Rather than quietly support Scobie from a distance anti-fascists have been standing outside Ukip’s shop or attacking Farage, ironically using intimidation to thwart the democratic traditions that they claim to defend. If there is such a phenomenon as "Shy Kippers" – which Farage no doubt hopes that there is – then one sure fire way of turning them out is to daub their walls with swastikas, damage shops and shout abuse before heading back to London. And this is just not very clever. The anti-Farage narrative that has built up in recent weeks frames the battle as between Labour and Ukip. But the real contender to Ukip in this seat is the Conservative MacKinlay. It is tribal Tories in places like Sandwich and Broadstairs who threaten to finish Farage, far more so than the Labour voters who look much softer on the ground. But outsiders are throwing money at literature that is effectively writing MacKinlay out of the campaign and shifting the focus to places like Ramsgate and Margate where voters appear far more receptive to Ukip. Scobie was running a very strong campaign but he seems to have lost his way.