IS this the week for the party that was? Has the Ukip parrot finally expired?

With in-fighting and loss of confidence not just from their supporters but in their own top ranks, the party is hurtling towards hell in a handcart. Leader after leader meets a sticky end like some gruesome pastiche of a West End whodunit. Given the lack of goodwill, it’s hard to imagine their current leader, Henry Bolton, staving off his court martial for much longer even with his promise to “drain the swamp”. He’s borrowed that phrase from across the Atlantic, but as far as oxymorons go, it’s up there with David Cameron being named a “compassionate Conservative”.

Ukip as a spent political force would be the sole silver lining to the dark clouds of British politics at the moment. However they have left a poisoned legacy.

Their whole red, white and blue Brexit nonsense that has infected every area of our lives. Without a single MP in the UK Parliament and only a handful of MEP’s surviving in Brussels, Ukip has still caused chaos in this country, not least for their ability to attract and nurture angry, disaffected individuals with a far-from-rational hatred of anything that doesn’t look the same as them in the mirror.

It has been galling to watch this party of raggle-taggle misfits with an axe to grind get presented with way more of their fair share of airtime over the last few years. Popping up with almost the same regularity as Dimbleby on Question Time, or all smiley soundbites and chuckles on radio news programmes, Nigel “pint-in-hand” Farage as their leader, was at least able to organise the proverbial booze up in a brewery. Mind you the invitations were really only extended to his white, male and very British friends.

If it wasn’t for Farage, and David Cameron’s limp attempt to deal with the ardent Leave faction in his own party, we wouldn’t be in this Brexit bourach. Unfortunately for Ukip, Farage’s successors have lacked any ability to coordinate and control the mouthier elements of their party, with Bolton coming a cropper over his girlfriend’s recent shocking racist tirade. Attacking the royal family is not a good look for a party whose members’ living rooms have the complete set of Charles and Diana wedding china on display in a glass cabinet.

But joking apart, why have we as a nation of four kingdoms, spent so much time listening to these people? Like some sort of bleak circus sideshow, we watched them with detached amusement or distant horror until we realised that a disturbingly large proportion of the population actually agreed with them. By allowing this party such a disproportionate media platform, we’ve given Ukip far more attention than they deserve.

It’s rather like the people who retweet everything Donald Trump spews forth on social media whether they agree with it or not. Like naughty children, any attention gained, even bad, is worth it as long as Master Trump and Farage minor remain at the centre of their universe.

Luckily in Scotland we’ve given them short shrift, particularly in the last election where they gained a mere 1.8 per cent of the vote across the UK, and there is not one Ukip-elected councillor in the whole of Scotland. However, in combination with a daft electoral system we are responsible for David Coburn, who is still officially a Ukip MEP for Scotland even as his party disintegrates.

Once Ukip hit the wall, we have to watch really carefully to see where all their political orphans end up. These people aren’t going to go away unfortunately.

They need to find a party that will echo their aspirations for a British Britain, taking back control from Brussels and living the Brexit dream. A few have already defected to the Conservative Party, attracted by May’s red lines on leaving the EU and tough immigration stance.

Conservative membership transfers from Ukip are not a new phenomenon. If one looks at the lost legion of Ukip leaders and acting leaders over the last 20 years or so then the name of one Craig Mackinley pops up. Now the Conservative MP who beat Farage in the 2015 election in South Thanet Mr Mackinley is currently awaiting trial on an election expenses charge.

Step in Jacob Rees-Mogg, all sinister pinstripes and cut-glass attitude. He was quick to remark this week that Ukip “had done its duty” and would find “a very comfortable home” in the Tory party.

As the newly appointed chair of the vague sounding European Research Group, he has promised to fulfil the promises made by the PM during her Lancaster House speech, where she pledged to leave the single market and end free movement. When it comes to Brexit, the harder the better as far as he’s concerned.

But no amount of politeness or civility can hide Rees-Mogg’s dubious connections with Steve Bannon, architect of the dark arts of populism and far-right thinking in today’s America. This acquaintanceship is even more alarming given Rees-Mogg being touted as May’s natural successor. Once thought of as a harmless right-wing curiosity the bold Jacob is now favourite to inherit the Tory crown.

If it doesn’t work out with the Tories, lost Ukipers may only have to wait a little while until they find a new home. Farage and his financier, Aaron Banks are already making noises about forming some new alliance to further their Brexit ambitions.

Never one to miss an opportunity for publicity and notoriety, Farage is now floating a second referendum. Let’s call his bluff – this could be our last and only chance to put an end to the dangerous rise of radical right-wing populism in this country. We would be unwise not to extinguish the glowing embers of Ukip while we have the chance.