Douglas Carswell.jpg
| width1 = 150
| alt1 =
| caption1 =
| image2 = Mark Reckless AM (27889492560).jpg
| width2 = 207
| alt2 =
| caption2 =
| footer = [[Douglas Carswell]] and [[Mark Reckless]], UKIP's only elected MPs. The former represented UKIP from 2014 to 2017; the latter from 2014 to 2015.
}}

In the UK, the [[first-past-the-post voting]] system for electing MPs to the House of Commons was a significant barrier to UKIP, whose support was widely distributed across different areas rather than being strongly focused in particular constituencies.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|pp=220–21}} Further, the system encouraged [[tactical voting]], with many UKIP supporters believing that a vote for the party would be a [[wasted vote]].{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|p=221}} Recognising this, Farage believed that the best way to win a seat in the House of Commons was to win a [[by-election]], with UKIP contesting a number of these from 2010 onward.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|pp=241–42}} Over the next few years, it contested a number of by-elections around the country, coming second in both [[2011 Barnsley Central by-election|Barnsley Central]] and [[2012 Rotherham by-election|Rotherham]].{{sfnm|1a1=Ford|1a2=Goodwin|1y=2014|1pp=243, 246|2a1=Goodwin|2a2=Milazzo|2y=2015|2p=36}}
In 2008, [[Bob Spink]], the MP for [[Castle Point (UK Parliament constituency)|Castle Point]], resigned the Tory [[Whip (politics)|whip]] (becoming an [[Independent politician|Independent]]), but in April that year joined UKIP.<ref>{{cite news|title= Ex-Tory MP Spink defects to UKIP |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7360118.stm |work= BBC News |access-date=28 August 2014 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090215163220/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7360118.stm |archive-date= 15 February 2009}}</ref> However, in November he appeared again as an Independent in Commons proceedings,<ref>{{cite news|title=Tory? UKIP? Now I'm just an independent says MP Bob|url= http://www.echo-news.co.uk/search/4179128.Tory__UKIP__Now_I_m_just_an_inde_says_MP_Bob/ |newspaper= [[The Echo (Essex)|The Echo]] |location= [[Basildon]] |access-date= 28 August 2014 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140821024133/http://www.echo-news.co.uk/search/4179128.Tory__UKIP__Now_I_m_just_an_inde_says_MP_Bob/ |archive-date=21 August 2014}}</ref> ultimately losing the seat to a Conservative in [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010]].

In 2014, two Conservative MPs changed allegiance to UKIP and resigned their seats to fight by-elections for UKIP. [[Douglas Carswell]] won the [[2014 Clacton by-election|Clacton by-election]] on 9 October, making him the first MP to be elected representing UKIP.<ref>{{cite news |title=UKIP gains first elected MP with Clacton by-election win |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29549414 |date=10 October 2014 |work=BBC News |access-date=10 October 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009225804/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29549414 |archive-date=9 October 2014 }}</ref> [[Mark Reckless]] was also victorious in the Rochester and Strood by-election on 20 November.<ref name=reckless />
At the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]], Carswell kept his seat in Clacton but Reckless lost Rochester to the Conservative [[Kelly Tolhurst]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://metro.co.uk/2015/05/08/tories-get-revenge-on-mark-reckless-by-taking-seat-back-from-ukip-5187285/ |title=Tories get revenge on Mark Reckless by taking seat back from Ukip |date=8 May 2015 |newspaper=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] |last=Hartley-Parkinson |first=Richard |access-date=10 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512021440/http://metro.co.uk/2015/05/08/tories-get-revenge-on-mark-reckless-by-taking-seat-back-from-ukip-5187285/ |archive-date=12 May 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> UKIP had 3,881,129 votes (12.6%) and was the third largest party on vote share, yet it won only one seat.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2015/results|title = Results|publisher = BBC News|access-date = 10 May 2015|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150510034229/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2015/results|archive-date = 10 May 2015}}</ref> Because of this, there were calls from some in UKIP for a voting reform in favour of [[proportional representation]].<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/09/margate-ukip-greens-electoral-reform-farage |title = Five million votes, two seats: smaller parties demand a change in the rules |date = 9 May 2015 |newspaper = The Guardian |last = Townsend |first = Mark |access-date = 10 May 2015 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150518090045/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/09/margate-ukip-greens-electoral-reform-farage |archive-date = 18 May 2015 }}</ref> Carswell quit the party in March 2017 to become an independent, leaving UKIP without any MPs in the Commons.<ref name="bbc3"/>
In the [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017 election]], a [[snap election]] initiated by PM [[Theresa May]] and scheduled for 8 June 2017, UKIP got 1.9% of the votes (after 12.6% in the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 election]]) and no seats in the House of Commons.

===House of Lords===
On 24 June 1995, UKIP gained its first member of the House of Lords, [[Richard Norton, 8th Baron Grantley|Lord Grantley]], who had joined the party in 1993 from the Conservatives and had recently succeeded to his father's titles. However, with the coming [[House of Lords Act 1999]], he decided not to stand for election as a continuing member, and so left the House in November 1999. Earlier in 1999, UKIP had gained a second peer in the House of Lords, [[Richard Thomas Orlando Bridgeman, 7th Earl of Bradford|The Earl of Bradford]], but he, too, left the House in November 1999 because of the House of Lords Act. [[Malcolm Pearson, Baron Pearson of Rannoch|Lord Pearson of Rannoch]] and [[David Verney, 21st Baron Willoughby de Broke|Lord Willoughby de Broke]] both defected to UKIP in 2007,{{sfn|Lynch|Whitaker|Loomes|2012|p=736}} giving the party its first representation in the House of Lords since the departure of Lord Grantley and Lord Bradford.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6243807.stm |title=Conservative peers defect to UKIP |work=BBC News |date=9 January 2007 |access-date=3 May 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070115174027/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6243807.stm |archive-date=15 January 2007 }}</ref> Lord Pearson went on to serve as party leader from November 2009 to September 2010. On 18 September 2012, [[David Stevens, Baron Stevens of Ludgate|Lord Stevens of Ludgate]] joined UKIP, having sat as an Independent Conservative since his expulsion from the Conservatives in 2004.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19627027 |title=Former Conservative peer Lord Stevens to join UK Independence Party |work=BBC News |date=18 September 2012 |access-date=3 May 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609102225/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19627027 |archive-date=9 June 2013 }}</ref> In Autumn 2018, Lord Willoughby de Broke left UKIP, reducing the party's representation in the upper house back down to two.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/lord-willoughby-de-broke/1775|title=Lord Willoughby de Broke|website=UK Parliament|access-date=4 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205103340/https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/lord-willoughby-de-broke/1775|archive-date=5 December 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Lord Stevens also left the party, in December 2018, leaving former leader Lord Pearson as UKIP's sole peer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/lord-stevens-of-ludgate/2227|title=Lord Stevens of Ludgate|website=UK Parliament|access-date=11 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210015910/https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/lord-stevens-of-ludgate/2227|archive-date=10 December 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In October 2019, Lord Pearson resigned his membership of the party.

===Devolved parliaments and assemblies===
UKIP competes electorally in all four parts of the United Kingdom.{{sfn|Hayton|2016|p=401}}

'''Northern Ireland'''

In October 2012, UKIP gained its first representation in a devolved Assembly the [[Northern Ireland Assembly]] in [[David McNarry]], [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (Northern Ireland)|MLA]] for [[Strangford (Assembly constituency)|Strangford]], who had left the [[Ulster Unionist Party]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-19828606 | title=Strangford MLA David McNarry joins UK Independence Party | date=4 October 2012 |work=BBC News | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926022044/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-19828606 | archive-date=26 September 2013 }}<br />– Sam McBirde, [https://web.archive.org/web/20121008031731/http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/local/mcnarry-set-to-join-ukip-1-4333665 "McNarry set to join UKIP"], ''Belfast Newsletter'', 4 October 2012 (Archived at the Internet Archive)<br />– [http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/regional/mcnarry-explains-ukip-move-1-4339912 "McNarry explains UKIP move"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201210444/http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/regional/mcnarry-explains-ukip-move-1-4339912 |date=1 February 2014 }}, ''Belfast Newsletter'', 5 October 2012</ref> The party however failed to continue its representation at the [[2016 Northern Ireland Assembly election|2016 election]], coming within a hundred votes of taking a seat in [[East Antrim (Assembly constituency)|East Antrim]].<ref name="newsletter.co.uk">{{cite news |date=7 May 2016 |url=http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/northern-ireland-news/video-ukip-man-says-we-could-have-done-no-more-after-almost-seizing-east-antrim-seat-1-7370649 |title=VIDEO: UKIP man says 'we could have done no more' after almost seizing East Antrim seat |newspaper=[[The News Letter]] |access-date=15 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604000500/http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/northern-ireland-news/video-ukip-man-says-we-could-have-done-no-more-after-almost-seizing-east-antrim-seat-1-7370649 |archive-date=4 June 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> This seat was unsuccessfully contested in the [[2017 Northern Ireland Assembly election|2017 election]].

