The spectacle is much like any other gathering of a political party youth wing, mostly young white men wearing ill-fitting suits and too much hair gel.

Among the 140 attendees there were around 20 women and perhaps 10 non-white faces. At a time when politicians of all allegiances are desparately trying to attact young blood, however, what is remarkable about this group is how fast it is growing.

This was the second annual conference of Young Independence (YI), the youth wing of the UK Independence party (Ukip), held in Birmingham's gilded council chamber.

Ukip's youth wing is still small, but it has increased in size rapidly over the past few years. It has attracted 700 new members in the last three months, bringing the total number to 2,600. That compares with 15,000 members for the Tory version, Conservative Future. Labour does not release their figures, but at the time of writing, the Young Independence Facebook page had 3,292 likes, compared with 3,064 for Young Labour.

"It was their support for grammar schools that brought me to Ukip," says Jack Duffin, 22, a former Conservative supporter who is now YI chairman. "I agree with the immigration policy and I agree with the EU policy, but it was their education policy that attracted me."

He is not the only one to mention education. "I believe in grammar schools," says 18-year-old Elizabeth Robbins, who describes herself as a libertarian committed to a small state. "I know first-hand how damaging it is to go through an education system that's based on wealth and whether or not your parents are educated enough to open doors for you."

Robbins, who has travelled from Carlisle, is still awaiting her A-level results, but hopes to attend a Russell Group university and study history next month.

Thomas Hoof, the 24-year-old deputy chairman of YI, comes from a family of Labour supporters in a former Shropshire mining town. His father is a milkman and his grandfather was a prominent figure in the local branch of the National Union of Mineworkers.

Hoof says of Ukip: "Sometimes in the past we've come across as that old stereotype of pubs and real ale. You can always work to improve your image in politics."

The YI members seem to come from a strikingly diverse range of social backgrounds. The only unifying factor appears to be extreme economic liberalism - with pubs, of course, protected - a hatred of the EU and fierce patriotism.

Addressing the room, Peter Whittle, the author of Being British: What's Wrong With It? asks the crowd what Britain has given the world. "The Commonwealth" shouts a young Asian man enthusiastically. "The railways" says another delegate.

Both answers are met with rapturous applause.

The latter remark was from Jake Anthony Painter, 17, an A-level student at City of London Academy in Islington. Painter, who is mixed race, is adamant he has never experienced racial prejudice in Ukip. "I get a lot of stick from the other sixth form students and some of the staff. They call Ukip fascist, racist, xenophobic, all the usual stuff really. It gets tiring defending my case, so I've stopped really bothering."

He supported the Liberal Democrats before the last election, but like many of the others says he looked to Ukip after the coalition government tripled tuition fees.

According to a recent YouGov poll, 13% of 18 to 24-year-olds intend to vote Ukip at the next election. That puts the party in third place, with youth support for the Conservatives at 28% and Labour at 40%. The Lib Dems can expect 7%. The percentage among students is much lower, however, around 4%, and the challenge for YI is to increase their presence at universities and colleges.

The weekend's conference was used as a platform to launch Ukip Students, which will provide support to young Ukippers wishing to establish groups at their university or college. The National Union of Students formally voted to oppose Ukip in April this year, and the party was banned from speaking at the Derby University students' union in the run up to the European elections. "Fascists," mutters somebody in the crowd when this is mentioned.

"Young people aren't stupid and they're starting to realise that change needs to come," says Michael Heaver, a YI campaigner. He says that Ukip, unlike the other parties, is able to appeal across all age ranges and all social backgrounds. He, like the others, is determined that the party will get seats in Westminster at the next election.

"Strap yourself in guys," he says to the crowd. "It's going to be a bumpy few months, but we will do it."