Be careful what you wish for

Is UKIP the answer? Not at the moment.
Mike's analysis seems to make sense but the UKIP vote that gave them the second place was in an election that used a different voting system; a form of Proportional Representation. The general election we face is based on the first past the post system. As the FPTP system currently operates it is biased in favour of the three old parties; Labour, Lib-Dems and Conservatives. Even if the vote of the European election were repeated, UKIP would not come second again and will not get much in the way of seats.
For the General election it would be a better tactic to vote for someone like the Lib-Dems, who although they have a very different agenda when it comes to European politics, do offer the chance of introducing a farer PR electorial system. Once in place PR will allow for a more representative government, one that the likes of UKIP would benefit from along with the Greens, BNP.
I am not a Lib-dem supporter, some of their policies worry me, but so do many of the policies of the other parties. I will vote Lib-Dem because I do want a new system of representation in place, a voting system that next time round will be more representative of what people want. I may not even like the outcome of that future election, but I will have a lot more respect for it.