'Fringe Group in Britain Forces Others to Listen' diff viewer (0/1)

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Fringe Group in Britain Forces Others to Listen	Fringe Group in Britain Forces Others to Listen
2014-05-28 01:50:34 UTC	2014-09-11 09:15:53 UTC (4 months later)
LONDON — Nigel Farage boasts that his United Kingdom Independence Party is now “the fox” in the Westminster henhouse. But in reality, without a single seat in Parliament, he is still prowling the boundaries of the farm.	LONDON — Nigel Farage boasts that his United Kingdom Independence Party is now “the fox” in the Westminster henhouse. But in reality, without a single seat in Parliament, he is still prowling the boundaries of the farm.
Mr. Farage and his party did well in elections last week for local councils and the European Parliament, setting off some panic among the three more established parties. While the Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg, appeared to be in serious trouble, Prime Minister David Cameron fared better than expected in his real battle, against the opposition Labour Party.	Mr. Farage and his party did well in elections last week for local councils and the European Parliament, setting off some panic among the three more established parties. While the Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg, appeared to be in serious trouble, Prime Minister David Cameron fared better than expected in his real battle, against the opposition Labour Party.
Last week’s voting altered the political discourse. But the landscape itself looks much the same for the election that matters most, the May 2015 general election: a hung Parliament, in which no one party has a working majority, and a race that for most voters will come down to a choice between Mr. Cameron’s Conservatives and Ed Miliband’s Labour Party.	Last week’s voting altered the political discourse. But the landscape itself looks much the same for the election that matters most, the May 2015 general election: a hung Parliament, in which no one party has a working majority, and a race that for most voters will come down to a choice between Mr. Cameron’s Conservatives and Ed Miliband’s Labour Party.
But there is no doubt that the United Kingdom Independence Party, or UKIP, has emerged as a force. Politicians are already trying to recalibrate their positions to deal with the threat of Mr. Farage, whose showing has an impact on both Britain’s domestic politics and its uncomfortable relationship with its European Union partners.	But there is no doubt that the United Kingdom Independence Party, or UKIP, has emerged as a force. Politicians are already trying to recalibrate their positions to deal with the threat of Mr. Farage, whose showing has an impact on both Britain’s domestic politics and its uncomfortable relationship with its European Union partners.
At home, UKIP’s real power remains its ability to push the other parties and especially the Conservatives farther to the right, to embrace more moves against immigration and benefits for new immigrants and to ratchet up the criticism of membership in the European Union.	At home, UKIP’s real power remains its ability to push the other parties and especially the Conservatives farther to the right, to embrace more moves against immigration and benefits for new immigrants and to ratchet up the criticism of membership in the European Union.
In Europe, paradoxically, the strong showing of UKIP and other anti-European Union parties in countries like Denmark, France and the Netherlands is likely to help Mr. Cameron convince his colleagues that the European Union needs to pull in its horns, slow down on integration and return some powers back to the nation states.	In Europe, paradoxically, the strong showing of UKIP and other anti-European Union parties in countries like Denmark, France and the Netherlands is likely to help Mr. Cameron convince his colleagues that the European Union needs to pull in its horns, slow down on integration and return some powers back to the nation states.
Arriving at a summit meeting of European leaders on Tuesday, Mr. Cameron called for “an approach that recognizes that Brussels has got too big, too bossy, too interfering.”	Arriving at a summit meeting of European leaders on Tuesday, Mr. Cameron called for “an approach that recognizes that Brussels has got too big, too bossy, too interfering.”
Dominic Raab, a Conservative lawmaker, wrote in The Guardian that “the shock delivered by anti-immigration parties in the elections should enable a sensible conversation with E.U. partners about checks to control spikes in immigration, curb benefits tourism and facilitate the removal of those who break the law.” Britain, he said, “is well placed to make the case without pandering to extremists.”	Dominic Raab, a Conservative lawmaker, wrote in The Guardian that “the shock delivered by anti-immigration parties in the elections should enable a sensible conversation with E.U. partners about checks to control spikes in immigration, curb benefits tourism and facilitate the removal of those who break the law.” Britain, he said, “is well placed to make the case without pandering to extremists.”
