UKIP Uncovered

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

Thursday, October 09, 2003

NEC Accountability and Decision Taking

We have received another important communication from Vice-Chairman Damion Hockney, which speaks for itself:

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As you know, the recent meeting of UKIP branch chairmen was a considerable success. It has established a situation whereby a group of people of seniority in the party can act as a forum and can bring pressure to bear - individually or collectively - to ensure that the party advances.

At the same time, a problem is emerging on the NEC whereby NEC members are coming under pressure to support leadership initiatives on the sketchiest information. In these circumstances, some NEC members find it easier to vote in favour of something, even if contentious and ill-considered, for a quiet life. In the confines of a meeting room, it is easy to understand how it might be perceived that the immediate consequence of voting is the impact on the relationships with the leadership. This can also intimidate discussion or the questioning of proposals, thus damaging the purpose of the NEC's existence.

The fiasco of the Party Treasurer demonstrates this situation. Some NEC members voted in favour of the leadership's ultimately abortive attempt to retrospectively dismiss an effective Party Treasurer: they did so on the basis of having heard a very one-sided (and frankly incorrect) view in private conversations and lobbying. One later told me that he had felt slightly initimidated into not opposing it even though he had reservations. All at the meeting were clearly told - by myself among others - that they were plunging the party into a legal minefield and that the leadership action was possibly illegal and that it would now be vital for the dismissal to be reversed, by legal means if necessary. As was made clear, No Treasurer means No Party, according to new and onerous PPERA regulations. This indeed quickly proved to be the case, but fear of spoiling their relationships with the leadership paralysed some NEC members from doing anything at the time, in spite of being advised. While this is understandable, it is unhelpful to the party and is ultimately not good for anyone involved. Loyalty is important, but blind loyalty under pressure is dangerous, as has been proved.

This has now become doubly important as we have learned that the leadership has begun a similar attack upon the General Secretary, without reference to the NEC, against the party constitution, which must be firmly dealt with. I assure you all that it will be dealt with and that the attack will not succeed.

Now that the precedent has been established of involving the branch chairmen in matters, it will be vital to let them know who might be supporting potentially illegal or damaging motions brought forward. This will ensure that those on the NEC who are trying to ensure that the party is kept in order are able to enlist the aid of others in protecting the party and not be criticised in public against a background of almost complete ignorance of what has been going on. And it will ensure that those on the NEC who feel that voting is unaccountable and is a function of their immediate and personal relationships with the leadership, will appreciate that they are accountable to more than just a small group of people sitting nearby, and possibly give them the courage to think about courses of action and the implications of them.

Had this system been in place before the Party Treasurer fiasco, it is highly probable that the abortive attempt to dismiss him would not have taken place at all.

I will report back to you on this matter at some point after the NEC, but I am writing to you now as it is important that you are not misled by anyone on these matters in the coming days. We are at the threshold of something really big as a party - no-one, however senior, however unintentionally, must be allowed to spoil our chances.

Damian Hockney
Vice Chairman, UK Independence Party
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posted by Martin |10:19 AM