I agree that UKIP needs to choose its bedfellows wisely. It is my view that UKIP would be better off grouping with the Conservatives and some of the Danish/Dutch eurorealists than with any other grouping. That could be of benefit to Cameron's eurosceptic credentials as well as UKIP's need to be seen as a political party with real influence and maturity (Bob, don't take offence at that phrase, I'm referring to the perception of UKIP outside the party).
I was never convinced that the Ind/Dem group makeup would sit well with UKIP's aims, but that's what happens when EU policy insists that you only get an increased budget if you band into cliques.
UKIP gets labelled 'BNP-lite' by the media because it suits them to remember the formation of the National Front in the '60s when the Tories went centre-left in a bid to attract voters. It took Thatcherism to get the NF to splinter. It's possible that Cameron will try to do the same sort of thing, but he needs at least one term in office before he would try that.
In the meantime, banding with the Tories in the EP would help UKIP's MEPs network and possibly turn Tory eurosceptics towards UKIP policies.
Tactical voting is one thing. Publicly supporting a party whose aims are anathema to many of your own party members is something else entirely.
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