Independence Party

Apparently UKIP is in the process of re-branding itself - here are the details.

From my position, as a disaffected Tory who is somewhere between liberal (definitely with a small "l") and libertarian, this could be very good news. I have had problems with UKIP because of the perception that they are a single issue party focussed on Europe, and whilst I do see Europe as a crucial policy area for this country, there are other issues that need to be addressed. Losing the "£" symbol and dropping the "UK" from the party's name would be excellent steps in changing how the party is perceived. Because if UKIP does want to replace the Tories as the right of centre party now Cameron has dropped his pants and become a Blairite whore, it does need to speak, and just as importantly, be seen to speak on wider issues than just Europe. Or, as Farage himself puts it:

"The theme that runs through everything that we stand for is 'independence': national independence, local independence and independence for the individual."