UKIP Uncovered

UKIP Uncovered
What motivates the leaders of the United Kingdom Independence Party?

Friday, September 05, 2003

The UKIP Treasurer's Report

In our earlier post of today regarding Peter Troy we laid out our reasons for not having previously published this critical report on this blog. In view of the recent statements and planned activities of its principal subject, Peter Troy, which risk further damage to the anti-EU movement, we consider these reasons no longer valid (corporate language!) and therefore post it in full (without attachments, however,) below:-

John de Roeck

Report into irregularities and new membership
in the North East Region of UKIP

Prepared by John de Roeck
Party Treasurer

Prepared for the NEC of the
UK Independence Party

Introduction

This report considers irregularities in the creation of new membership in the North East Region of the UK Independence Party

I was first aware of problems after reading the Northern Echo of April 2nd 2003 in which Trevor Agnew stated that he had received a membership card out of the blue.

On Saturday 5th April I contacted Mr Peter Troy who informed me that he had dealt with Mr Agnew and there were no problems with membership and that he and other members had paid in full to either his branch or office in the normal manner.

Investigation

The matter of Mr Trevor Agnew and his membership had generated a great deal of publicity and was of concern to NEC members. At the NEC meeting of 7th April I advised that I would be carrying out an investigation into irregularities of new membership in the North East Region to settle claims of problems with membership.

A further newspaper article in the Northern Echo of 12/4/03 to possible irregularity of new membership in the North east Region. The newspaper article read as follows:

“Mr Agnew said that he did not rejoin the UKIP but was sent a
Membership card through the post by the party, a move UKIP
Denied.”

I have received an official complaint regarding membership irregularities and misuse of funds dated 30th April 2003 from party member Michail Rollings and other persons in the North East Region.

On the 2nd May after consultation with the Party Auditors I arranged for all new members in the North East Region to be mailed with a questionnaire regarding new membership. Sixty persons were mailed who were listed as having joined the Party on or after 1st January 2003.

The Questionnaire is attached hereto as Annexure A.

At the NEC meeting of 12th May 2003 I reported that irregularities had been found in new membership and that I had undertaken a survey to be sent to new members and that in addition I had asked to view the financial books of the Branch and of the Hartlepool office.

I met with Mr Peter Troy on 22nd May and examined the books of the Hartlepool Office. Mr Michael Harvey the Returning Officer for the UKIP European Elections was also present at the meeting.

I have investigated in greater detail specific membership applications and have established the following:-

1. Mr H***
He did not know he was to be made a member.
The office cash book indicates membership was paid by Mr Peter Troy.
He has subsequently asked to be removed from the UKIP mailing list.

2. Mr S W*****
He did not know he was to be made a member.
The office cash book indicates membership was paid by Mr Peter Troy.
He has subsequently asked to be removed from the UKIP mailing list.

3. Mr T Agnew
He did not know he was to be made a member.
The office cash book indicates membership was paid by Mr Peter Troy.

4. Mr R E******
He did not know he was to be made a member.
The office cash book indicates membership was paid by Mr Peter Troy.

5. Mr N****
He did not know he was to be made a member.
His membership has never been paid.

Conclusion

The results of my investigation are that several new members have received membership without making payment themselves to the Party. Of these new members, some had no knowledge that they were to receive membership. And of these new members some were paid for by Mr Peter Troy directly whilst others have not been paid for at all.

I have shared my findings with Mr Michael Harvey, the returning officer in the UKIP candidate selection for European elections, as Mr Peter Troy was a candidate in these election. Mr Michael Harvey has separately considered the implications of this with regard to the election process and I understand that as a result of this investigation Mr Peter Troy has resigned as a candidate on the UKIP European Elections list at the time the results were declared on 19th May 2003.

I have not considered the question of new members also being members of other parties as this is beyond the scope of this financial investigation.

Recommendations

From a financial aspect I do not propose any action be taken against any individuals in this matter other than a warning given to Mr Peter Troy to ensure that new members that join the Party through his branch pay in full.

I do however recommend that some Party wide controls are introduced to prevent unpaid membership being created and to prevent the perception of possible irregularities in the way in which new membership is created.

I therefore would like to make the following recommendations:-

1. All new membership must be paid for in full before it may be processed by a Branch, Regional Committee or Head Office.

2. All new membership, whether received in cash or by cheque, should be paid into a bank account of the relevant accounting unit within one month so that there is corroborating evidence at a later stage of membership funds being deposited.

Without this procedure it is possible that no membership may be paid at all and that in the case of an investigation back-dated cash entries may be made in the financial books of an accounting unit.

3. New membership and renewals of membership may not be purchased by Constituency Associations, Branch or Regional Committees.

4. New membership and renewals of membership may not be purchased by election candidates, if the new member will have voting rights at an election in which the candidate is standing, unless the new members are directly related family members to the election candidate.

Unquote

posted by Martin |9:07 AM