Mr. Cameron has promised his party — and the nation — that if he is re-elected prime minister, he will try to negotiate a better deal for Britain in the European Union and have an in-or-out referendum on membership in 2017. Labour has refused to make such a promise, which will allow Mr. Cameron to say to those tempted to vote for UKIP that only a vote for the Conservatives will guarantee them the referendum they want, and that a vote for UKIP could throw the election to Mr. Miliband and Labour.	Mr. Cameron has promised his party — and the nation — that if he is re-elected prime minister, he will try to negotiate a better deal for Britain in the European Union and have an in-or-out referendum on membership in 2017. Labour has refused to make such a promise, which will allow Mr. Cameron to say to those tempted to vote for UKIP that only a vote for the Conservatives will guarantee them the referendum they want, and that a vote for UKIP could throw the election to Mr. Miliband and Labour.
One key to 2015 is a group of voters identified by the pollster Peter Kellner as “Cukips,” those who voted Conservative in 2010 but switched to UKIP for the European Parliament elections. “There are more than two million of them — 15 percent of all those who turned out to vote on Thursday and half of all UKIP voters,” wrote Mr. Kellner, the president of YouGov, a polling firm. “More than any other single group, they will decide whether David Cameron wins or loses.”	One key to 2015 is a group of voters identified by the pollster Peter Kellner as “Cukips,” those who voted Conservative in 2010 but switched to UKIP for the European Parliament elections. “There are more than two million of them — 15 percent of all those who turned out to vote on Thursday and half of all UKIP voters,” wrote Mr. Kellner, the president of YouGov, a polling firm. “More than any other single group, they will decide whether David Cameron wins or loses.”
If many of them vote for UKIP in marginal constituencies where Tories hold a narrow lead, they will give Labour the election.	If many of them vote for UKIP in marginal constituencies where Tories hold a narrow lead, they will give Labour the election.
Mr. Cameron has to frame his campaign carefully, Mr. Kellner said. “If he moves to the right on Europe and immigration, he risks losing more moderate voters,” he said. “More than fretting about the precise way to talk about Europe and immigration, Cameron needs to be the sunshine leader and dispel the pessimism that has driven so many Tories into the arms of Nigel Farage.”	Mr. Cameron has to frame his campaign carefully, Mr. Kellner said. “If he moves to the right on Europe and immigration, he risks losing more moderate voters,” he said. “More than fretting about the precise way to talk about Europe and immigration, Cameron needs to be the sunshine leader and dispel the pessimism that has driven so many Tories into the arms of Nigel Farage.”
In the short term, Mr. Cameron will seek to persuade his European colleagues to nominate a candidate broadly sympathetic to Britain’s objectives as head of the European Union’s executive, the European Commission: in other words, someone who is not associated with “more Europe,” like Jean-Claude Juncker, the former prime minister of Luxembourg, who expects to get the job.	In the short term, Mr. Cameron will seek to persuade his European colleagues to nominate a candidate broadly sympathetic to Britain’s objectives as head of the European Union’s executive, the European Commission: in other words, someone who is not associated with “more Europe,” like Jean-Claude Juncker, the former prime minister of Luxembourg, who expects to get the job.
Upon his arrival in Brussels on Tuesday, Mr. Cameron took what was interpreted as a thinly veiled swipe at Mr. Juncker, calling for “people running these organizations who really understand that and can build a Europe that is about openness, competitiveness and flexibility.”	Upon his arrival in Brussels on Tuesday, Mr. Cameron took what was interpreted as a thinly veiled swipe at Mr. Juncker, calling for “people running these organizations who really understand that and can build a Europe that is about openness, competitiveness and flexibility.”
