"Anti-establishment" doesn't just mean "not one of the 3 main Westminster parties". That's a very narrow definition which I don't think applies to how ukip position themselves, eg as not part of the "Westminster Ruling Elite".

Even if you use that definition, most of ukip's big hitters come from established parties (ex-Tories mainly), are bankrolled by big business and generally come from the public school, city trading, millionaire wing of the ruling classes. Rather than being "anti-establishment", they are at the core of established power and privilege in this country.

"You can feel the stadium jumping. The stadium is actually physically moving up and down"
FA Cup MOTD 24/4/16

The media might not be overtly backing ukip but they get an incredible amount of coverage for what is essentially a protest party. Remember the old adage about no publicity being bad publicity? I'm sure Farage does too.

The Greens have doubled their membership to almost 30,000 since January (ukip has 40,000 members) but receive a tiny fraction of the coverage ukip gets in the mainstream media. Of course ukip are on the rise and that will be reflected in the media, but it seems to me their coverage is disproportionate to their support, especially when compared to the other smaller parties.

Of course if immigration is what one is concerned about then ukip's pushing it into the mainstream is a good thing. But my view is that a lot of ukip support comes from people disaffected by the established parties who see ukip as a useful vehicle for giving Cameron, Clegg and Miliband a bit of a kicking. Whether they support all of ukip's policies is another matter altogether.

Either way though, it will be very interesting to see what happens in May. I'm quite looking forward to it personally!

Edited by Seth (02 Dec 2014 4.13pm)

"You can feel the stadium jumping. The stadium is actually physically moving up and down"
FA Cup MOTD 24/4/16

I haven't been through their policies with a fine-tooth comb, but they will hopefully get the same detailed scrutiny as the other parties' manifestos will in the run-up to May's election. If the media do their jobs properly we'll see if ukip's policy platform stands up to examination.

"You can feel the stadium jumping. The stadium is actually physically moving up and down"
FA Cup MOTD 24/4/16

It means against the establishment. The establishment want us to stay in the EU, all 3 parties.

UKIP only have one big hitter and I couldn't care less where he came from or who bankrolls them, nor the rest. If they were at the core of power, they'd be in power.

But please knock yourself out and find these powerful and privilged who are the core of this "establishment". I'm sure we could find many more for the "established" 3 parties.

This quarter:
[Link]

Last year:
[Link]

Optimistic as ever

Which shows that none of the parties is in it for 'the common man' or 'joe public'. This is why Brand refuses to vote. They are all different hues of the same s***e.
It doesn't matter who you vote for, they are all in it for themselves rather than ll of us being in it together.

Seth:

I know you won't respond to this as after the homophobic rant you launched at me, you realised you couldn't control your emotion and became everything you hated, despite your self righteous look at me and the stay at home dad image you like to portray.

However, I feel it best to point something out. That is, despite your best efforts recently, you come over as a deluded and obsessed anti UKIP campaigner who shouts much, but says little. You cannot turn the tide of UKIP without some sort of ideology that says how a leftish, pro European, pro immigrant, pro localised government would work. Basically, you can spunk your pants at the thoughts of the Greens nod the SNP taking control but it ain't gonna happen. Therefore, please explain to me how your way government will work, how it will be funded, how you will depose the establishment and how you will find a charismatic and functional leader who will provide the impetus for change.

Michael and Gusset and Psychobabble - please let Seth respond.

Edited by matt_himself (02 Dec 2014 9.46pm)

"That was fun and to round off the day, I am off to steal a charity collection box and then desecrate a place of worship.” - Smokey, The Selhurst Arms, 26/02/02