LICKING his lips after productive raids in the council elections, power-hungry Nigel Farage has declared that the Ukip fox is in the Westminster henhouse. And there is certainly enough for each of the main parties to fret about.

The Farage Factor has cut Conservative sup port most, with fears among some backbenchers of a split vote which might well play into Labour’s hands unless a deal is struck.

But there is nothing for Ed Miliband to crow about in the Westminster henhouse either.

From the first result of the night, Ukip secured 30 per cent of the vote from a standing start in a ward in the Labour heartland of Sunderland. In Rotherham, another Labour stronghold, Ukip took 10 of the 21 seats.

It is further evidence that Mr Miliband is running out of time to find a real connection with voters.

And for the Lib Dems, the emergence of a fourth political force is a serious threat to their place as the traditional home of the protest vote.

This does all need to be kept in perspective, of course because we have seen signs of fourth party breakthroughs in the past.

In the last European elections, the BNP did well, and Ukip had a good showing in the Euro elections before that.

The difference this time is the sly old fox himself, Mr Farage, who appears to have enough appeal to suggest his popularity might be more sustainable.

That said, we need to remember that Ukip still doesn’t run any councils, has the fewest councillors, not as single MP and – beyond the obvious stance on immigration and withdrawal from the European Union – precious few policies.

If nothing else, Mr Farage has at least made the forthcoming general election interesting...and got feathers flying.