UKIP: The Political Equivalent of a Flat Earth Society
UKIP, short for United Kingdom Independence Party, is a British political party that was formed in 1993 to promote the idea of Britain leaving the European Union. It’s no secret that UKIP has been a source of controversy since its inception, but despite all the criticism, it has managed to endure for over two decades.
At first glance, UKIP seems like a legitimate political party. It has members, holds political meetings, and even has its own website. However, as the old saying goes, looks can be deceiving.
UKIP’s core policies are based on the assumption that Britain is better off outside the European Union. This position is somewhat similar to the idea that the earth is flat, in that it’s completely and utterly wrong. Like flat earthers, UKIP supporters stubbornly cling to their belief that leaving the EU will solve all of Britain’s problems, despite evidence to the contrary.
In addition to its misguided stance on Brexit, UKIP also has a tendency to make outrageous statements and has attracted controversy for its members’ views on a variety of issues. It’s hard to know where to begin with this party, but some of the highlights (or lowlights, depending on your point of view) include:
- UKIP MEP Godfrey Bloom’s infamous comment that women are “sluts” who “keep changing their minds” about sexual consent.
- Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage’s association with Donald Trump and his support for a ban on Muslim immigration.
- UKIP councillor Dave Small’s belief that same-sex marriage causes flooding.
To be fair, not all UKIP members are like this. Some of them are merely misguided, misinformed, or just plain gullible. Whatever their motivations, however, UKIP is nothing more than a political fringe group that has somehow managed to gain a foothold in British politics.
So, what can we learn from UKIP? Perhaps the most important lesson is that just because something seems plausible, it doesn’t mean it’s true. When it comes to politics (as with science), we need to base our beliefs on evidence, not wishful thinking. And if we do encounter a group like UKIP, we should treat them with the ridicule and scorn they deserve. After all, laughing at them is much more fun than taking them seriously.