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Politics

Britain: The threat from the right

April 24, 2013

For years, Britain's established parties refused to take the UK Independence Party - or UKIP - seriously. But strong performances in recent by-elections have proven even a small party can create major waves in Britain's electoral system.

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Since the Liberal Democrats have entered government, UKIP is the number one protest party in Britain. The Conservatives in particular stand to lose votes to the right-wing party. Prime Minister David Cameron has looked increasingly uncomfortable as opinion polls show UKIP with double-digit popularity ratings. The eurosceptic party was founded over twenty years ago, in protest against the Maastricht Treaty. Now with fresh wind in its sails, UKIP is giving the other parties a