'''Scotland'''

UKIP's support has been particularly weak in Scotland, where it has no representatives in the devolved parliament.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|p=244}} UKIP fielded candidates at the [[2011 Scottish Parliament election|Scottish Parliament election on 5 May 2011]], when its platform included a commitment to keep the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, while replacing the separately-elected [[Member of the Scottish Parliament|Members of the Scottish Parliament]] with the [[Scottish Grand Committee|Members of the House of Commons elected in Scotland]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-12964769 |title=Scottish election: UKIP calls for abolition of MSPs |work=BBC News |date=4 April 2011 |access-date=3 May 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508014015/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-12964769 |archive-date=8 May 2013 }}</ref>
The party fielded candidates on the regional lists in the [[2016 Scottish Parliament election|2016 election]] without any success.<ref>{{cite web|title= 2016 elections|url=https://www.parliament.scot/msps/elections/2016-election-results|website= www.parliament.scot|accessdate= 8 May 2021}}</ref> In the [[2021 Scottish Parliament election]] candidates were again fielded on regional lists.<ref>{{cite web|title=Elections|url=https://www.parliament.scot/msps/elections|website= www.parliament.scot|accessdate= 8 May 2021}}</ref>

'''Wales'''

The party also fielded candidates for the [[National Assembly for Wales|Senedd]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ukipwales.org/ukip-polling-at-12/ |title=UKIP Polling at 12% |publisher=UKIP Wales |access-date=3 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201225824/http://www.ukipwales.org/ukip-polling-at-12/ |archive-date=1 February 2014 }}</ref> In the [[2016 National Assembly for Wales election|2016 election]], it entered the Assembly for the first time, winning seven of 60 seats.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Silk|first1=Huw|title=Live updates from Assembly Election 2016 as Ukip win first seats in Senedd|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/live-updates-assembly-election-2016-11286199|website=Wales Online|date=6 May 2016|access-date=6 May 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506175221/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/live-updates-assembly-election-2016-11286199|archive-date=6 May 2016}}</ref> However, following the resignations of [[Caroline Jones (politician)|Caroline Jones]], [[Mark Reckless]], [[Nathan Gill]] and [[Michelle Brown]], by March 2019 the party's representation had fallen to three AMs.<ref name="Welsh3">{{cite news |last1=Deans |first1=David |title=Another UKIP AM resigns from party |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-47705175?intlink_from_url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/cvngk1n5mkyt/ukip-wales&link_location=live-reporting-story |access-date=15 May 2019 |agency=BBC News |date=26 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804184015/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-47705175?intlink_from_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Ftopics%2Fcvngk1n5mkyt%2Fukip-wales&link_location=live-reporting-story |archive-date=4 August 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> UKIP ceased to have a formal Welsh Assembly group after [[David Rowlands (Welsh politician)|David Rowlands]] resigned in May 2019 to form a new Brexit Party group with Reckless, Jones and [[Mandy Jones (politician)|Mandy Jones]] (who had replaced Nathan Gill on his resignation as an AM).<ref name="Welsh2">{{cite news |title=Assembly members join forces with Farage |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-48275830?intlink_from_url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/cvngk1n5mkyt/ukip-wales&link_location=live-reporting-story |access-date=15 May 2019 |agency=BBC News |date=15 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804175457/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-48275830?intlink_from_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Ftopics%2Fcvngk1n5mkyt%2Fukip-wales&link_location=live-reporting-story |archive-date=4 August 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>
UKIP were left without any Senedd members after the [[2021 Senedd election]]<ref>{{cite web|title= Elections|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/senedd-election-results-every-constituency-20531919|website= www.walesonline.co.uk|date=7 May 2021|accessdate= 8 May 2021}}</ref>

===Local government===
[[File:UK Independence Party offices in Tunbridge Wells - geograph.org.uk - 1731970.jpg|thumb|UKIP office in [[Royal Tunbridge Wells|Tunbridge Wells]]]]
UKIP initially paid little attention to local government elections. However, this changed after Farage observed that building localised strongholds of support in various parts of the country had been the process by which the [[Liberal Democrats (<span class="ltr">UK</span>)|Liberal Democrats]] had entered the House of Commons, and that this was a strategy that could benefit UKIP.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|p=250}} UKIP subsequently focused on the [[2011 United Kingdom local elections|2011 local elections]], in which it fielded over 1,100 candidates, winning seven seats and becoming the main opposition in over 100.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|pp=250–51}}

The first UKIP local council election win occurred when one of its members was elected to [[South Cambridgeshire District Council]] in 2000. A number of Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Labour and Independent local councillors in all four constituent nations of the UK defected to UKIP over subsequent years, with the most recent defections to date (May to July 2013) coming from former Conservative councillors in the London Boroughs of [[London Borough of Merton|Merton]], [[London Borough of Richmond upon Thames|Richmond upon Thames]] and [[London Borough of Havering|Havering]], and from Labour in [[Northampton]] and [[North-East Lincolnshire]]. In May 2013, 33 English and one Welsh council held local elections, with UKIP gaining 139 seats for a total of 147, with significant gains in [[Lincolnshire County Council|Lincolnshire]], [[Norfolk County Council|Norfolk]] and [[Kent County Council|Kent]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21240000 |title=Vote 2013 |work=BBC News |date=3 June 2013 |access-date=12 June 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130608001935/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21240000 |archive-date=8 June 2013 }}</ref>

In the 2013 local elections, UKIP won 147 seats and established itself as the largest opposition party in six English county councils.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|p=253}} At the [[2013 United Kingdom local elections|2013]] and [[2014 United Kingdom local elections|2014]] local elections, UKIP made significant gains to become the fourth largest party in terms of councillors in England, and fifth largest in the UK, with over 300 seats (out of about 21,000). In the [[2015 United Kingdom local elections|2015 local elections]], UKIP took control of [[Thanet District Council]], its first majority control of a council.<ref name="Council">{{cite news | title=Ukip Takes Control of Thanet Council the Day After Nigel Farage Lost MP Bid | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/ukip/11594819/Ukip-takes-control-of-Thanet-council-the-day-after-Nigel-Farage-lost-MP-bid.html | date=9 May 2015 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph | access-date=9 May 2015 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150510233514/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/ukip/11594819/Ukip-takes-control-of-Thanet-council-the-day-after-Nigel-Farage-lost-MP-bid.html | archive-date=10 May 2015 }}</ref> However, the party lost control later in the year after several of its councillors defected and it lost its majority. UKIP later took back control as a majority after winning the 2016 Northwood ward by-election, taking its number of councillors up to 29. In the [[2016 United Kingdom local elections|2016 local elections]], UKIP won 58 council seats, an increase of 25.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-kent-34517022 |title=UKIP loses control of Thanet council over Manston issue |work=BBC News |access-date=23 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328052838/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-kent-34517022 |archive-date=28 March 2016 |url-status=live }}<br />– {{cite news |last=Quinn |first=Ben |date=19 October 2015 |title=Nigel Farage accused of turning his back on Ukip's flagship council |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/oct/19/nigel-farage-accused-of-turning-his-back-on-ukips-flagship-council |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=26 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226072103/https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/oct/19/nigel-farage-accused-of-turning-his-back-on-ukips-flagship-council |archive-date=26 December 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the [[2017 United Kingdom local elections]], UKIP lost all of the seats it was defending but gained one from Labour on [[Lancashire County Council]].<ref name=BBC050517/> in the [[2018 United Kingdom local elections]], UKIP lost all but three of the 126 seats it was defending.<ref>{{cite web|title=Elections|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/cz3nmp2eyxgt/england-local-elections-2018|website= www.bbc.co.uk|accessdate= 6 May 2021}}</ref> In the
[[2019 United Kingdom local elections]], UKIP suffered severe losses, with its number of councillors collapsing by 145 to 31, in the districts where votes were held that year. Its worst result was in Thanet where it lost 33 councillors.<ref name=BBC050519>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48091592|title=Local elections: Results in maps and charts|date=3 May 2019|work=BBC News|access-date=5 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505005515/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48091592|archive-date=5 May 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the [[2021 United Kingdom local elections]] the party's support fell away and all the 48 council seats in England the party were defending were lost. No seats were won in the [[London Assembly]], [[Police and Crime Commissioners]] or elections for mayors.<ref>{{cite web|title= England local elections|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/c481drqqzv7t/england-local-elections-2021|website= www.bbc.co.uk|accessdate= 9 May 2021}}</ref> The [[2022 United Kingdom local elections|2022 local elections]] saw the party lose all three seats it was defending from 2018.<ref>{{cite web|title= England local elections|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2022/england/results|website= www.bbc.co.uk|accessdate= 25 May 2022}}</ref>

