Its relationship with the Referendum Party is distant at best - UKIP sees the Referendum Party as a single issue protest vehicle. Although not actually against a referendum, they believe it is an option the Conservatives are unlikely to take up; they also disagree with Sir James Goldsmith's personal commitment to protectionist policies.
At the UKIP's 1996 Conference, Dr Sked urged Sir James Goldsmith to give up his seat in the European Parliament and "put your wealth and influence behind the UKIP."
The Party estimates that over 500 people attended its first conference and claims to have more than 10,000 members. In an article in The Times (27 June 1996) Dr Alan Sked claimed that if the general election is in May 1997, "we will be flying the flag in 650 constituencies." By mid-February the party had selected 168 candidates.
New Members
UKIP's biggest celebrity supporter is the actor, Leo McKern, star of Rumpole of the Bailey. He is a former Tory supporter, who according to UKIP "can no longer support John Major's insistence of putting party before country." (Independent 31 December 1996). McKern will be in the party's pre-election broadcast. The party's first television broadcast was in June 1994 and featured Dr Sked in his London flat.
On 5 February 1997 the Referendum Party's candidate for Lancashire West, Richard Rudin, announced he had left Sir James Goldsmith's party and joined the UKIP; and Rodney Saunders, previously a prospective parliamentary candidate for the Referendum Party, was selected to stand for UKIP in Hertsmere, saying in a statement he thought "a mere referendum was a total waste". (The Independent 6 December 1996). The former Liberal Democrat, Rodney Westbury was selected to fight Wiltshire for UKIP.
Party UKIP has stood candidates at by-elections and has usually exceeded the Green Party's share of the vote.
Party Headquarters:
80 Regent Street
London
W1R 5PE
Tel: 0171 434 4559
Regional Office:
10 Catherine Street
Salisbury
SP1 2DA
Tel: 01722 504 000