Why is UKIP's vote share up so much in Wales?

[geardaddy]

Up 12% from 2010. Ych a fi.

Wales is no longer a Tory free zone, it's getting Tory-fied and everywhere.

[MADem]

1. An insular, anti-immigrant upsurge, perhaps?

Also, a lot of "Green and Pleasant Land" types retire to Wales in their old age...and they've nothing better to do than vote. All those lovely bungalows....

[geardaddy]

2. It's kind of ironic

Since the ones coming in voting for UKIP are considered by many in Wales to be immigrants themselves. Although, yes, they aren't technically.

[MADem]

4. Hey, I take your point.

They're from "England" and proud of it. They're from the UK when it suits their purposes. They don't speak the language, and what they know of the customs are courtesy of the telly. They adore Tom Jones, and Nigella taught them to make cawl cennin so they feel like they've got this "Welsh thing" wired. If things don't go their way, they mutter about how backwards the locals are, but under their breath...!

[geardaddy]

5. And they pull out that old canard:

"I went into a pub in North Wales, and you KNOW they were speaking English before we got there..."

[MADem]

6. Ha ha ha!

I've heard that, nearly word for word!

[geardaddy]

7. So have a lot of English people...

but it has happened virtually none of them.

[MADem]

8. How dare they speak their OWN language! The NERVE of them!!

[geardaddy]

9. exactly!

[shenmue]

3. Eeeeeeeeek

Skeered.

[T_i_B]

10. Same reasons why UKIP's vote is up everywhere else.

UKIP have also been aided by the demise of the Lib Dems. even if it might be unlikely that many disaffected Lib Dems would have turned to UKIP, their demise has left a big hole in a lot of places that's been filled by UKIP.