In the [[2023 United Kingdom local elections|2023 local elections]], the party lost all remaining representation at council level; only one incumbent councillor defended their seat,<ref name="BBC2023">{{cite web |last1=Nevett |first1=Joshua |title=UKIP on brink of wipeout after losing all seats in local elections |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-65538114 |website=BBC News |access-date=9 May 2023 |date=9 May 2023}}</ref> out of the six seats UKIP contested,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wingate |first1=Sophie |title=Ukip loses all six seats in local elections |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/ukip-neil-hamilton-richard-tice-hythe-bournemouth-b1079283.html |website=Evening Standard |access-date=9 May 2023 |date=6 May 2023}}</ref> and losing 25 councillors from 2019, the last time the seats were up for election.<ref>{{cite web |title=Local election results 2023 in England |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2023/england/results |website=BBC News |access-date=9 May 2023}}</ref> The party now only has elected representatives on parish and town councils, the lowest level of local government; party chairman Ben Walker said the party had "about 30 parish councillors".<ref name="BBC2023"/> During the elections, Labour made significant inroads into Leave-voting areas that UKIP in which were formerly strongly competitive,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Butcher |first1=Ben |last2=Penna |first2=Dominic |title=Ukip vote turns to Labour and independents in South East England |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/05/05/ukip-vote-labour-south-england-local-elections/ |website=The Telegraph |access-date=9 May 2023 |date=5 May 2023}}</ref> and notably won overall control of [[Thanet District Council elections|Thanet District Council]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pallant |first1=James |title=Labour take control of Thanet District Council |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/thanet/news/another-election-victory-for-labour-286529/ |website=KentOnline |access-date=9 May 2023 |date=5 May 2023}}</ref> that UKIP either controlled or were the largest party on between 2015 and 2019.

===European Parliament===
As a result of its hard Eurosceptic approach, UKIP does not recognise the legitimacy of the European Parliament, and under Sked's leadership refused to take any of the EP seats that it won.{{sfn|Usherwood|2008|p=257}} This changed after 1997, when the party decided that its elected representatives would take such seats to publicise its anti-EU agenda.{{sfn|Usherwood|2008|p=257}}
As a result of the [[1999 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|1999 European parliament election]], three UKIP MEPs were elected to the [[European Parliament]]. Together with Eurosceptic parties from other nations, they formed a new [[Political groups of the European Parliament|European parliamentary group]] called [[Europe of Democracies and Diversities]] (EDD).{{sfn|Phinnemore|McGowan|2013|p=276}}
[[File:Nicolas Dupont Aignan et Nigel Farage.jpg|thumb|left|Farage with [[France Arise]] leader [[Nicolas Dupont-Aignan]] in [[Strasbourg]], February 2013]]

Following the [[2004 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2004 European parliament election]], 37 [[Member of the European Parliament|MEPs]] from the UK, [[2004 European Parliament election in Poland|Poland]], [[2004 European Parliament election in Denmark|Denmark]] and [[2004 European Parliament election in Sweden|Sweden]] founded a new European Parliamentary group called [[Independence and Democracy]] as a direct successor to the EDD group.{{sfnm|1a1=Phinnemore|1a2=McGowan|1y=2013|1p=276|2a1=Thorlakson|2y=2013|2p=72}} After the [[2009 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2009 European parliament election]], UKIP was a founder member of a new right-wing grouping called [[Europe of Freedom and Democracy]] (EFD) comprising Eurosceptic, radical right, nationalist, national-conservative and other political factions.{{sfnm|1a1=Lynch|1a2=Whitaker|1a3=Loomes|1y=2012|1p=739|2a1=Considère-Charon|2y=2010|2p=158|3a1=Staab|3y=2011|3p=67}} This group was more right-wing than the previous term's Independence and Democracy group.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8129312.stm|title=UKIP forms new Eurosceptic group|date=1 July 2009|publisher=BBC News|access-date=5 March 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629222214/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8129312.stm|archive-date=29 June 2017}}</ref>

Following the [[2014 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2014 European parliament election]], the EFD group was reconstituted as the [[Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy]] (EFDD or EFD<sup>2</sup>) group on 24 June 2014, with a significant changes to group composition, including the [[Five Star Movement]] of Italy, a total of 48 members.{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|pp=116–118}}<ref>{{cite news |last=Pisano |first=Alessio |date=25 June 2014 |title=Bruxelles, prima riunione gruppo Ukip-M5S. Farage e Borrelli presidenti |trans-title=Brussels, first meeting of the Ukip-M5S group. Farage and Borrelli presidents |url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2014/06/25/bruxelles-prima-riunione-gruppo-ukip-m5s-farage-e-borrelli-presidenti/285970/ |newspaper=[[Il Fatto Quotidiano]] |access-date=17 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707203954/http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2014/06/25/bruxelles-prima-riunione-gruppo-ukip-m5s-farage-e-borrelli-presidenti/285970/ |archive-date=7 July 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> The EFDD group lost official status in October 2014 when the defection of the Latvian MEP [[Iveta Grigule]] meant its membership no longer met the required number of states for Parliamentary groups (at least seven different member states).{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|p=118}}<ref>Dave Keating, [http://www.europeanvoice.com/article/efdd-group-collapses/ "Farage's EFDD group collapses"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141215120533/http://www.europeanvoice.com/article/efdd-group-collapses/ |date=15 December 2014 }}, ''European Voice'', 16 October 2014<br />– {{cite news|url=http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/farages-efdd-group-parliament-collapses-309244|title=Farage's EFDD group in Parliament collapses|website=EurActiv|access-date=17 January 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224205416/http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/farages-efdd-group-parliament-collapses-309244|archive-date=24 December 2014}}</ref> On 20 October, the EFDD announced it had restored the requisite seven state diversity by recruiting [[Robert Iwaszkiewicz]], one of four representatives of the far-right Polish party [[Congress of the New Right]].{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|p=118}}<ref>Rowena Mason and Rajeev Syal, [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/oct/21/nigel-farage-jews-polish-far-right-ukip-deal-robert-iwaszkiewicz "Nigel Farage deal with Polish far-right party 'raises serious questions'"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221104006/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/oct/21/nigel-farage-jews-polish-far-right-ukip-deal-robert-iwaszkiewicz |date=21 December 2016 }}, ''The Guardian'', 21 October 2014</ref> In December 2014 UKIP co-founded the [[Alliance for Direct Democracy in Europe]], a [[European political party]] whose membership is composed of several member parties of the EFDD parliamentary group.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/12/18/ukip-swedish-eu-allies-accused-of-antisemitism_n_6348088.html|title=Ukip's Swedish EU Allies Accused of Antisemitism|newspaper=HuffPost|access-date=17 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220071504/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/12/18/ukip-swedish-eu-allies-accused-of-antisemitism_n_6348088.html|archive-date=20 December 2014|url-status=live}}<br />– {{cite news |last=Vargas |first=Giuseppe |date=16 December 2014 |title=Farage accetta 1,8 milioni Ue per il nuovo partito europeo, ma nell'Ukip è battaglia |language=it |trans-title=Farage accepts 1.8 million euros for a new European party, but faces a battle within UKIP |url=http://www.eunews.it/2014/12/16/farage-accetta-18-milioni-ue-per-il-nuovo-partito-europeo-ma-nellukip-e-battaglia/27333 |website=European News Service |access-date=17 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228142635/http://www.eunews.it/2014/12/16/farage-accetta-18-milioni-ue-per-il-nuovo-partito-europeo-ma-nellukip-e-battaglia/27333 |archive-date=28 December 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the 2009–14 parliament, UKIP ranked 76th out of 76 for attendance, took part in 61% of votes, and had three of the six lowest attending MEPs,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Charter|first1=David|title=Ukip's lazy MEPs miss crucial votes that would help Britons|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4088156.ece|newspaper=The Times|date=13 May 2014|access-date=20 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140613105620/http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4088156.ece|archive-date=13 June 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> which led to criticism from other parties and ex-UKIP MEPs that low participation may damage British interests.<ref name="times14">{{cite news|last1=Pickard|first1=Jim|last2=Stacey|first2=Kiran|last3=Barker|first3=Alex|title=Ukip accused of failing to protect British interests in Brussels|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/85563e82-8f44-11e3-be85-00144feab7de.html|newspaper=Financial Times|date=11 February 2014|access-date=20 July 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711100658/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/85563e82-8f44-11e3-be85-00144feab7de.html|archive-date=11 July 2014}}</ref> Between July 2014 and May 2015, its 23 MEPs maintained their record as the least active, participating on average in only 62.29% of votes.<ref>Alberto Nardelli, [https://www.theguardian.com/world/datablog/2015/jun/11/ukip-europe-laziest-party-parliament "Ukip is Europe's laziest party, researchers reveal"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226072727/https://www.theguardian.com/world/datablog/2015/jun/11/ukip-europe-laziest-party-parliament |date=26 December 2016}}, ''The Guardian'', 11 June 2015</ref> In response to criticism of low participation by UKIP MEPs in the EU Parliament, Farage has said that "Our objective as MEPs is not to keep voting endlessly for more EU legislation and to take power away from Westminster."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Dominiczak|first1=Peter|title=Nigel Farage attacks 'hypocrite' Nick Clegg for calling him lazy|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/ukip/10677252/Nigel-Farage-attacks-hypocrite-Nick-Clegg-for-calling-him-lazy.html|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=5 March 2014|access-date=20 July 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811003912/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/ukip/10677252/Nigel-Farage-attacks-hypocrite-Nick-Clegg-for-calling-him-lazy.html|archive-date=11 August 2014}}</ref>

