Sir,
Laura Pitel underestimates Ukip’s achievement by describing it as “the first non-mainstream party to win a national poll in 100 years when it topped the European elections” (Dec.27). In 1914 the two main parties, Liberals and Unionists (as the Tories then called themselves) had 272 seats each in the Commons. Asquith’s impressive government had been dependent for four years on the support of Irish Nationalists, the most successful of the smaller parties. Their 84 seats had been won with just 2.5 per cent of the total vote.
Ukip is the first non-mainstream party ever to won a national election since organised parties emerged 335 years ago.
Lord Lexden
London SW1