How Libertarian is the UK Independence Party?

The UK Independence Party (UKIP), which is
on course to either
win or come a close second
in the British segment of this
week’s elections to the European Parliament, describes itself as a
“libertarian, non-racist party seeking Britain’s withdrawal from
the European Union.” How apt is that description?

The third part—seeking withdrawal from the European Union—is
undeniably true. The second part—non-racist—has
prompted
raised eyebrows in some quarters. But having met many
of the party’s officials, activists, and candidates over the years
(including
this
wonderfully straight-talking chap), I’m prepared to give
UKIP the benefit of the doubt. But does UKIP deserve the label
“libertarian”? Here, I’m with Rational Optimist Matt
Ridley
:

As the Ukip campaign ploughs steadily farther off the rails into
the anti-immigrant bushes, in search presumably of former British
National Party voters, it becomes ever easier for small-government,
classical liberals—like me—to resist its allure. Nigel Farage once
advocated flat taxes, drug decriminalisation and spending cuts. Now
his party has dropped the flat tax, opposes zero-hours contracts,
is hostile to gay marriage and talks about subsidising farmers and
growing the defence budget.

To be clear, there are some libertarians involved in UKIP, and
more supporting it from the sidelines. The party’s antipathy toward
the political elite certainly has a libertarian flavor to it, as do
a few of its individual policies. But UKIP has always been an
uncomfortable alliance of libertarianism and populist nationalism.
And in recent years, it is very much the populist nationalism that
has come to the fore. Now, as Dr Matthew Goodwin, co-author of

Revolt on the Right
, puts
it
:

UKIP are winning over the “Left Behind” groups in British
society… These are voters who hold a very different set of values
to the professional, middle-class majority: they are far more
nationalist, Eurosceptic, fiercely opposed to immigration and feel
like they have no voice in politics. They look out at a country
they neither recognize nor want to be a part of.

In this context, it is hard to see a UKIP electoral victory
striking much of a blow for individual freedom. It may represent a
kick in the face for an out-of-touch political class, but—alas—it
isn’t libertarians doing the kicking.

UKIP may once have been a libertarian political force. But for
me, that label has been out-of-date since at least 2010, when the
party ran its UK general election campaign on a virulently
anti-immigration platform. Since then, the party has been beating
an ever-more reactionary path. Libertarians still cheering its
rising fortunes should perhaps be careful what they wish for.

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