====Members of the European Parliament====
UKIP had no members in the European Parliament following the 2019 EU election. Twenty-four UKIP representatives were elected in the 2014 election, but twenty subsequently defected, one was expelled<ref>{{cite news |title=Diane James, former UKIP leader, quits party |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-38057251 |publisher=BBC News |date=21 November 2016 |access-date=21 November 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161122072437/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-38057251 |archive-date=22 November 2016}}</ref> and three lost their seats in the 2019 election.<ref>{{cite news |title=Brexit Party dominates in EU elections |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48417228 |access-date=27 May 2019 |publisher=BBC News |date=27 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527001738/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48417228 |archive-date=27 May 2019 |url-status=live}}<br />– Adam Withnall, [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ukips-meps-after-months-of-gaffes-and-controversies-meet-the-people-who-will-represent-britain-in-the-european-parliament-9435149.html "Ukip's MEPs: After months of gaffes and controversies, meet the people who will represent Britain in the European Parliament"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140601103137/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ukips-meps-after-months-of-gaffes-and-controversies-meet-the-people-who-will-represent-britain-in-the-european-parliament-9435149.html |date=1 June 2014 }}</ref> For a full list of defections see [[List of British politicians who have crossed the floor#Members of the European Parliament who have changed party affiliation|here]].

[[James Carver]] left UKIP to sit as an independent on 28 May 2018.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://twitter.com/JamesJimCarver/status/1001130468606185473?tfw_site=proboards | title=After 22 years' tireless campaigning for #UKIP, I announce my resignation| date=28 May 2018}}[[Wikipedia:SPS|{{sup|[''self-published'']}}]]</ref> [[William Legge, 10th Earl of Dartmouth|William Dartmouth]] left the party on 26 September 2018 to sit as an independent, accusing Batten of "hijacking the party to campaign against Islam as a religion" and associating himself with "outlandish people and extreme right-wing groups".<ref>{{cite news |last=Allegretti |first=Aubrey |title=MEP Lord Dartmouth quits UKIP saying party is 'widely perceived as both homophobic and anti-Islamic' |url=https://news.sky.com/story/ukip-mep-william-dartmouth-quits-party-over-anti-islam-stance-11509416 |access-date=26 September 2018 |publisher=Sky News |date=26 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927005605/https://news.sky.com/story/ukip-mep-william-dartmouth-quits-party-over-anti-islam-stance-11509416 |archive-date=27 September 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Bill Etheridge]] followed shortly afterwards, on 2 October 2018, saying that the party under Batten's leadership "is seen by voters as a vehicle of hate towards Muslims and the gay community".<ref>{{cite news |title=MEP Bill Etheridge quits UKIP over 'extreme nationalist' views |url=http://www.itv.com/news/central/2018-10-02/mep-bill-etheridge-quits-ukip-over-extreme-nationalist-views/ |access-date=4 October 2018 |work=ITV News |date=2 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003181728/http://www.itv.com/news/central/2018-10-02/mep-bill-etheridge-quits-ukip-over-extreme-nationalist-views/ |archive-date=3 October 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In November 2018, [[Patrick O'Flynn]] resigned to join the [[Social Democratic Party (UK, 1990–present)|Social Democratic Party]] in protest over UKIP's move to the "hard right",<ref>{{cite news |title=Third Ukip MEP quits over party's courtship of Tommy Robinson |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/nov/27/patrick-oflynn-ukip-mep-quits-tommy-robinson-gerard-batten |access-date=27 November 2018 |work=The Guardian |date=27 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127142815/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/nov/27/patrick-oflynn-ukip-mep-quits-tommy-robinson-gerard-batten |archive-date=27 November 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Louise Bours]] became an independent MEP.<ref>{{cite web |title=Louise BOORS |url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/124964/LOUISE_BOURS/home |website=Europarl.europa.eu |date=23 December 1968 |publisher=European Parliament |access-date=27 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127110124/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/124964/LOUISE_BOURS/home |archive-date=27 November 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Former leader Nigel Farage quit on 6 December 2018,<ref>{{cite news |title=Former leader Nigel Farage quits UKIP |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-46448299 |publisher=BBC News |date=6 December 2018 |access-date=7 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181207034739/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-46448299 |archive-date=7 December 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> as did Scottish MEP David Coburn.<ref>{{cite news |last=Andrews |first=Kieran |title=Ukip's Scottish leader David Coburn quits over lurch to right |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ukip-s-scottish-leader-david-coburn-quits-over-lurch-to-right-95v3pv7rv |url-status=live |work=The Times |date=7 December 2018 |access-date=7 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181207103011/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ukip-s-scottish-leader-david-coburn-quits-over-lurch-to-right-95v3pv7rv |archive-date=7 December 2018 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref> Another former leader, [[Paul Nuttall]], quit the party the following day, as did [[London Assembly]] Member [[Peter Whittle (politician)|Peter Whittle]].<ref>Matthew Weaver, [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/dec/07/ukip-nuttall-resigns-tommy-robinson "Ukip resignations plunge party into further turmoil"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231143802/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/dec/07/ukip-nuttall-resigns-tommy-robinson |date=31 December 2018}}, ''The Guardian'', 7 December 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2018.</ref> It was reported that [[Tim Aker]] had also quietly quit the party earlier in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/ex-ukip-leader-paul-nuttall-quits-party-over-tommy-robinson-role-11573773|title=Ex-UKIP leader Paul Nuttall quits party over Tommy Robinson role|publisher=Sky News|access-date=7 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181208151741/https://news.sky.com/story/ex-ukip-leader-paul-nuttall-quits-party-over-tommy-robinson-role-11573773|archive-date=8 December 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Julia Reid]] announced her resignation from UKIP on 8 December 2018,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://juliareid.co.uk/dr-julia-reid-mep-resigns-from-ukip/ |title=Dr Julia Reid MEP resigns from UKIP over the current direction of the party – Dr Julia Reid MEP |publisher=Juliareid.co.uk |date=8 December 2018 |access-date=9 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209133615/http://juliareid.co.uk/dr-julia-reid-mep-resigns-from-ukip/ |archive-date=9 December 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> with [[Jonathan Bullock]] following the next day.<ref>{{cite news |last=Martin |first=Dan |title=MEP Jonathan Bullock quits UKIP over party leader's 'increasing support' for EDL founder Tommy Robinson |url=https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/mep-jonathan-bullock-quits-ukip-2308671 |access-date=9 December 2018 |work=Leicester Mercury |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209194411/https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/mep-jonathan-bullock-quits-ukip-2308671 |archive-date=9 December 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Jill Seymour]], [[Jane Collins]] and [[Margot Parker]] left for the Brexit Party on 15 April 2019, with the first of those three citing the party's current direction and occupation of 'the extreme right of politics'<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shropshirelive.com/news/2019/04/15/mep-jill-seymour-defects-to-brexit-party/|title=MEP Jill Seymour defects to Brexit Party|date=15 April 2019|access-date=15 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415135747/https://www.shropshirelive.com/news/2019/04/15/mep-jill-seymour-defects-to-brexit-party/|archive-date=15 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> and the second citing Batten's 'sick' defence of [[Carl Benjamin#Rape comments|Carl Benjamin's rape comments]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Osborne |first=Samuel |title=Ukip MEPs quit to join Nigel Farage's Brexit Party |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ukip-brexit-party-nigel-farage-quit-jill-seymour-jane-collins-margot-parker-a8871246.html |access-date=4 June 2019 |work=The Independent |date=15 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190519064508/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ukip-brexit-party-nigel-farage-quit-jill-seymour-jane-collins-margot-parker-a8871246.html |archive-date=19 May 2019 |url-status=live}}<br />
– {{cite news |last=Heffer |first=Greg |title=Three MEPs quit UKIP after Gerard Batten's defence of candidate's 'rape' tweet |url=https://news.sky.com/story/three-meps-quit-ukip-after-gerard-battens-defence-of-candidates-rape-tweet-11694846 |access-date=4 June 2019 |publisher=Sky News |date=15 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190614124939/https://news.sky.com/story/three-meps-quit-ukip-after-gerard-battens-defence-of-candidates-rape-tweet-11694846 |archive-date=14 June 2019 |url-status=live}}<br />
– {{cite news |title=Ukip MEPs quit to join Farage's new Brexit Party |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/uk-news/2019/04/15/ukip-meps-quit-to-join-farages-new-brexit-party/ |access-date=4 June 2019 |work=Shropshire Star |date=15 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416055329/https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/uk-news/2019/04/15/ukip-meps-quit-to-join-farages-new-brexit-party/ |archive-date=16 April 2019 |url-status=live}}<br />
– {{cite news |last=Gordon |first=Tom |title=Female MEPs swap 'disgusting' Ukip for Brexit Party |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17575730.female-meps-swap-disgusting-ukip-for-brexit-party/ |access-date=4 June 2019 |work=Herald Scotland |date=15 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604235852/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17575730.female-meps-swap-disgusting-ukip-for-brexit-party/ |archive-date=4 June 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> On 17 April, Jonathan Arnott and Ray Finch both defected to The Brexit Party and, along with Seymour, Collins and Parker, sat in the EFDD group.<ref name="europarlEFDD">{{cite web|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/search/advanced?name=&groupCode=4276&countryCode=GB&constituency=&bodyType=ALL|title=Register of MEPs: European Freedom and Democracy Group|publisher=European Parliament|access-date=18 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190216035242/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/search/advanced?name=&groupCode=4276&countryCode=GB&constituency=&bodyType=ALL|archive-date=16 February 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

