The triumphant UK Independence Party celebrated its strong showing in the European elections yesterday by pledging to "wreck" the Brussels parliament.

High profile victor Robert Kilroy-Silk said the party's role would be to "expose the whole edifice of the EU".

Today's Independent hands over its front page to a 10-point factfile on UKIP - describing its new MEPs as "12 angry men".

Michael Howard, meanwhile, told MPs yesterday that he will not be bounced into hardening his line on Europe by the rise in support for UKIP.

Addressing MPs he said: "This is not a debating society. Frankly nobody is interested in hearing your views."

Charles Kennedy, however, has pledged to fight the next election on a pro-European ticket.