Because they're not.
I won't deny there are many members of UKIP who would consider themselves libertarian (regardless of whether they actually are a libertarian or not is another matter) and consider UKIP to stand side by side with their libertarian views. Regardless of whether you are a social libertarian, fiscal libertarian or a pure anarchist like libertarian - you are not a member of a libertarian party if you are a member of UKIP.
When I ask a libertarian why they consider themselves one they would usually run off the usual points; less government intervention in private life, less taxes, anti-intervention, less welfare state etc. etc. Many of these points I'd agree with - especially in regard to the social libertarian aspects of life whereby the government feels the need to get involved in ones life from cradle to the grave.
However UKIP as a political party are not these things. This is a political party who now provide a ground for anti-equal marriage Tories and 'ban the burkah' types who get great support from the UKIP hierarchy. This, in itself, is not libertarianism but populism. Standing against same sex marriage is anti-libertarian. Banning the burkah is anti-libertarian. UKIP's immigration policy is anti-libertarian.
UKIP are not even classic liberals like American Libertarianism is styled nowadays - like the Ron Paul politics of social liberalism and fiscal conservatism; UKIP are not social liberals.
UKIP had the potential to become a socially libertarian voice in UK politics as a real alternative against LibLabCon and to break away from their one trick pony status of being anti-EU. With lots and lots of young people who were interested in their politics they could have, and should have, looked to the brighter future and allowed these grassroots supporters/members to mold a manifesto for young, socially liberal and anti-government types.
Instead UKIP has become a base for the Thatcherites and disgruntled Tories who are calling for the banning of certain religious clothing, the abolition of the marriage equality bills and in general scaring away young social libertarians/liberals - the people I firmly believe are the future of this nation's political sphere.
If UKIP keeps up this 'Alternative Tories' rhetoric then we can wave them farewell and good night as any legitimate force in British politics. Old Conservative Party social policy is a thing of the past and shall remain that way no matter how much the UKIP elders desire it to return to how it used to be. Reactionary politics will not work in the UK and the youth of today do not want it - they will NOT vote UKIP if they continue down this horrid path.
Basically Farage is faced with two choices; He continues down said path and creates a Thatcherite party for social conservatives who will all die off within 20 years...or he brushes off these age old policies and looks to the future. He also has the choice to stand against the neoliberal politics he supposedly stands against.
It's your call, Farage. Until you decide that you aren't going to stand for dinosaur politics your party won't be getting my vote and the vote of many other libertarians around the UK - no matter how anti-EU your party remains.
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