[joeysteele]

My view is and always has been and sadly it gets lots often in discussions but that we are of the mind that we elect parties to govt; not just a person as PM, the party is the one who really chooses and elects the PM.
Only the voters of Witney, Sheffield Hallam and Doncaster can elect Cameron, Clegg and Milband.
If all those 3 lost their seats we would still have either a Labour or Conservative led govt; and then the MPs and party members woould then have to elect a leader and the subsequent Prime Minister.

I can only vote for a 'party' candidate or sitting MP to govt; unless I live in those constituencies where the elader of a party is standing..

To the point in question, I agree with MTVN,UKIP were a European parliament force with no MPs but who had Farage as their leader, and with no defections they would still as yet have no MPs, so since Nigel Farage won their leadership he is entitled to status as leader of the party until they change it.
Which,if he doesn't get elected may happen and them too then have to choose from whatever number of MPs they have a new leader,

The Greens surprsed me however, Caroline Lucas was both a good MP and leader and I doubt Natalie bennett would get elected by voters so that is an odd one.
Since they had an MP in Caroline Lucas, I think they'd have been better keeping her, and I also think she would have had more credibility in the debates too.

Again however, it is parties we elect to govt;
Nigel Farage is just one of those in UKIP trying to get elected,if he fails but UKIP win other seats then I think he should resign and a new leader be elected by UKIP in his place from the sitting MPs they then have.

I really do think if Nigel Farage fails to get elected,there will in that event be very few,if any, indeed UKIP MPs elected anyway and maybe even not the 2 they currently have.
Interesting point of discussion Kizzy, for me however, I do not see it as electing an individual to govt; I vote for a party to govt;.
Unless the candidates are 'independents'.
I want a Labour govt; so I am voting Labour and I would be doing that if I liked Miliband or couldn't stand him,I am voting for their policies.

So I personally don't think UKIP voters should feel cheated if Farage gets beaten in the seat he is contesting,if they agree with UKIP's policies and elect others, that should be all that matters to them.