Remember Ukip? Their former leader Nigel Farage is carving out a living as a radio shock jock and part-time film critic. The party is currently midway through a leadership election to replace Paul Nuttall, who quit his post following their disastrous showing at the general election.
They are already facing increasing financial pressure thanks to the loss of short money and, now they no longer have any MPs, their parliamentary office in Westminster, too. There may be bigger blows to come. In March 2019, their 24 MEPs will all lose their posts when Britain leaves the European Union, denying another source of funding. In May 2021, if Ukip’s disastrous showing in the general election is echoed in the Welsh Assembly, the last significant group of full-time Ukip politicians will lose their seats.
To make matters worse, the party could be badly split if Anne-Marie Waters, the founder of Sharia Watch, is elected leader, as many of the party’s MEPs have vowed to quit if she wins or is appointed deputy leader by the expected winner, Peter Whittle.
Yet when you talk to Ukip officials or politicians, they aren’t despairing, yet.
Because paradoxically, they agree with Remainers: Theresa May’s Brexit deal will disappoint. Any deal including a “divorce bill” – which any deal will include – will fall short of May’s rhetoric at the start of negotiations. “People are willing to have a little turbulence,” says one senior figure about any economic fallout, “but not if you tell them you haven’t. We saw that with Brown and the end of boom and bust. That’ll be where the government is in March 2019.”
They believe if Ukip can survive as a going concern until March 2019, then they will be well-placed for a revival.
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