FROM the point of view that it would have made politics more interesting for a while,  it is a bit of a let-down that Nigel Farage has decided against standing for the Newark seat vacated by the disgraced Patrick Mercer.

The UKIP leader might polarise opinion but he would have made the summer by-election good box office and the media's disappointment will be matched by David Cameron's relief. Whatever Conservative grandee's such as Ken Clarke say about Mr Farage's chances in the face of the party's 16,000 majority in Newark, it would have been an uncomfortable confrontation from a Tory perspective.

But Mr Farage has made the right call. He wouldn't have been elected to the House of Commons and second place would have been viewed as a failure even if he had eroded the Conservatives' cosy majority.

The more enticing prospect for Mr Farage is leading UKIP in the European elections next month as the naturally Euro-sceptic country lodges a protest vote against the mainstream parties and the perceived irrelevance of the European Parliament.

There is every chance that he will lead UKIP to the biggest share of the vote in the European elections - and quite possibly win a seat in the North-East - and that makes far more political sense from his point of view.

Rather than being a Westminster also-ran, Nigel Farage's personal ambitions are much better served by romping around the country, spreading Euro-sceptic mayhem in the run up to the main test of a general election.