Yes, there is no party mechanism but it didn't stop them coming out top in the Euro elections - by some distance (
https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/ne...ugh-european-election-results-brexit-16336221), double the Labour vote. I gather that they flooded the city with advertising material including a plane with a banner. Labour also had a disadvantage in that the last MP was imprisoned. I do concede that the boundaries of the city and the constituency may not be the same but there must be a suggestion that people are not quite willing to trust a Farage led party in Westminster. The last Euro elections UKIP swept the board, elected the first UKIP council in Thanet but the same area would not elect the party's highest profile figure to Parliament.
One swallow and all that, but they really will have to hope that another opportunity comes up soon, it is in a highly Brexit area and they sweep home. May be a high profile candidate next time?