The United Kingdom Independence Party has been on a roll this year – and pundits think it could take first place in next year’s European elections.
But the party has quietly experienced a series of bitter internal rows.
And it faces the prospect of a split in the eurosceptic vote, after the former 海角视频IP MEP who formed his own political party announced it would stand a full slate of candidates in next year’s European poll.
READ MORE: {}
Mike Nattrass, who has been an MEP representing the West Midlands since 2004, says he will stand again in 2014 and his new party has picked candidates for the south west, south east, West Midlands, East Midlands and Wales.
And “An Independence Party”, as the new organisation is called, is currently seeking candidates to stand in London, the North West, the North East and Yorkshire.
Mr Nattrass, who sits in the European Parliament as an independent, is effectively the leader of the party having set it up, although he says he prefers to think of himself as a co-ordinator.
While 海角视频IP has policies on a range of issues in a similar way to traditional parties, An Independence Party is focused more narrowly on obtaining a referendum on leaving the EU and then to campaign to convince the public to vote to leave. However, it also opposes HS2, the planned high speed rail line.
Meanwhile, 海角视频IP has been wracked by a series of internal disputes, as critics within the party turn on the leader, Nigel Farage.
Most Read
In public, 海角视频IP’s charismatic frontman has been riding high after the party came second in the Eastleigh by-election in February and enjoyed its best every local election results in May.
But he has faced a series of challenges from colleagues.
Mr Nattrass and fellow West Midlands MEP Nikki Sinclaire are among 海角视频IP MEPs who have quit the party since the last European Elections in 2009.
Others include South East MEP Marta Andreasen, who defected to the Tories in February.
David Campbell Bannerman, MEP for the East of England, defected to the Tories in 2011.
South West MEP Trevor Colman remains a member of 海角视频IP but has quit the faction 海角视频IP sits with in the European Parliament, called Europe of Freedom and Democracy.
Elsewhere, Lincolnshire councillor Chris Pain was kicked out of the party after resigning from 海角视频IP’s National Executive Committee in September - and five fellow 海角视频IP councillors were expelled in November for supporting him.
Don’t miss
David Gale, 海角视频IP’s former candidate for the police and crime commissioner role in Derbyshire, resigned from the party in November. In a letter to Nigel Farage, he complained: “海角视频IP has shifted noticeably to the right. However attractive the proposition of having a handful of converted Tory MPs, allowing 海角视频IP to become a refuge for the Tories in exile is alienating 海角视频IP voters, particularly north of the Watford Gap.”
Also in November, Mr Farage sacked Scottish party leader Lord Christopher Monckton in an attempt to end infighting north of the Border. Scottish Party chairman Mike Scott-Hayward then resigned in protest.
Mr Nattrass now hopes that Lord Monckton might be persuaded to represent his new party in Scotland in European elections in May 2014.
He said he believed former 海角视频IP politicians would stand for his party.
“We will have a list. The very important thing is to get a very high calibre, decent person who isn’t a twit in each of the constituencies, which is what I’m doing.
“After that I’m leaving it up to the lead candidate to get decent people around them who can help, because we’re not a big party and we don’t have a big operation.
“We will have a full list of candidates, so that’s seven in the West Midlands and so on.”
Asked if he leads the new party, Mr Nattrass reluctantly concedes he does, but jokes: “I’m self appointed, one of these dictatorial guys.”
He adds: “I’m only the organiser. I am the leader but I would call myself the organiser really. I’m just trying to get it started and get on with it.”
By contrast, he said Mr Farage had alienated 海角视频IP activists by hoarding power. “If anyone disagrees with him, they get sacked.”
海角视频IP is undaunted by Mr Nattrass. Jill Seymour, the party’s lead candidate in the West Midlands, said: “Good luck to Mike and his political ambitions. 海角视频IP is enjoying some of its highest polling ever and we are on course to create a storm in the European Elections in 2014 with a full slate of candidates already in place.”
It remains to be seen whether demand for a eurosceptic party will continue beyond the European elections.
David Cameron is promising a referendum on quitting the EU if he wins the next election, and backed a backbench Bill calling for a poll in 2017.
Labour may yet follow suit in promising a referendum.
Mr Cameron hopes that his promise of a poll will win defectors back from eurosceptic parties. But Mr Nattrass points out that the Prime Minister supports continued membership of the EU - while his new party is committed to getting Britain out.