Fatshedra I imagine that fact didn't bypass the HoC at the time, but maybe UKIP weren't seen as that great a threat (I mean, where are they now?), especially as no one bothered to vote in the EP elections, did they?
But evidently the Right of the Tories decided to squash that threat by becoming more Right Wing themselves. (Like they are, again, now, against TBP).
Cameron's and our mistake was to not nullify that threat.
The EU could have assisted by offering Cameron a few more tidbits on his visit over to them, some placatory gewgaws that might have put The Far Right back in their box (while still, being Tories, not being seen to be addressing any root causes of discontent- nay, stoking those fires).
But we were all blindsided by the Leave Campaign, weren't we?
How were Remain to know how easily exploitable so many people were? How easily so many could be guided to conflate their financial and social problems with 'The EU'? How many had no idea how slim Turkey's chances were of joining? How few knew what the words Customs Union and Single Market meant? How few realised that EU nationals with no income could be told to leave?
The government just didn't think so much of this stuff needed spelling out. Partly because it was often Tory voting business owners benefitting from EU labour.
But Cummings knew the value of a soundbite, however dishonest the message was.
I didn't realise I was surrounded, (nationally, not locally) by so many people who could be rabble roused by a couple of slogans.