UK anti-Europe party rising fast in the polls

A British political party rising fast up the polls on a ticket of immediate withdrawal from the European Union is poised to make hefty gains at this week's European elections.

The UK Independence Party (UKIP) could also pose a threat to Prime Minister Tony Blair when he eventually calls his promised referendum on an EU constitution, analysts believe.

Backed by actress Joan Collins and a popular talk-show host forced off the air for criticising Arabs, the party's fortunes have risen as Britons bridle at the prospect of greater political union with the continent.

Outspoken London mayor Ken Livingstone has blasted the UKIP as "the British National Party in suits", referring to a far-right party that campaigns against immigration.

But the dash of celebrity - former Dynasty actress Collins said she was sad so much of Britain was being eroded by Brussels - has helped the 10-year-old party win headlines ahead of the vote.

Several analysts believe its popular black-and-white, anti-Brussels message has exposed the true depths of British euroscepticism.

A poll yesterday gives the UKIP 19 per cent support - behind ruling Labour at 26 per cent and the opposition Conservatives at 24, but tellingly ahead of Britain's third party, the Liberal Democrats, who have only 15 per cent.

The same poll, by YouGov, revealed 51 per cent of British voters want either less integration with Europe or complete withdrawal - bad news for Prime Minister Tony Blair in light of his promise to hold a referendum on any European constitution.

"All the three traditional parties have been lying to the British public for the last 30 years about the nature of the European Union," said UKIP leader Roger Knapman, a former Conservative backer.

"We thought we were going into a free trade area, but now we find it's full political union and we're saying 'no'... If people vote for us in numbers there's no need for a referendum on the constitution because (Mr) Blair will have his answer," he told Reuters.

The UKIP's main message is clear: political union with Europe is bad for Britain's economy and an alien system of government would ultimately prove unacceptable to Britons.

Currently with three seats in the European Parliament, the party is on course to win 12, taking much of its new support from the Conservatives.

But big UKIP gains now could prove a long-term headache for Mr Blair rather than Conservative leader Michael Howard.

Mr Blair, whose popularity has nosedived largely over Iraq, is expected to call a general election in 2005. A vote on the EU constitution is expected in the next 18 months.

"People are turning to the UKIP because they want to send a loud message to the government that they don't want further European integration," said Anthony King, politics professor at Essex University.

"The fact the UKIP will clearly gain seats in the election will reinforce the government's sense that they can go so far in Europe but no farther," he added. The UKIP say they will continue their fight against political integration whatever results they achieve.

"We will not be there in Brussels to make the place work," Mr Knapman said. "We think it's corrupt and generally awful - that's the message we want to bring back to the British people".