Nigel Farage: 'My Dream Has Become Reality'

 

Mr Farage was speaking at a press conference after the party's first win in a national election - the first time in more than 100 years a party other than Labour or the Conservatives has finished top.
He described the "legacy parties" as "like goldfish that have just been tipped out of the bowl onto the floor, desperately gasping for air and clinging on to the comfort blanket that this is a protest vote".
"This is an earthquake in British politics, it is a remarkable result and I think it has profound consequences for the leaders of the other parties."


UKIP's triumph in the European elections, taking 24 seats despite what Mr Farage called "shed loads of abuse" directed at the party, made him "immensely proud".
With only Northern Ireland's results yet to come in of the 12 UK regions, UKIP has 29.1% of the vote, Labour 25.4%, the Conservatives 24.6%, the Greens 7.9% and the Lib Dems 6.9%. There was a turnout of 36%.
The Lib Dems' poor showing has caused some to question Nick Clegg's leadership of the party, and Mr Farage said he found it "very difficult" to believe Mr Clegg would lead the party into the general election next year.
Mr Farage said he was "extremely grateful" for the Lib Dem leader's challenge to face him in a pair of TV debates about Europe, as it had allowed UKIP "to put the argument why this country is better off outside a political union".