[abailey152]

Originally Posted by towny

But, politicians have an incurable hunger for votes. No votes, no job. If they see that Euro-sceptic policies win votes, they will eventually be unable to help themselves. Don't forget, Tony B. Liar won his first parliamentary election on a platform of withdrawl from the EU, so mainstream political parties can and do make complete about-turns even on policies as big as this. A mass vote for UKIP is never going to bring them to power, but if the vote is big enough the mainstream parties are likely to change their positions just enough to shore up our honoured position in the EU as the principal buttress against creeping federalism.

Remember how keen the main parties suddenly were to claim green credentials after the Greens hugely increased their vote in the Euro elections in the late 80s (1989, IIRC).

Very good points