In the much-hyped but long forgotten European election TV debates between Nigel Farge and Nick Clegg, the Ukip leader capitalised on his anti-establishment status as he claimed victory over the deputy prime minister. In 2010, in the wake of the expenses scandal, the Lib Dem leader was the new face. But now it is 2014 and the deputy prime minister is old news.
There is widespread dissatisfaction with the belief that most leading politicians are wealthy, privately-educated Westminster villagers. For Farage, being seen as outside the political elite corrupted by years working and living in the shadow of Big Ben is key to his appeal. But just how different really are Ukip politicians from the rest? Many of Farage's colleagues are hardly new to the political game. The leaders of Farage's "people's army" are unlikely to get lost in the corridors of power.