UKIP Uncovered

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

Saturday, November 08, 2003

The UKIP Disciplinary Panel

One of the main items carried over from the deferred Emergency NEC meeting to this Monday is the matter of the Disciplinary Committee.

Matters covered in detail in this blog, where the disciplinary panel have acted clearly outside the constitution and without regard for the laws of the land, let alone any norms of natural justice, are:

Disregarding Tony Bennett's Disciplinary Complaint against Nigel Farage and others in the matter of the suspension of the Northern Regional Committees.

Suspending the Northern Committees rather than treating the alleged misdemeanours as disciplinary matters.

Disqualification as a candidate of Martin Cole as an MEP Candidate.

The Mishandling or non-hearing of the Disqualification Appeal of the above candidate.

The rejection of the Complaint and Appeal by Michael Cassidy.

The upholding of the complaint and appeal of the three officers of the NE Regional Committee.

The Complaint against Andrew Edwards..

There may be others I have overlooked. The potential full consequences of these serious items being left uncorrected are clear from the recent successful High Court action of Nikki Sinclaire.

The seriousness of the matters and potential liabilities for UKIP have at least been fully appreciated by its Vice-Chairman, whose recent warning we now reproduce below.

In my own case, I would again point out that I expect a full apology for the slur cast upon my reputation for the wrongful disqualification and the lies that were spread, not least by the party leader Roger Knapman. As I was scrupulous in advisng the NEC members of the details of the lies and misrepresentations being spread about me during last March and April, they too should, not least out of any shred of decency they might still possess, join fully in the party's apology that they well know I have been expecting for many months.

This is the warning given by the Vice Chairman regarding the Disciplinary Panel :-

Quote
I forgot to mention that another item on the Emergency NEC agenda (now moved to Monday) is indeed the Discipline Committee and the matter of Andrew Edwards.

It is clear that the Party Secretary broke the rules in operating this case, as indeed he indicated to me he was planning to do in another case, and this type of thing needs to be stopped. Therefore there is a motion on the agenda to overturn that decision (any court would overturn it and award costs to the person against whom the discipline decision was made).

As I have been saying for over six months, if decisions are made unilaterally by individuals (however well-intentioned, whatever position they have in the party) against our rules, constitution or indeed the law, it is open for anyone to challenge those decisions and actions in court. As we grow and have more impact, we need to be more professional in our decision making, not arbitrary and unadvised. In light of the Sinclaire decision - in which the judge mentioned our discipline procedure and a number of important indications - this is urgent.

It's important not to blame the messenger who brings the bad news, even if it is understandable.

It is open to anyone against whom an arbitrary or flawed decision has been made to take legal action against any member of the Discipline Panel and the Party Secretary if they believe their reputation and standing has been damaged by a flawed or faulty decision. The judge was scathing about the impact of using employees in discipline cases, as I have been saying for a year...are we going to continue as a party to ignore such a matter in spite
of being given many warnings? I intend that we will not. (my emphasis - ed.)

I have already written to members of the Discipline Panel, following the failure of the Party Secretary to do so, informing them that they may not be covered by the legal indemnity which it is claimed, in the rules, they have.

I have advised them, before involvement in more decisions which may be flawed, to take advice.
Unquote

The matter of using party employees leaves UKIP particularly exposed in my case and that of the suspension of the NE Regional Committee officers.

The present financial manipulations by Farage and apparently David Lott are quite appalling. But the unsavoury stink from the activities of Derek Clark and his disciplinary panels, are if anything just as atrocious.

posted by Martin |7:54 AM