Contrary to what a lot of people think, UKIP is not the BNP in blazers. Neither is it particularly racist. In fact UKIP has hardly anything in common with the blood and honour brigade of fra right nutters who vaunt white superiority as though it actually exists.

Rather, they have found that playing on people's fears of immigration is a handy way to get votes, and an equally handy way to bash the EU.

What they are is a bunch of free marketeering Thatcherites, who are hell bent on removing whatever restrictions on free trade Maggie didn't manage to get rid of. That includes membership of the EU, and the welfare state, and all the employment and equalities legislation which has been built up over the years.

And, hey guess what, they've got a public school educated son of a stockbroker in charge. Thinks, where have I heard that one before? Dunno, but I have heard Farage criticise today's crop of Westminster politicians, on the grounds of lack of experience; according to Farage, you can't run the country properly, without first having had the experience of running a business.

What did our Nige do between graduating from university and becoming a full time politician? He worked as a stockbroker that's what. Not for him, the tribulations of getting your product onto the streets at an affordable price and built to a specification which people will want. Neither does he know what it feels like, trying to survive on the sort of pittance which constitues the bottom end of the pay scale.

UKIP's performance on Thursday wouldn't have been enough to secure them a single parliamentary seat, thank God. Even so, I dread the thought that as things go from bad to worse, UKIP could increase its support to the point where it would hold the balance of power. IE., a Tory-UKIP demolition, sorry, coalition.

If you want to see a return to Thatcherism, but this time on stilts and with the lid off, go ahead and vote for them. But give me enough time to get out of the country first.