Keith: at a G.E., people would realise that UKIP and the Tories would split each other's vote, and many would likely vote for the party which seems more likely to get in, namely the Conservatives.
The potential of attracting votes from the Left is fading away, now that Labour is waking up and admitting their past mistakes.
But I think a party like UKIP, in opposition and with no seats in Parliament, trying to become a party with popular support from the masses, needed to offer something big, and certainly needed to keep an eye on the local chairmen.
For such a party to have a local chairman who does nothing is no good for them.
In UKIP, local chairmen can participate with proposals in party policy. They are listened to by the policy team, and if a chairman could make a convincing point, he could not only influence party policy, but become a credible figure within his consituency.
However, a local meeting with 5 participants is no good.
And a chairman who tells other people to be quiet is the best way to close down a local party
