Even though I am not a supporter or sympathizer of the UK Independent Party, I am quite impressed by their recent ascend in politics. Looking at their poll ratings, it appears they command the support of a good number of people across all political divide nationwide. Most of who are people tired of political correctness, tip toeing around sensitive issues and bored by the traditional way of doing politics. Of course there are some outcasts who couldn’t fit anywhere and made Ukip their home for now.

However, as someone who thinks political correctness (PC) is disingenuous and is actually suffocating many politicians and masking a lot of their greatness, I think recently Ukip showed they don’t quite understand the difference between being PC and basic decorum, and that is very concerning.

Up to the recent case of Kerry Smith, Ukip did what most political parties would do when a prominent member of their party caused offense to a group of people, and just sacked the offender.

But, not this time. In the case of Kerry Smith, their former parliamentary candidate in Basildon South, the Ukip leader took to the airwaves to defend him. He told LBC radio listeners; “I’m a bit sad, because Kerry Smith is a rough diamond. He’s a council house boy from the East End of London, left school early and talks and speaks in a way that a lot of people from that background do.” Then added – “I feel a bit sorry for Kerry Smith, because I think he’s a genuine fellow.” As if that wasn’t shocking enough he went on to criticise what he called the metropolitan snobbery against people from outside the capital using “colloquial” language.

Besides alienating the gay community, women, most of the black and ethnic community, not to mention anyone who was not born on these shores, now Ukip insulted the Chinese community. We all know there are people who use unsavoury disrespectful language in private and amongst friends, but to come on national radio and defend someone whom you just sacked from representing your party (because they are unfit to represent you) is pure madness.

In this whole episode, what I find dangerously alarming is the lack of understanding, by a party leader, and the man positioning himself to become the next Kingmaker, of the difference between political correctness and basic civility.

Apart from Nigel Farage and what they tell and want us to think and believe, what is Ukip? And what besides leaving the EU and stopping immigration does it stand for? What’s their record in government? These are some of the questions that come to mind whenever I hear journos and politicos debate the organization’s rise and sudden prominence in the polls. And I can’t help but wonder how is mocking and belittling the EU instead of standing- up for it, is going to help and safeguard the UK and UK interests?

To date, they control zero councils. That makes it even more challenging for voters to judge them on their record. How can anyone assess an organization on something it never achieved? That too adds to the challenge, because it becomes impossible to establish how they manage public money, plan spending, organize and run communities. All of that leaves voters unfamiliar with their ability of handling those things that matter to the public.

A few weeks ago they won their first parliamentary seat. But it can be argued the Member of Parliament held the seat predominantly on his own personal popularity. Their MEPs are notorious for not attending debates and hardly vote on any issue, including serious matters such as saving the UK’s money from the grubby fingers of the EU. So how can anyone judge what Ukip is?

In the European Parliament, when they attend, they use every given opportunity to make a show. Even at the cost of their own self-respect, such as refusing to stand or turn their backs when the EU anthem is performed. Or their leader publicly asking Mr Van Rompuy “Who are you Mr President, I never heard of you…” and similar media stunts. They are great at no substance attention seeking gimmicks, yet offer no concrete coherent solutions or hold the very organisation they vehemently despise to account on any matter that benefits the UK and those who elected them to represent them and speak on their behalf.

Just as Farage asked Van Rompuy who are you, British voters want to know what Ukip is and it has done for Britain?

I know, at this stage of the electoral cycle every party is saving exciting policies for later, hoping to score big with their announcement. But with the general election only six month away, at least the basic skeleton of the organization’s policies on taxes, the NHS, education, housing, transport and crime should by this stage be known. The public should, and have the right to at least have an idea where the organization stands on the basics.

Everybody knows perfectly well they are for the UK completely coming out of the EU. Yet, we were never once told how they plan to go about it. Will we come out via a democratic referendum – where the voting public cast their vote for or against our membership in the European Union? Will the public have a say on the type of relationship they want, whether fully pull out, fully staying in or negotiate a new relationship different to what we currently have? Because last I checked not every Brit wants the same relationship with the EU and a huge percentage don’t even know what affiliation they prefer. Those undecided, are looking for someone to persuade them one way or the other.

So, how will a Ukip government or coalition manage the EU issue?

Does anyone know? Because, though I clearly know they wants us out of the union, I have no idea how they plan to go about doing it.

The same with immigration, do they want control orders, closed boarders, limits on some immigrants not on others? Plus what will they do about illegal immigrants currently inside the UK? Until the EU question is settled, how will they control immigration from inside the EU? Especially if they don’t respect and hardly communicate with any decision makers in Brussels!

Don’t get me wrong, I respect their patriotism, and how they love and jealously guard and regard our country. But childishly turning your back on what you don’t like is akin to accepting a dinner invite, then openly spit in the food because you don’t approve or like the host. It’s disrespectful to everyone – the host, the guests, and the offender and to the people he/she represents. It definitely does not ‘win friends and influence people’ and leaves a negative connotation. In short, such juvenile behaviors are bad all around. They are bad for business, for collaboration and for basic civilities.

So, does anyone actually know what Ukip is? I am still trying to work it out – what about you?

Since Thursday it seems politics went into overdrive. UKIP gaining more than 100 councillors although a surprise it was expected and many predicted it. So I don’t quite understand all the commotion.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not at all ignoring Thursday’s results or even belittling them, but I think we need to put things in prospective.

The UK independence party came almost from nowhere and won 139 county council seats. That by any standard is a result to be proud of because it took hard work and commitment to achieve. But back to that prospective, UKIP still does not control any council and have zero MPs. They will most probably, at the expense of the Conservatives and the LibDems, increase the number of their MEPs next year. But if they want to take the UK totally out of the EU, those MEPs will soon – by their party’s own doing – become obsolete.

UKIP’s surge although impressive is still young and volatile. Currently, the party have neither the knowhow nor the financial capacity to build and maintain this surge with the speed it was created. That in itself is a test and if they aren’t careful it could be their unmaking. In the past, we saw similar surges form the Greens, the BNP plus others that stalled and died in their infancy.

Nigel Farage talking about earthquakes, storms and waves of change is all well and good. But now that he leads 145 councillors. Voters, the media and the other parties will all be watching him and his elected team. To see what UKIP is about and how they work with each other and their opponents.

Winning election might seem like hard work but delivering to electorates is the hardest, even more so when you are the minority partners. We saw what happened to LibDems and even the Tories who are the larger partner.

The big issue for UKIP is not whether they are a protest vote, a pressure group or a real force here to stay. Their main concern should be how to deliver on what they promised and do the job they were elected to do. As the smaller member ( in some cases they have only one councillor) they need to work harder to be heard, become viable, make a difference and at the same time translate it all into public satisfaction.

Now the celebrations are over and the patting on the back is done next comes the work, the unforgiving test. The question everyone is asking, is UKIP able to deliver what they promised?