Started by New Labour (who copied it from Clinton’s New Democrats) and duplicated in turn by Conservative modernisers, manipulative populism has hollowed out the three main political parties. Voters have recoiled in despair from what they perceive as their artifice and deceit, and alighted instead on Mr Farage, with his pint of beer, his Rothmans, his cheerful saloon-bar views and his patent authenticity. As a result, Ukip has ceased to be just a single-issue party. It has steadily widened into a broad-based national revolt against a remote and cynical ruling elite. Next Thursday’s local elections may mark another breakthrough moment for the party, after which it can no longer be considered as a ramshackle protest group. From next Thursday it may be able to lay claim to be regarded as Britain’s fourth main political party.