The assumption that UKIP is gaining in popularity because of its policies on immigration and Europe has been undermined by new polling.
The assumption that UKIP is gaining in popularity because of its policies on immigration and Europe has been undermined by recent Lord Ashcroft polling.
The research shows that, rather than hard-line policies on immigration and Europe attracting voters, it actually has more to do with the Farage factor.
Lord Ashcroft’s poll findings show that, out of those willing to consider voting for the right-wing Eurosceptic party, only 7 per cent saw the statement “UKIP is the best party on defending Britons interests in Europe” as the most important factor when deciding whether to vote for the party.
Voters instead attached more importance to the phrase “UKIP’s heart is in the right place” (19 per cent saw this as most important), and “UKIP is on the side of people like me” (18 per cent most important).
These findings contradict, at least in part, the idea that UKIP’s rising popularity is a cue for the three major parties to tack to the right.
It does, however, perhaps illustrate one thing Nigel Farage: acting more like a normal human being and less like an automaton. The three main party leaders could perhaps learn from this.
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20 Responses to “The Farage factor, rather than right wing policy, is winning UKIP votes”
Cole
Farage and mates are certainly good at getting money out of the EU – for themselves.
jabberwocky12
yes ya right they are all the same in that respect ..he is just a bit less bad than the others
bob
be honest and tell me you would not do the same if you was in their shoes,
they were legitimately elected and are legally paid and are the only people campaigning to get their jobs made redundant.
averagebritain
This Briton, love him or hate him, has done more to address Britain’s mood and predicament than any, in Westminster. I shall follow him, for Britain’s sake.
neilcraig
I would not underestimate the importance of policy, after all that is how people actually make up their minds if they like what a party stands for. Ringing declarations of principle (“Britain can do better than that”, “British jobs for British workers”) only take you so far if there is no beef.
However you are right that UKIP have established an underlying theme that people see they actually mean what they say & intend to do what they promise, while the contempt in which almost everybody holds the LabConDem cartel is irrefutable.
This is an incredibly difficult thing for the approved parties to match. Certainly it would take at least a decade of them telling the truth and demonstrating principles to fool even a minority.
Probably easier just to stick with the current programme of having the state owned broadcasters & state regulated media continuing to lie & smear and to censor Britain’s 3rd party from the airwaves.