As of April 2019, Batten and Agnew were members of the [[Europe of Nations and Freedom]] group in the European Parliament<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/search.html?politicalGroup=4907|title=Europe of Nations and Freedom|publisher=[[European Parliament]]|access-date=17 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621213336/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/search.html?politicalGroup=4907|archive-date=21 June 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> while Hookem was ''[[Non-Inscrit]]'' (unattached). All lost their seats in the European Parliament in June 2019.

==Election results==
{{see|UK Independence Party representation and election results}}
=== European Parliament elections ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Election year
! Leader
! # of total votes
! % of overall vote
! # of seats won
! Outcome
|-
! [[1994 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|1994]]
| [[Alan Sked]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 150,251 #8th {{increase}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 1.0% {{increase}}
| style="text-align:center;"| {{Composition bar|0|87|hex={{party color|UK Independence Party}}}} {{steady}}
|{{n/a|No seats}}
|-
! [[1999 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|1999]]
| [[Jeffrey Titford]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 696,057 #4th {{increase}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 6.5% {{increase}}
| style="text-align:center;"| {{Composition bar|3|87|hex={{party color|UK Independence Party}}}} {{steady}}
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2004 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2004]]
| [[Roger Knapman]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 2,650,768 #3rd {{increase}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 15.6% {{increase}}
| style="text-align:center;"| {{Composition bar|12|87|hex={{party color|UK Independence Party}}}} {{steady}}
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2009 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2009]]
| [[Nigel Farage]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 2,498,226 #2nd {{increase}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 16% {{increase}}
| style="text-align:center;"| {{Composition bar|13|87|hex={{party color|UK Independence Party}}}} {{steady}}
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2014 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2014]]
| [[Nigel Farage]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 4,352,251 #1st {{increase}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 27.5% {{increase}}
| style="text-align:center;"| {{Composition bar|24|87|hex={{party color|UK Independence Party}}}} {{increase}}
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2019 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2019]]
| [[Gerard Batten]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 554,463 #8th {{decrease}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 3.2% {{decrease}}
| style="text-align:center;"| {{Composition bar|0|87|hex={{party color|UK Independence Party}}}} {{decrease}}
|{{n/a|No seats}}
|}

=== General elections ===
During the 2010–15 Parliament, two Conservative MPs defected to UKIP and were re-elected in subsequent by-elections. At the 2015 general election, UKIP retained one of these seats ([[Clacton (UK Parliament constituency)|Clacton]]) and received over 30% of the vote in [[Boston and Skegness (UK Parliament constituency)|Boston and Skegness]], [[South Thanet (UK Parliament constituency)|South Thanet]], [[Heywood and Middleton (UK Parliament constituency)|Heywood and Middleton]], [[Thurrock (UK Parliament constituency)|Thurrock]] and [[Rochester and Strood (UK Parliament constituency)|Rochester and Strood]]. It lost its only seat in the 2017 election, when Clacton was regained by the Conservatives.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Election year
! Leader
! # of total votes
! % of overall vote
! # of seats won
! Outcome

|-
! [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/RP01-38/RP01-38.pdf|first=Bryn|last=Morgan|title=General Election results, 1 May 1997|publisher=House of Commons Library|page=6|access-date=18 October 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222081633/http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/RP01-38/RP01-38.pdf|archive-date=22 December 2015}}</ref>
| [[Alan Sked]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 105,722 {{increase}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 0.3% {{increase}}
| style="text-align:center;"| {{Composition bar|0|659|hex={{party color|UK Independence Party}}}} {{steady}}
|{{n/a|No seats}}

|-
! [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/RP01-54/RP01-54.pdf|first=Bryn|last=Morgan|title=General Election results, 7 June 2001|publisher=House of Commons Library|page=11|access-date=18 October 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222135642/http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/RP01-54/RP01-54.pdf|archive-date=22 December 2015}}</ref>
| [[Jeffrey Titford]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 390,563 {{increase}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 1.5% {{increase}}
| style="text-align:center;"| {{Composition bar|0|659|hex={{party color|UK Independence Party}}}} {{steady}}
|{{n/a|No seats}}

|-
! [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005]]<ref>{{cite news |title=2005 General election results |url=http://www.ukpolitical.info/ResultsFull05.htm |agency=UK Political Info |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130907231453/http://www.ukpolitical.info/ResultsFull05.htm |archive-date=7 September 2013 }}</ref>
| [[Roger Knapman]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 603,298 {{increase}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 2.2% {{increase}}
| style="text-align:center;"| {{Composition bar|0|646|hex={{party color|UK Independence Party}}}} {{steady}}
|{{n/a|No seats}}

|-
! [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Election 2010 Results|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/election2010/results/|publisher=BBC News|access-date=22 January 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140123193646/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/election2010/results/|archive-date=23 January 2014}}</ref>
| [[Malcolm Pearson, Baron Pearson of Rannoch|Lord Pearson]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 919,546 {{increase}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 3.1% {{increase}}
| style="text-align:center;"| {{Composition bar|0|650|hex={{party color|UK Independence Party}}}} {{steady}}
|{{n/a|No seats}}

|-
! [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015]]<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2015/may/07/live-uk-election-results-in-full "UK 2015 general election results in full"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511010821/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2015/may/07/live-uk-election-results-in-full |date=11 May 2017 }}, ''The Guardian'',</ref>
| [[Nigel Farage]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 3,881,099 {{increase}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 12.6% {{increase}}
| style="text-align:center;"| {{Composition bar|1|650|hex={{party color|UK Independence Party}}}} {{increase}}
|{{no2|Opposition}}

|-
! [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Results of the 2017 General Election|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2017/results|publisher=BBC News|access-date=9 June 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205232246/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2017/results|archive-date=5 December 2017}}</ref>
| [[Paul Nuttall]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 593,852 {{decrease}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 1.8% {{decrease}}
| style="text-align:center;"| {{Composition bar|0|650|hex={{party color|UK Independence Party}}}} {{decrease}}
|{{n/a|No seats}}

|-
! [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019]]
| [[Patricia Mountain]]
''(interim leader)''<ref name="Patricia Mountain" />
| style="text-align:center;"| 22,817 {{decrease}}
| style="text-align:center;"|0.1% {{decrease}}
| style="text-align:center;"| {{Composition bar|0|650|hex={{party color|UK Independence Party}}}} {{steady}}
|{{n/a|No seats}}

|-
! [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024]]
| Nick Tenconi
''(interim leader)''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-25 |title=Party Leadership Update |url=https://www.ukip.org/party-leadership-update |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=UKIP.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>Lois Perry was party leader when the election was called, but resigned from the position on 15 June 2024, resulting in Tenconi taking over as leader for the remainder of the campaign.</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 6,530 {{decrease}}
| style="text-align:center;"|TBD
| style="text-align:center;"| {{Composition bar|0|650|hex={{party color|UK Independence Party}}}} {{steady}}
|{{n/a|No seats}}
|}

