EALING'S first UK Independence Party councillor is proud to have been thrown out of the Conservative Party. 

“It’s probably the best thing that ever happened,” says Benjamin Dennehy. “I’m up there with Lord Archer. I mean that’s pretty cool isn’t it?” 

Last year, Cllr Dennehy wrote a blog post about Southall, in which he mentioned the “beds in sheds” issue, in which unscrupulous landlords were found to be renting out unacceptable accommodation, often to immigrants.  

The BBC reported at the time that it often failed “to meet the most basic legal requirements for habitation, such as windows.” 

The post sparked a complaint from Cllr Gary Malcolm, leader of the Liberal Democrats in Ealing, and resulted in a £4,000 council-funded investigation. Cllr Dennehy was ejected from the Conservative Party in April.

“I just said what most people were thinking,” he said. “There is no public interest in this matter and the costs (of the investigation) are unbelievable.” 

UKIP are calling for EU withdrawal, lower taxes, and a points-based immigration system.

The party has been dismissed by David Cameron as “fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists” and described by The New Statesman as a party “being allowed to set the political agenda”.

But Cllr Dennehy, who studied law in New Zealand and relocated to the UK in 2000, sees the Eastleigh by-election, in which UKIP came second to the Lib Dems, as an important moment. 

“The Conservatives stuck in a very anti-Europe, anti-immigration candidate and they still came third. People don’t trust the main parties any more,” he said.

He says UKIP are increasingly in line with public opinion, and a recent Observer poll shows them at 17%, only 10% behind the Conservatives.

They are, he says, much more than a protest party. 

“All the research has shown, and even the Conservatives will admit this, that people aren’t just voting UKIP because of their views on Europe.

"They’re happy with their views on immigration, the welfare system, and they’re happy with their views on the budget and lowering taxes.”

I asked Cllr Dennehy if he would diverge from the UKIP party line if he felt strongly about an issue. 

“If it was something really fundamental that you really physically couldn’t support, then I think as a human being you take a stand," he said.

"And, if that destroys your political future, then so be it. What’s the point in going into politics if you’re a sell-out?”

But he still feels a lot freer than as a Conservative. “I wasn’t allowed to do or say anything,” he said.

The 35 per cent voter turn-out at council elections poses challenges. “It’s really tough. Two-thirds of people don’t take an interest. And less than one per cent of residents can identify their three councillors,” he added.

I asked what effect Europe has on Ealing residents, a subject he clearly feels passionate about.

“Europe is almost like the wind: you can’t see it but it’s everywhere around you,”  he told me.

He pointed to the high percentage of legislation coming from Europe (he estimates around 70%), often by unelected commissioners, and the cost of it all. 

“Would we have to be closing maternity services in Ealing if we had £53m just once? Just give us one day’s payment (to the EU) to solve the hospital problem!”

UKIP is proposing to freeze immigration for five years and says it would introduce a points-based system, similar to Australia, Canada and New Zealand.  

Prospective migrants would have to prove they have a job prior to entry.  I asked whether he thinks it will be difficult to impose.  

“You’re not imposing it on anyone because the people aren’t here. It’s not an imposition is it? The people you’re stopping haven’t arrived,” he insisted.

He points to one of the party’s recent concerns -  the lifting of work restrictions in the UK for Bulgaria and Romania this December.

“Say three million of them decide ‘that’s it I’m off to England’, there's not a thing can be done to stop it,” he said.

UKIP has also refused to endorse Coalition proposals for full same-sex marriage and says that forcing religious groups to perform marriages incompatible with their faiths is unfair. 

“Two men want to get married, or two women want to get married, civilly that’s absolutely fine," he said. "But, if you force churches to do it, it’s going to cause problems.”

Before he left to support the North Ealing Against HS2 march, I asked for his views on the current party leaders.

“Cameron’s just a rich privileged guy who’s ignoring the common person and is just ploughing through with his own ideology,” he insisted.  And Miliband?

“He’s one of those people you wouldn’t want to have a drink with, but you wouldn’t mind being on University Challenge together.” 

Finally, I asked what the future holds for him. 

“I would like to take on (Conservative councillor) Angie Bray. You should put that into your headline. Could this be Ealing’s next MP? That would be a hoot!”