KEENE: Familiar refrains from Britain’s ‘Tea Party’

Washington Times ^ | 04/17/2014 | David Keene

[Siegfried X]

Americans have the Tea Party, which isn’t a party at all, but British establishmentarians are worried about a similar movement that is an actual party.

The UK Independence Party or UKIP (pronounced “u-kip”) could have real impact on the European Union elections next month. UKIP is made up mostly, though not exclusively, of former Tory voters who regard Prime Minister David Cameron and his allies as weak-kneed leaders, who neither listen to their base nor fight for the conservative values they profess.

UKIP began as a home for British voters skeptical of the value of membership in the European Union and has since broadened its appeal on immigration and other issues of concern to many. Its quasi-populist appeal has grown year by year, and while the party has yet to elect a member to the House of Commons, UKIP has won numerous local elections and is represented in the British delegation to the European Parliament in Brussels.

British Conservative leaders have dismissed UKIP supporters in much the same way Washington’s GOP leaders have dismissed Tea Partyers. As UKIP gained popularity, Britain’s Conservative prime minister, who had earlier dismissed UKIP followers as “fruitcakes” and sounding as welcoming as our own Sen. Mitch McConnell, grumbled that potential UKIP voters are “extremists” who need to be beaten, not courted...

[sauron]

Thanks for posting this.

I doubt that very many Freepers, here in early 2014, have even heard about UKIP.

For those freepers who haven’t: TREAT YOURSELVES TO SOMETHING GOOD. Watch *any* YouTube video of Nigel Farage.

A man as eloquent as Daniel Hannan.

[cripplecreek]

I follow him on twitter along with Daniel Hannan. I see he also counts Judge Napolitano among his followers.

[cripplecreek]

Nigel Farage destroys the EU president

LOL Who are you? Who voted for you? You're paid more than Barack Obama.

[jpsb]

Nigel Farage BUMP!

[Always A Marine]

UKIP is made up mostly, though not exclusively, of former Tory voters who regard Prime Minister David Cameron and his allies as weak-kneed leaders, who neither listen to their base nor fight for the conservative values they profess.

Names have been changed to indict the guilty:
THE TEA PARTY is made up mostly, though not exclusively, of REPUBLICAN voters who regard PRESIDENT BUSH and his allies as weak-kneed leaders, who neither listen to their base nor fight for the conservative values they profess.

[Monmouth78]

For those who don’t follow European politics, UKIP has been around since 1993. It took a long time and many ups and downs to get to the place they are now.