Have Ukip Disappointed?

[Gromit]

I expected UKIP to be a lot more in this election, but they seem to have been marginalised. A month ago I expected them to get 8 or 9 seats, but today I think they will be lucky to retain their 2 seats.

What went wrong?

[RandyMarsh]

They seem to be replacing the lib dems as the 3rd party choice.

[vetuste_ennemi]

Peel me a grape, Rula.

[jno]

RandyMarsh, yes, the protest party that people vote for when it doesn't matter. Though much of their support comes from sincere Europhobes as well as protest voters.

But at the moment it doesn't look as if they'll come close to even the LibDems in terms of seats won.

[DaisyNonna]

Disappointed whom?

[vetuste_ennemi]

Quite a few years ago she was frequently under him, Methyl.

[vetuste_ennemi]

Not, of course, that my observation contradicts your statement, Methyl.

[ludwig]

I've said all along they'd get 1 or 2 seats in a general election. It's the nature of the system.

1.5 million people vote SNP - 60 seats.
4 million vote ukip - 1 seat.

[Old_Geezer]

I will say yes, disappointed; but there was always the feeling that an increase in support was unlikely to topple the incumbent in many (any ?) constituencies. Thus was ever the problem with smaller parties.

To break through and become one of the big two is very difficult. Even getting the balance of power is not easy. But I take hope from the thought that they may not need many MPs to send a message and trigger change. After which there is no real need for them.

[Old_Geezer]

Rula used to be very hot. Now like many of us, we are looking good for our age :-)

[Peter Pedant]

// Massive swings to UKIP in every seat so far//

and the house of commons is FULL of UKIP MPs - just as the massive swing in Scotland ( a real one this time ) led to 59 MPs

yeah dream on