The British government argues that the bloc now needs to reflect on its priorities, such as creating jobs and bolstering competitiveness, and then pick a candidate that fits that profile.	The British government argues that the bloc now needs to reflect on its priorities, such as creating jobs and bolstering competitiveness, and then pick a candidate that fits that profile.
One of the best ways of gauging the impact of the vote is to listen to the grumbling about the party leaders. The Liberal Democrat leader, Mr. Clegg, who is also deputy prime minister in the ruling coalition, is in the deepest trouble. His party lost 10 of 11 seats in the European Parliament, and despite a reputation for good local politics, he lost 310 of 737 council seats.	One of the best ways of gauging the impact of the vote is to listen to the grumbling about the party leaders. The Liberal Democrat leader, Mr. Clegg, who is also deputy prime minister in the ruling coalition, is in the deepest trouble. His party lost 10 of 11 seats in the European Parliament, and despite a reputation for good local politics, he lost 310 of 737 council seats.
There is also considerable growling in Labour ranks about Mr. Miliband, who so far is not seen by voters as prime ministerial. Mr. Miliband’s main theme, the pain of austerity and the high cost of living, has been partly undercut by the turnaround in the British economy, which is creating jobs and booming compared with the rest of Europe, even if most Britons have yet to feel the impact.	There is also considerable growling in Labour ranks about Mr. Miliband, who so far is not seen by voters as prime ministerial. Mr. Miliband’s main theme, the pain of austerity and the high cost of living, has been partly undercut by the turnaround in the British economy, which is creating jobs and booming compared with the rest of Europe, even if most Britons have yet to feel the impact.
Despite a strong performance in London, Labour lagged behind UKIP in the European Parliament vote and only beat the Tories into third place by 1.5 percentage points. Labour is still ahead, but not by much.	Despite a strong performance in London, Labour lagged behind UKIP in the European Parliament vote and only beat the Tories into third place by 1.5 percentage points. Labour is still ahead, but not by much.
Some Labourites, like the lawmaker Keith Vaz, chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, are urging Mr. Miliband to “engage more vigorously on Europe and immigration” to respond to UKIP. Even former Prime Minister Tony Blair, much disliked in the Labour Party despite winning three elections, had advice for Mr. Miliband, urging him instead to confront UKIP and “stand for what is correct and right for Britain.”	Some Labourites, like the lawmaker Keith Vaz, chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, are urging Mr. Miliband to “engage more vigorously on Europe and immigration” to respond to UKIP. Even former Prime Minister Tony Blair, much disliked in the Labour Party despite winning three elections, had advice for Mr. Miliband, urging him instead to confront UKIP and “stand for what is correct and right for Britain.”
Mr. Farage announced that he would unveil UKIP’s new policy platform in Mr. Miliband’s constituency, Doncaster North, where UKIP led the voting in the European elections.	Mr. Farage announced that he would unveil UKIP’s new policy platform in Mr. Miliband’s constituency, Doncaster North, where UKIP led the voting in the European elections.
The Conservatives have reluctantly rallied around Mr. Cameron, who managed expectations well and presides over a recovering economy. But the Conservatives still trail Labour, though not by a lot, and with a year before the election and Scotland voting on independence in September, more swings of opinion are likely.	The Conservatives have reluctantly rallied around Mr. Cameron, who managed expectations well and presides over a recovering economy. But the Conservatives still trail Labour, though not by a lot, and with a year before the election and Scotland voting on independence in September, more swings of opinion are likely.
All three major parties are pointing hopefully to history. In the 2010 general election, UKIP won 3 percent of the vote after having received more than 16 percent of the vote in the European elections the year before. One analysis by the London School of Economics and Political Science, conducted before last week’s vote, predicted that UKIP could win as much as 14 percent of the vote next year, and still capture no seats.	All three major parties are pointing hopefully to history. In the 2010 general election, UKIP won 3 percent of the vote after having received more than 16 percent of the vote in the European elections the year before. One analysis by the London School of Economics and Political Science, conducted before last week’s vote, predicted that UKIP could win as much as 14 percent of the vote next year, and still capture no seats.