Ukip divides and conquers... itself

UKIP sleeps

A factor which may impede the seemingly irresistible rise of UKIP is the unfailing tendency of fringe parties to fall apart at the first whiff of success. While UKIP's most highly publicised internal row centred on its eccentric MEP, Godfrey Bloom, their self-inflicted troubles in Lincolnshire are a more blatant opportunity thrown away.

They did so well in the local elections in May that they emerged as Lincolnshire's official opposition with 18 county councillors. The numbers were so good that they could reasonably dream of taking Boston and Skegness off the Tories at the general election. Then the local UKIP leader, Chris Pain, had the mother of all fallings out with the party chairman, Steve Crowther, and was expelled from UKIP. Five of his fellow councillors thought this was harsh, and joined him in forming a separate group on the council.

Though Councillor Pain insists that it was a "working group" not a separate party, UKIP's national leaders did not agree. Today, those five were expelled from UKIP. That makes two competing UKIP groups on the council, neither big enough to be the official opposition, and Boston and Skegness is looking safe for Mark Simmonds, the incumbent Tory.