UKIP Uncovered

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

Tuesday, April 27, 2004

The Referendum Impact on the European Elections

While part of Blair's startling about turn on the EU Constitution was undoubtedly intended to throw the Tories into total confusion, there can be absolutely no question that it has a similar if not greater impact on UKIP. Indeed the mere prospect of a possible referendum on the constitution must trigger a major strategic rethink amongst all euro-sceptics and their multitude of organisations. (Fifty seven listed by Britain in Europe before that most valuable of euro-sceptic research sites was pulled from the web by the federalists!).

To its credit, the UK Independence Party was almost the first out of the box in declaring that what the referendum would really be about was whether Britain should remain within or withdraw from the EU. Criticism has been levelled at the party for this outspoken approach, but the country cannot permit the down to earth and entirely honest withdrawalist case to be put solely by the BNP whose motivations will always inevitably be suspected as having their roots in racism.

More cautious, but equally dedicated and committed eurosceptics are moving in a direction closer to that being put by the Conservative Party, namely that use of the 'withdrawal' word, or hinting at that being the agenda might damage the overall referendum campaign and cost victory on the constitution, as is clearly Blair's hope.

The positioning of UKIP in the vanguard of the 'withdraw' movement has been slated, not just by the BBC and other federalist media, but unhappily also by supposed friends of the eurosceptic cause, who I believe are misguided.

The truth must be put to the general public. Anybody attempting to do so, knowing almost the whole background and inner workings of the EU, then presenting all those known, proven and easily demonstrable facts to the broader public, will immediately appear devious and dishonest if they lead to a conclusion that falls anywhere short of Britain establishing a new relationship with the EU as a fully sovereign independent nation state, where assent to the terms negotiated lies solely in the hands of all the people and with a reformed parliament, democratically elected, but constitutionally barred from ever again ceding the people's rights to outsiders, as has slowly but steadily been occurring over the past half-century.

The deeply flawed and now happily mortally damaged constitutional document of Valery Giscard d'Estaing, was supposed to be the grand finale to this dreadful and debilitating process; but it happily, and now quite clearly over-reached itself. The drive towards its ends will however continue apace!

The federalists can form their own attacks on Euro-scepticism, an example of their ambiguity appears in this morning's Daily Telegraph Opinion article by Lord Haskins, titled 'Yes: This new constitution is not about a European superstate' which may be read by clicking here and from which this quote comes:-

One of the shortcomings of the forthcoming referendum is that most voters will choose to make their voting judgments on their wider assessments of the benefits, or otherwise, of continuing membership.

Indeed the most vocal opponents of the constitution, led by the United Kingdom Independence Party, are quite open in campaigning for Britain to withdraw altogether from EU membership.

I assume Lord Haskins sees the 'shortcomings' as used in this context, to mean his best hope!

The position now assumed by UKIP, at once bold, but almost certainly logical and necessary brings with it, inevitable but no less awkward consequences.

The major efforts of the party for some months and most certainly for the next several weeks are the 10th June elections for the European Parliament. If UKIP is successful, what will be the position of their elected MEPs during the campaign in which the UKIP party platform will be for withdrawal? Can any UKIP campaign for withdrawal be truly effective if the major part of its income continues to depend on EU funding as has seemed to have been the case of late?

Should UKIP be running full candidate lists for the European Parliamentary elections at all in light of the referendum announcement? And if so should their candidates give a commitment to stand down (if elected) once a referendum is called? The party must give answers to these vital questions, preferably now to its members, but certainly later on at the hustings.

posted by Martin |8:15 AM