The parties that are allowed on are done so by judging by their electoral success in the past. On electoral success the United Kingdom Independence Party isn't the fourth national party. The Greens are. The figures are as follows for the elected members of the Green Party of England and Wales combined with the Green Party of Scotland:
- 1 Member of the House of Commons
- 2 Members of the Greater London Assembly
- 2 Members of the Scottish Parliament
- 0 Members of the Welsh Assembly
- 2 Members of the European Parliament
- 155 Local Councillors - including control of Brighton
- Total 162
The United Kingdom Independence Party number of elected members is below:
- 0 Members of the House of Commons
- 0 Members of the Greater London Assembly
- 0 Members of the Scottish Parliament
- 0 Members of the Welsh Assembly
- 12 Members of the European Parliament
- 38 Local Councillors
- Total 50
If there is another place available on the election debates, which I don't think there is, then in all fairness it should go to Natalie Bennett as she is clearly the leader of the fourth party. Although I fully expect it'll just be a three way debate between the leaders of the three main parties David Cameron (Con), Ed Miliband (Lab) and Nick Clegg (LD).
For the European Elections in 2014 the United Kingdom Independence Party should get equal coverage with the Tories, Labour and the Liberal Democrats as they have constantly improved during those elections. Including beating Labour in the popular vote in 2009 and finishing second behind the Tories.
However the general election is different, UKIP lost a large number of deposits at the last election, including Nigel Farage himself in Buckingham. They were thrashed everywhere, the Green Party didn't do much better, apart from they did win their first ever seat, in the Commons, when Caroline Lucas took Brighton Pavillion from Labour.