==Reception==

===Other political groups===
In campaigning on emotive issues, UKIP has proved divisive.{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|p=xiii}} Popular stereotypes have framed it as a far-right party,{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|p=92}} and portrayed its activists as old white men holding offensive views.{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|p=111}} The party has faced vocal opposition from [[anti-fascist]] groups such as [[Hope not Hate]], who have accused it of tapping into nationalist and xenophobic sentiment in its campaigns.{{sfn|Ford|Goodwin|2014|p=147}} Writing for ''[[The New York Times Magazine]]'', [[Geoffrey Wheatcroft]] noted that there had been "a concerted campaign to brand UKIP as racist, an accusation that some of its own activists have done nothing to discourage."<ref>{{cite news |title=A Spot of Tea Party? |first=Geoffrey |last=Wheatcroft |date=14 May 2014 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/18/magazine/nigel-farage-and-his-uk-independence-party-want-out-of-europe.html |newspaper=The New York Times Magazine |access-date=22 April 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170722105827/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/18/magazine/nigel-farage-and-his-uk-independence-party-want-out-of-europe.html |archive-date=22 July 2017 }}</ref> Goodwin and [[Caitlin Milazzo]] highlighted that Farage had been "routinely ridiculed and dismissed", at best being portrayed as "a beer-swilling populist who wanted to drag Britain back to the 1950s" while at worst depicted as "a racist... would-be demagogue" who secretly wanted to overthrow the UK's liberal [[parliamentary democracy]].{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|p=3}}

For many years, mainstream political figures derided or demeaned the importance of UKIP, although this did little to obstruct its electoral advances.{{sfn|Deacon|Wring|2016|p=172}} By 2014, at which point UKIP was securing significant electoral support in the European Parliamentary elections, the main parties began to take it more seriously and devoted more time to countering the electoral threat it posed to them, in turn drawing more journalistic attention to the party.{{sfn|Deacon|Wring|2016|p=177}} This increased attention gave the party the "oxygen of publicity" which helped bring the party to the attention of previously inattentive voters.{{sfn|Clarke|Whiteley|Borges|Sanders|2016|p=144}} Many on Britain's centre-left have been reluctant to accept that UKIP was hindering public support for Labour, instead believing that they were primarily a problem for the Conservatives and would thus help produce a Labour victory.{{sfn|Goodwin|2015|p=15}}{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|p=62}} Labour found that their campaign strategy of accusing UKIP of racism backfired, as rather than distancing UKIP supporters from the party it contributed to the perception that Labour failed to understand widespread concerns regarding immigration.{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|pp=43–44}} A December 2014 poll by [[ComRes]] found that voters saw UKIP as closer to the centre-ground of politics than the Conservatives.<ref>{{cite news |author=Jane Merrick, John Rentoul |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/poll-shows-voters-believe-ukip-is-to-the-left-of-the-tories-9923416.html |title=Shock poll shows voters believe Ukip is to the left of the Tories |newspaper=The Independent |date=14 December 2014 |access-date=13 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170225223113/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/poll-shows-voters-believe-ukip-is-to-the-left-of-the-tories-9923416.html |archive-date=25 February 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Media and academia===
The British press have publicised statements made by UKIP activists and candidates which have been regarded as racist, sexist or otherwise bigoted.{{sfnm|1a1=Ford|1a2=Goodwin|1y=2014|1pp=282–83|2a1=Goodwin|2a2=Milazzo|2y=2015|2pp=46–47}} Among the examples of UKIP representatives and supporters embarrassing the party have been an MEP who called for a ban on the construction of [[mosques]] and for all British Muslims to sign a code of conduct, a councillor who suggested that shops should be allowed to refuse service to women and homosexuals, and a council candidate who compared Islam to [[Nazism]] and told black comedian [[Lenny Henry]] to leave Britain after the latter called for greater ethnic diversity within the UK's creative industries.{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|p=48}} In 2015, a documentary called ''Meet the Ukippers'' filmed activists making racist statements; one said "the only people I do have a problem with are negroes".{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|p=231}} For many years such individuals were internally tolerated within the party, although as part of Farage's push to professionalise the party a number of its members, such as MEP [[Godfrey Bloom]], were expelled for making comments that brought UKIP into disrepute.{{sfn|Deacon|Wring|2016|pp=173–74}} In 2018, Jo Marney—who was then the girlfriend of the party leader Henry Bolton—was suspended from UKIP after it was revealed that she had sent texts stating that black Africans were "ugly". In these messages, she had criticised [[Meghan Markle]] for marrying into the [[British royal family]], stating that Markle was "a dumb little commoner" and "a black American. Pushing their way to the top slowly. Next will be a Muslim PM and a black king."<ref>{{cite news|title=UKIP leader's girlfriend suspended over racist Meghan Markle texts|url=https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/ukip-leaders-girlfriend-suspended-over-racist-meghan-markle-texts/ar-AAuErTd?li=AAmiR2Z&ocid=spartandhp|date=14 January 2018|website=Newshub|access-date=14 January 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114184421/https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/ukip-leaders-girlfriend-suspended-over-racist-meghan-markle-texts/ar-AAuErTd?li=AAmiR2Z&ocid=spartandhp|archive-date=14 January 2018}}</ref>

[[File:Nigel Farage talking to the media.jpg|thumb|left|Farage talking to the media in 2012]]

In a May 2014 [[YouGov]] survey, 47% considered the media to be biased against UKIP, which was double the percentage who deemed the media biased against any other party.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://yougov.co.uk/news/2014/05/20/voters-think-media-more-biased-against-UKIP/|title=YouGov – Voters think media are more biased against UKIP than other parties|first=William|last=Jordan|publisher=YouGov|date=20 May 2014|access-date=17 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410105046/https://yougov.co.uk/news/2014/05/20/voters-think-media-more-biased-against-UKIP/|archive-date=10 April 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>{{sfn|Goodwin|Milazzo|2015|p=48}} The [[BBC]] received almost 1,200 complaints about its coverage of the 2014 European and local elections; 149 claimed that the BBC were biased against UKIP, while the rest claimed that it gave disproportionate attention to the party. The BBC defended its coverage.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/may/30/bbc-complaints-ukip-election-coverage-bias|title=BBC receives almost 1,200 complaints over Ukip election coverage|first=John|last=Reynolds|date=30 May 2017|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=17 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221025310/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/may/30/bbc-complaints-ukip-election-coverage-bias|archive-date=21 February 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Farage accused the BBC of a "liberal bias", particularly on issues of immigration, the EU, and climate change.<ref>{{cite news |first=Nigel |last=Farage |title=Nigel Farage: The bloated BBC bullies those who disagree with its liberal bias |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/ukip/10159310/Nigel-Farage-The-bloated-BBC-bullies-those-who-disagree-with-its-liberal-bias.html |access-date=22 December 2014 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=4 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222154351/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/ukip/10159310/Nigel-Farage-The-bloated-BBC-bullies-those-who-disagree-with-its-liberal-bias.html |archive-date=22 December 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

David Deacon and Dominic Wring's examination of press coverage of UKIP during their 2014 campaign demonstrated that of the elite newspapers, the pro-EU titles ''The Guardian'' and ''[[The Observer]]'' gave the most coverage to perceived racist and intolerant aspects of the party, while the Eurosceptic titles ''[[The Times]]'' and ''[[The Sunday Times]]'' instead focused on questioning the propriety and integrity of UKIP representatives.{{sfn|Deacon|Wring|2016|p=180}} Among the populist tabloids, ''[[The Sun (United Kingdom)|The Sun]]''/''[[Sun on Sunday]]'' and the ''[[Daily Mirror]]''/''[[Sunday Mirror]]'' were found to contain the most negative coverage of UKIP, while the ''[[Daily Express]]'' and ''[[Sunday Express]]''—owned by UKIP donor Richard Desmond—gave significantly lower coverage to the gaffes and prejudices of UKIP representatives.{{sfn|Deacon|Wring|2016|p=180}} Deacon and Wring noted that the majority of those right-wing newspapers that share UKIP's views on immigration also share the perspective of more liberal newspapers that many of UKIP's interventions are racist.{{sfn|Deacon|Wring|2016|p=182}} This right-wing press opposition to UKIP may result from the allegiance that these newspapers have to the Conservatives, and resulting perception of UKIP as an electoral threat.{{sfn|Deacon|Wring|2016|p=182}}

Academic research has been carried out into UKIP. In 2016, it was noted that most of this had focused on examining the party's electoral support base, its consequences for other parties, and the possibilities and prospects of a referendum on continued EU membership, with little having focused on an examination of the party's policies.{{sfn|Reed|2016|p=226}} Two currents have emerged among those seeking to interpret UKIP: the first, and generally older, current views them as a manifestation of Britain's strong Eurosceptic movement, while the second seeks to explain their position in the British parliamentary system while drawing upon the comparative literature on right-wing populist parties elsewhere in Europe.{{sfn|Dye|2015|pp=3–4}}

==See also==
* [[Euroscepticism in the United Kingdom]]
* [[Russian interference in the 2016 Brexit referendum]]
* [[2010s in United Kingdom political history]]

