Whither UKIP?

The question is an easy one to answer - onwards and upwards.
There are some factors which most journalists have not been taking fully into account.
Firstly - this is 'a protest vote' which ain't gonna go away.
Secondly - Ukip, from here on, is going to be the repository of almost all those lovely 'protest votes'. The English Democrats, the fading BNP - and even the super-leftist Greens are all going to be badly hit by this consolidation.
This factor alone will strengthen Ukip enormously.
Thirdly - The party should now consolidate its base by electing councillors at an unprecedented rate in May.
Fourthly - It has taken years to achieve but that large proportion of voters out there who have no political interest have now heard about the party. The mainstream parties cannot tap into this group. Ukip can!

Finally, they are well on course to win the EU elections in June 2014 - and intelligent, recent moves in the party will ensure that the very best available candidates will be elected - not something which has always happened in the past.
(The Lib Dems held Eastleigh. Big deal! - It is just a blip - they are on the fast track to history.)