Nigel Farage's UKIP has opened up a clear lead in the run up to next month’s elections for the European Parliament. According to ComRes [2], 38% of Britons certain to vote say that they would cast their ballot for the party, compared to 27% who would vote for Labour, 18% who would vote for the Conservatives and 8% who would vote Lib Dem. UKIP is damaging Conservative hopes as 67% of 2010 Tory voters are now saying they would vote for UKIP. However, it's not all rainbows and unicorns for the euro-skeptic party, as - somewhat expectedly - almost one third of Britons think that UKIP is a racist party; even as 48% believe UKIP has sensible policies.
European Voting Intention
- UKIP: 38% (+8)
- Labour: 27% (-3)
- Conservatives: 18% (-4)
- Liberal Democrats: 8% (NC)
But as ITV reports, [3] there are some concerns...
Almost one third of Britons think that Ukip is a racist party, according to a new ITV News/ComRes poll.
Of the 2,052 British adults surveyed about their opinion of the UK Independence Party, 32% said they believed the party was racist. 40% disagreed with this statement and 29% said they did not know.
A third of the British public think UKIP are more honest than other parties
...
82% of likely UKIP voters at the European Parliamentary elections think Ukip is more honest than other political parties.
Britons are split about whether Ukip has sensible policies: 38% think not, but 38% think the party does.
Half of 2010 Conservatives (48%) think that Ukip has sensible policies.
It seems change is coming - as Farage himself noted recently [4]...
"The whole European project is based on a falsehood... and it's a dangerous one.. because if you try to impose a new flag, a new anthem, a new president, a new army, a new police force; without first seeking the consent of the people you are creating the very nationalisms and resentment that the project was supposed to snuff out." Farage concludes, he is not against Europe but is "against this Europe," and this year's European elections will mark the turning point.