==Notes==
<references group="N" />

==References==
===Citations===
{{reflist|30em}}

===Sources===
{{refbegin|30em|indent=yes}}
* {{cite journal
|last1=Abedi
|first1=Amir
|last2=Lundberg
|first2=Thomas Carl
|title=Doomed to Failure? UKIP and the Organisational Challenges Facing Right-Wing Populist Anti-Political Establishment Parties
|journal=Parliamentary Affairs
|year=2009
|pages=72–87
|volume=62
|number=1
|doi=10.1093/pa/gsn036
|url=http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/41367/1/41367.pdf
}}
* {{cite book
|last=Art
|first=David
|title=Inside the Radical Right: The Development of Anti-Immigrant Parties in Western Europe
|publisher=Cambridge University Press
|location=Cambridge
|year=2011
|isbn=978-1-139-49883-8
}}
* {{cite book
|last1=Bale
|first1=Tim
|author1-link=Tim Bale
|last2=Hough
|first2=Dan
|last3=Van Kessel
|first3=Stijn
|year=2013
|chapter=In or Out of Proportion? Labour and Social Democratic Parties' Responses to the Radical Right
|editor-last=Rydgren
|editor-first=Jens
|title=Class Politics and the Radical Right
|series=Routledge Studies in Extremism and Democracy
|location=London
|publisher=[[Routledge]]
|pages=91–106
|isbn=978-1-136-16061-5
}}
* {{cite journal |first1=Harold |last1=Clarke |first2=Paul |last2=Whiteley |first3=Walter |last3=Borges |first4=David |last4=Sanders |first5=Marianne |last5=Stewart |title=Modelling the Dynamics of Support for a Right-Wing Populist Party: The Case of UKIP |journal=Journal of Elections, Public Opinion and Parties |volume=26 |year=2016 |number=2 |pages=135–54 |doi=10.1080/17457289.2016.1146286 |s2cid=67831605 |url=http://repository.essex.ac.uk/17103/1/Modelling%20Support%20for%20UKIP.pdf}}
* {{cite journal
|last=Clements
|first=Ben
|title=Partisan Attachments and Attitudes towards Same-Sex Marriage in Britain
|journal=Parliamentary Affairs
|volume=67
|issue=1
|year=2014
|pages=232–244
|doi=10.1093/pa/gst003
}}
* {{cite book
|last=Considère-Charon
|first=Marie-Claire
|year=2010
|chapter=Irish MEPs in an Enlarged Europe
|editor-last=Gillissen
|editor-first=Christophe
|title=Ireland: Looking East
|location=Brussels
|publisher=Peter Lang
|isbn=978-90-5201-652-8
}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Deacon |first1=David |last2=Wring |first2=Dominic |title=The UK Independence Party, Populism and the British News Media: Competition, Collaboration or Containment? |journal=European Journal of Communication |year=2016 |volume=31 |number=2 |pages=169–184 |doi=10.1177/0267323115612215 |s2cid=147206873 |url=https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/21442 |type=Submitted manuscript}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Dennison |first1=James |last2=Goodwin |first2=Matthew |author2-link=Matthew Goodwin|title=Immigration, Issue Ownership and the Rise of UKIP |journal=Parliamentary Affairs |year=2015 |volume=68 |pages=168–187 |doi=10.1093/pa/gsv034}}
* {{cite book
|last=Driver
|first=Stephen
|title=Understanding British Party Politics
|year=2011
|publisher=Polity Press
|location=Cambridge
|isbn=978-0-7456-4078-5
}}
* {{cite book
|last=Dolezal
|first=Martin
|chapter=Restructuring the European Political Space: The Supply Side of European Electoral Politics
|editor1-last=Kriesi
|editor1-first=Hanspeter
|editor2-last=Grande
|editor2-first=Edgar
|editor3-last=Dolezal
|editor3-first=Martin
|editor4-last=Helbling
|editor4-first=Marc
|editor5-last=Höglinger
|editor5-first=Dominic
|editor6-last=Hutter
|editor6-first=Swen
|editor7-last=Wüest
|editor7-first=Bruno
|title=Political Conflict in Western Europe
|publisher=Cambridge University Press
|year=2012
|pages=127–150
|isbn=978-1-107-02438-0
}}
* {{cite web |last=Dye |first=Daniel T. |year=2015 |title=Britain's Nationalist Moment: The Claims-Making of the SNP and UKIP |publisher=Political Studies Association |url=https://www.psa.ac.uk/sites/default/files/conference/papers/2015/Dye%20PSA%202015_Nationalist%20Moment.pdf}}
* {{cite book
|last=Etheridge
|first=Bill
|author-link=Bill Etheridge
|year=2014
|title=The Rise of UKIP
|location=Epsom
|publisher=Bretwalda Books
|isbn=978-1-909698-33-8
}}
* {{cite journal
|last1=Evans
|first1=Geoffrey
|author1-link=Geoff Evans (political scientist)
|last2=Mellon
|first2=Jon
|year=2016
|title=Working Class Votes and Conservative Losses: Solving the UKIP Puzzle
|journal=Parliamentary Affairs
|volume=69
|issue=2
|pages=464–479
|doi=10.1093/pa/gsv005
}}
* {{cite book
|title=Revolt on the Right: Explaining Support for the Radical Right in Britain
|last1=Ford
|first1=Robert
|author1-link=Robert Ford (academic)
|last2=Goodwin
|first2=Matthew
|author2-link=Matthew Goodwin
|year=2014
|location=London
|publisher=Routledge
|isbn=978-0-415-66150-8
}}
* {{cite journal
|last1=Ford
|first1=Robert
|author1-link=Robert Ford (academic)
|last2=Goodwin
|first2=Matthew J.
|author2-link=Matthew Goodwin
|year=2016
|title=Different Class? UKIP's Social Base and Political Impact: A Reply to Evans and Mellon
|journal=Parliamentary Affairs
|volume=69
|issue=2
|pages=480–491
|doi=10.1093/pa/gsv012
}}
* {{cite journal
|first1=Robert
|last1=Ford
|author1-link=Robert Ford (academic)
|first2=Matthew J.
|last2=Goodwin
|author2-link=Matthew Goodwin
|first3=David
|last3=Cutts
|year=2011
|title=Strategic Eurosceptics and Polite Xenophobes: Support for the UK Independence Party (UKIP) in the 2009 European Parliament Elections
|journal=European Journal of Political Research
|doi=10.1111/j.1475-6765.2011.01994.x
|volume=51
|issue=2
|pages=204–234
}}
* {{cite journal |last=Goodwin |first=Matthew |author1-link=Matthew Goodwin |title=Ukip, the 2015 General Election and Britain's EU Referendum |journal=Parliamentary Insight |volume=6 |issue=3 |pages=12–15 |year=2015 |doi=10.1111/2041-9066.12107 |doi-access=free}}
* {{cite book |last1=Goodwin |first1=Matthew |author1-link=Matthew Goodwin|last2=Milazzo |first2=Caitlin |author2-link=Caitlin Milazzo|title=UKIP: Inside the Campaign to Redraw the Map of British Politics |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |year=2015 |isbn=978-0198736110}}
* {{cite journal |last=Hayton |first=Richard |title=The UK Independence Party and the Politics of Englishness |url=http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/99577/1/Hayton%20UKIP%20and%20the%20Politics%20of%20Englishness%20%28final%20draft%29.pdf |journal=Political Studies Review |volume=14 |issue=3 |pages=400–410 |year=2016 |doi=10.1177/1478929916649612 |s2cid=54959123}}
* {{cite book
|last=Heywood
|first=Andrew
|year=2015
|title=Essentials of UK Politics
|edition=3rd
|location=London
|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan
|isbn=978-1-137-53074-5
}}
* {{cite book
|last=Jones
|first=Owen
|author-link=Owen Jones (writer)
|year=2011
|title=Chavs: The Demonization of the Working Class
|location=London
|publisher=Verso
|isbn=978-1-84467-804-4
|title-link=Chavs: The Demonization of the Working Class
}}
* {{cite book
|last=Liebert
|first=Ulrike
|year=2012
|chapter=Civil Society, Public Sphere and Democracy in the EU
|editor1-last=Eriksen
|editor1-first=Erik Oddvar
|editor2-last=Fossum
|editor2-first=John Erik
|title=Rethinking Democracy and the European Union
|location=Abingdon
|publisher=Routledge
|pages=112–142
|isbn=978-1-136-49090-3
}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Lynch |first1=Philip |last2=Whitaker |first2=Richard |title=Rivalry on the Right: The Conservatives, the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and the EU Issue |url=https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/10147508 |journal=British Politics |volume=8 |issue=3 |pages=285–312 |year=2013 |s2cid=154926119 |doi=10.1057/bp.2012.29 |hdl=2381/31946 |hdl-access=free}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Lynch |first1=Philip |last2=Whitaker |first2=Richard |last3=Loomes |first3=Gemma |title=The UK Independence Party: Understanding a Niche Party's Strategy, Candidates and Supporters |journal=Parliamentary Affairs |volume=65 |issue=4 |pages=733–757 |year=2012 |doi=10.1093/pa/gsr042 |hdl=2381/28316 |hdl-access=free}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Mycock |first1=Andrew |last2=Hayton |first2=Richard |title=The Party Politics of Englishness |url=http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/78750/3/The%20Party%20Politics%20of%20Englishness%20FINAL_with_coversheet.docx.pdf |journal=The British Journal of Politics and International Relations |volume=16 |number=2 |year=2014 |pages=251–272 |s2cid=96441208 |doi=10.1111/j.1467-856X.2012.00543.x}}
* {{cite book |last1=Phinnemore |first1=David |last2=McGowan |first2=Lee |title=A Dictionary of the European Union |publisher=Routledge |location=London |edition=6th |year=2013 |isbn=978-1-135-08127-0}}
* {{cite journal |last=Reed |first=Matt |title='This Loopy Idea': An Analysis of UKIP's Social Media Discourse in Relation to Rurality and Climate Change |url=http://eprints.glos.ac.uk/3417/3/This%20loopy%20idea%E2%80%99%20An%20analysis%20of%20UKIP%E2%80%99s%20social%20media%20discourse%20in%20relation%20to%20rurality%20and%20climate%20change.pdf |journal=Space and Polity |volume=20 |issue=2 |pages=226–241 |year=2016 |s2cid=148384606 |doi=10.1080/13562576.2016.1192332}}
* {{cite book |last=Staab |first=Andreas |title=The European Union Explained: Institutions, Actors, Global Impact |publisher=[[Indiana University Press]] |location=Bloomington, IN |edition=2nd |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-253-00164-1}}
* {{cite journal |last=Tournier-Sol |first=Karine |title=Reworking the Eurosceptic and Conservative Traditions into a Populist Narrative: UKIP's Winning Formula? |journal=Journal of Common Market Studies |volume=53 |number=1 |pages=140–156 |year=2015 |s2cid=142738345 |doi=10.1111/jcms.12208}}
* {{cite book |last=Thorlakson |first=Lori |chapter=Federalism and the European Party System |title=Towards a Federal Europe |editor-last=Trechsel |editor-first=Alexander H. |series=Journal of European Public Policy Series |publisher=Routledge |location=London |year=2013 |isbn=978-1-317-99818-1}}
* {{cite book |last=Trilling |first=Daniel |author-link=Daniel Trilling |title=Bloody Nasty People: The Rise of Britain's Far Right |title-link=Bloody Nasty People: The Rise of Britain's Far Right |publisher=Verso |location=London |year=2012 |isbn=978-1-84467-959-1}}
* {{cite journal |last=Usherwood |first=Simon |title=The Dilemmas of a Single-Issue Party: The UK Independence Party |url=http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/235575/3/The%20dilemmas%20of%20a%20single%20issue%20party%20Usherwood%20UKIP%20Paper%20Revised.pdf |journal=Representation |volume=44 |issue=3 |pages=255–264 |year=2008 |s2cid=154924737 |doi=10.1080/00344890802237023}}
* {{cite journal |last=Usherwood |first=Simon |title=Did Ukip Win the Referendum? |journal=Political Insight |volume=7 |number=2 |pages=27–29 |year=2016a |s2cid=151598091 |doi=10.1177/2041905816666146|url=https://surrey-researchmanagement.esploro.exlibrisgroup.com/view/delivery/44SUR_INST/12139771100002346/13140271780002346 }}
* {{cite journal |last1=Whitaker |first1=Richard |last2=Lynch |first2=Philip |title=Explaining Support for the UK Independence Party at the 2009 European Parliament Elections |journal=Journal of Elections, Public Opinion and Parties |volume=21 |issue=3 |pages=359–379 |year=2011 |s2cid=29241327 |doi=10.1080/17457289.2011.588439}}
* {{cite book |last1=Winlow |first1=Simon |last2=Hall |first2=Steve |last3=Treadwell |first3=James |year=2017 |title=The Rise of the Right: English Nationalism and the Transformation of Working-Class Politics |location=Bristol |publisher=Policy Press |isbn=978-1447328483}}
{{refend}}

