(http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/130117-cameron-merkel-9a.photoblog600.jpg)Yves Herman / Reuters, fileBritain's Prime Minister David Cameron (right) faces some tough negotiations with the likes of Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel (left).By Peter Jeary, Foreign Desk Editor, NBC NewsLONDON -- It says a lot about Britain's ambivalent attitude toward its membership of the European Union that the UK Independence Party (UKIP) (http://www.ukip.org/), which wants the country to leave the bloc, has 12 seats in the European Parliament.
Although UKIP has yet to have any politicians elected to Britain's Westminster parliament, recent polls suggest it is surging in popularity (http://www.itn.co.uk/UK/64110/ukip-now-uks-third-largest-party).
In several recent by-elections, the party even placed ahead of the Liberal Democrats (http://www.itv.com/news/2012-11-30/ukip-hail-by-election-results-as-the-coalition-suffers/), junior partners with the Conservatives in Britain's coalition government.
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