While I agree with your sentiments Michael, last Thursday's vote doesn't quite bear this out. Looks like Kilroy is going to make a LOT of noise. The only saving grace is that the opinion surveys seem to show that UKIP voters will go back to a real party (and preferably the LDs  ) at then next election. Shame we seem not to be able to take the European Parliament seriously here - it is the one democratic institution in the EU and it would be nice to see it act as a realistic check on the executive.