==Further reading==
{{refbegin|35em|indent=yes}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Cutts |first1=David |last2=Goodwin |first2=Matthew |author2-link=Matthew Goodwin |last3=Milazzo |first3=Caitlin |author3-link=Caitlin Milazzo|title=Defeat of the People's Army? The 2015 British general election and the UK Independence Party (UKIP) |url=http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/42016/1/UKIP%20Electoral%20Studies%20EPrints.pdf |journal=Electoral Studies |volume=48 |pages=70–83 |year=2017 |doi=10.1016/j.electstud.2017.03.002 |s2cid=157747740 |access-date=1 March 2020 |archive-date=26 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426203907/http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/42016/1/UKIP%20Electoral%20Studies%20EPrints.pdf |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite contribution |last1=Deacon |first1=David |last2=Wring |first2=Dominic |contribution=The United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) and the British Press: Integration, Immigration and Integrity |title=Political Parties in the Digital Age: The Impact of New Technologies in Politics |year=2015 |editor-first=Guy |editor-last=Lachapelle |editor-first2=Philippe |editor-last2=Maarek |publisher=De Gruyter |location=Oldenbourg |pages=129–147 |isbn=978-3110413816}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Mellon |first1=Jon |last2=Evans |first2=Geoffrey |author2-link=Geoff Evans (political scientist) |title=Class, Electoral Geography and the Future of UKIP: Labour's Secret Weapon? |journal=Parliamentary Affairs |volume=69 |issue=2 |pages=492–498 |year=2016 |doi=10.1093/pa/gsv013}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Moufahim |first1=M. |last2=Parsons |first2=M. |last3=Rees |first3=P. |year=2016 |title=Shades of Purple – A Discursive Analysis of Mainstream Political Party Responses to UKIP |journal=Journal of Customer Behaviour |volume=15 |issue=3 |pages=261–282 |doi=10.1362/147539216X14594362873974 |url=http://dro.dur.ac.uk/18647/1/18647.pdf }}
* {{cite contribution |last=Usherwood |first=Simon |year=2016 |contribution=The UK Independence Party: The Dimensions of Mainstreaming |title=Radical Right-Wing Populist Parties in Western Europe: Into the Mainstream |editor-first=Tjitske |editor-last=Akkerman |editor2=Sarah L. de Lange |editor-first3=Matthijs |editor-last3=Rooduijn |publisher=Routledge |location=Abingdon}}
* {{cite contribution |contribution=A Polite Insurgency: The UKIP Campaign |first=Gawain |last=Towler |year=2017 |title=Political Communication in Britain: Polling, Campaigning and Media in the 2015 General Election |editor-first=Dominic |editor-last=Wring |editor-first2=Roger |editor-last2=Mortimore |editor-first3=Simon |editor-last3=Atkinson |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-319-40933-7}}
* {{cite journal |title=The European Union as a Totalitarian Nightmare: Dystopian Visions in the Discourse of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) |first=Catherine |last=MacMillan |year=2016 |journal=Romanian Journal of English Studies |volume=13 |number=1 |pages=158–165 |doi=10.1515/rjes-2016-0020 |s2cid=159636568 |doi-access=free}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Webb |first1=Paul |last2=Bale |first2=Tim |last3=Poletti |first3=Monica |title='All mouth and no trousers?' How many Conservative Party members voted for UKIP in 2015 – and why did they do so? |journal=Politics |volume=37 |issue=4 |pages=432–444 |year=2017 |doi=10.1177/0263395717697344 |doi-access=free}}
* {{cite journal |last=Macmillan |first=Catherine |year=2017 |title=Reversing the Myth? Dystopian narratives of the EU in UKIP and front national discourse |journal=Journal of Contemporary European Studies}}
* {{cite contribution |title=Angry White People: Coming Face-to-Face with the British Far Right |first=Hsiao-Hung |last=Pai |editor-first=Benjamin |editor-last=Zephaniah |publisher=Zed Books Ltd. |year=2016 |isbn=978-1783606948 |pages=chapter 7}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
* {{official website}}
{{Nigel Farage}}{{UKIP}}
{{Navboxes|list=
{{British political parties}}
{{Political parties in Northern Ireland}}
{{Nationalism in the United Kingdom}}
{{United Kingdom Alternative Vote referendum, 2011}}
{{UK far right}}
}}
{{Subject bar|portal1=Politics|portal20=United Kingdom|portal2=European Union|commons=yes|commons-search=Category:UK Independence Party|n=yes|n-search=United Kingdom Independence Party|d=yes|d-search=Q10647}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:UK Independence Party| ]]
[[Category:1993 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Eurosceptic parties in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Far-right political parties in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Nationalist parties in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Non-interventionist parties]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Devon]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1993]]
[[Category:Right-wing populism in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Right-wing populist parties]]
[[Category:Right-wing politics in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Right-wing parties in Europe]]
[[Category:Conservative parties in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Anti-Islam political parties in Europe]]
[[Category:Opposition to same-sex marriage]]
[[Category:Climate change denial]]
[[Category:Nigel Farage]]