Could Farage keep UKIP 'on the pitch'?
They got wiped off the map in the local elections but could getting their star player back out to play turn their fortunes around?
Monday 15 May 2017 06:25, UK
Many critics have claimed UKIP is now spent as a political force, but its leader Paul Nuttall insists that regardless of all its dysfunctionality, infighting, and controversies, the party will regain its relevance.
He is adamant that Theresa May will "back slide" on the kind of "pure Brexit" voters expect, and believes when she does, UKIP's support will come flooding back.
But he's also a realist. He knows the scenario he is describing is some way off, and timing is not on his side - in all likelihood this general election will be disastrous for the party.
They got wiped off the map in the recent local elections, and polling indicates perhaps half (perhaps more) of the nearly four million people who voted for the party in 2015 are now intending to vote Conservative.
Even in the Boston and Skegness constituency in which Mr Nuttall is attempting to win a seat in Westminster, he's trying to downplay expectations - publicly acknowledging he's "not the favourite".
Instead, he says his aim is to simply "keep UKIP on the pitch". He has told me that if he can be the leader that just keeps the party alive, so that it is there and ready when his prediction of "Brexit backsliding" comes to pass, he'll be a happy man.
So how does UKIP stay alive? What does staying "on the pitch" mean?
From what I understand the party is hoping to maintain a decent vote share in certain key seats.
And if targeted campaigning in fewer seats (they are only standing in 377 constituencies, as opposed to more than 600 in 2015), can help them get someone across the line as an MP - so much the better.
In other words, it's a strategy of maintaining a rump on which to build something new in the future.
And if that's the case, then there is one man who voters seem to think they should call upon
Nigel Farage is famous for his numerous failed attempts to become an MP.
But on the doorstep, he has charisma - UKIP voters like him.
In the party's current predicament, that could be the difference between just about surviving to fight another day, and complete obliteration on 8 June.
Of course, when asked about this Mr Nuttall claims his predecessor is already doing his bit - on the radio, on TV and in the papers.
But he's not on the doorsteps, and despite Mr Nuttall's insistence that he will be, there's no sign of it yet.
When speaking to voters in Ramsgate, a town where Mr Farage spent a good deal of time campaigning as a candidate for Thanet South in 2015, it is clear there are plenty of people who miss him.
Fisherman Steve Barratt still has a UKIP flag on his boat's mast, but it's tattered and faded and looking a little forlorn.
"He definitely won my vote", he said when asked about Mr Farage "he seemed to draw everyone together. I don't know why but UKIP seems to have fallen apart a bit of late".
Michael Penn, a Conservative voter who runs a stall selling seafood on the harbour front, said although he didn't back the party, he liked the man, and might have voted for him another time.
"He was what I call 'one of us'… I've never seen so many cameras and interviewers in all my life" he said "it was all because of him".
At the nearby Northwood Club, owner Billy Jane has fond memories of Mr Farage.
The former UKIP leader made the club his local during the 2015 campaign.
Billy was in no doubt he believed the party would be doing better now if Mr Farage was more visibly involved.
"To a lot of people he is UKIP. I think that's the reason a lot of people voted, because of him", he said.
Asked whether he would be voting this time around, Mr Jane said: "I'm not so sure about this time, no. If he was standing locally then I would, but he's not putting up is he".
Mr Farage claims he's not standing in this election because the fact Article 50 has now been triggered means he has more influence in the European Parliament than the House of Commons.
Perhaps that's the case.
It is also possible that he is fearful of being associated with the party's demise because of what that could mean for any future ambitions.
But can Mr Farage distance himself from UKIP? Many voters seem to still seem him as the embodiment of the party.
UKIP's likely collapse will be associated with him to some degree whether he likes it or not.
Maybe it's in his interests as well as the party's to get out amongst voters and try to keep UKIP "on the pitch".