THEY helped deliver their party's promised political earthquake at the polls in May.
Now, UKIP politicians Mike Hookem and Richard Barrett are setting their sights on next year's general election.
Hull-based Mr Hookem is one of three new UKIP MEPs in Yorkshire and the Humber following the party's success in the Euro elections.
Meanwhile, Mr Barrett is now flying the UKIP flag at the Guildhall as the party's newly elected city councillor.
Speaking ahead of UKIP's annual party conference in Doncaster next month, Mr Hookem said: "The days of the party asking someone in the pub whether they fancy standing for election are long gone.
"We are developing as a party all the time. Mistakes have been made in the past but that is all part of the learning process.
"There is now a full assessment process for all prospective parliamentary candidates to go through.
"That includes a full background check as well as what they have been writing on social media.
"It's much more professional than it used to be and that can only be a good thing when you are asking voters for their support."
Mr Hookem, who stood against Labour's Karl Turner in Hull East in 2010, said he was hoping to contest a local seat in next year's general election.
"Being an MEP doesn't discount you from standing in the general election," he said.
"In the past, as a party we probably took our foot off the gas after Euro elections, but not this time.
"We will be contesting every seat both the general election and the local elections.
"We have got a good team on the ground and people want us to be challenging the other big political parties."
Mr Barrett said he had received a mixed welcome at the Guildhall since defeating former Labour Lord Mayor David Gemmell in east Hull's Marfleet ward.
"My ward colleague Tom McVie has been quite open and friendly," he said.
"We agreed at our first meeting that we would work together on local issues as ward councillors and not let politics get in the way of things.
"On that score, I've got no complaints, but because I'm the only UKIP councillor in Hull some people have been contacting me for help even though they don't live in the ward I represent.
"On a couple of occasions, I've tried to pass on their details to the right councillor and have been given the cold shoulder, which is a bit disappointing."
He said he continued to be dismayed at claims that UKIP is a party of racists.
"It makes my stomach churn when I hear that. We have raised immigration as an issue nationally because it is about how it impacts on the economy."
EU flag shock for UKIP new boyUKIP's Richard Barrett spent his first few weeks as a city councillor without an office to work in at the Guildhall.
He was left temporarily homeless after turning down an offer to share offices with the Independent Labour group on the council.
"Eventually, they said they had found me a room at the end of second floor but when I got there I couldn't believe it," he said.
"It wasn't the size – it was quite small but more than enough for me.
"It wasn't even the piece of paper stuck to the door with my handwritten name on.
"It was the view from the window that got me the most, because all I could see was a European Union flag flying outside.
"If I didn't know better, I would think it was someone's idea of a joke!"
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