UKIP Uncovered

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

Saturday, May 22, 2004

MEPs and Oldies Stand Down Now!

There could have been no clearer harbinger of the disaster about to overtake UKIP on 10th June than yesterday's by-election results.

In the midst of the Euro-election campaign, with billboards proclaiming UKIP's message across the land, the national press trumpeting a new high-profile recruit to the cause - himself about to get a coveted 'Question Time' slot, these were all the votes that UKIP could scrape together in its South West Regional 'supposed' stronghold:-

Bristol City – Lawrence Hill: Lib Dem 961, Lab 879, C 148, Green 127, Bristolian 127, UK Independence Party 88. (May 2003 – Lib Dem 1150, Lab 873, Bristolian 215, C 149, Green 97). Lib Dem hold. Swing 3.8% Lib Dem to Lab.

Torbay Borough – Roundham with Hyde: C 498, Lib Dem 413, Lab 203, Ind 203, UKIP 128, British National Party 106, Ind 85, Ind 63. (May 2003 Two seats Lib Deb 842, 839, C 544, 495, Lab 207, Ind 126). C gain from Lib Dem. Swing 12% Lib Dem to C.

Two of the MEP lead candidates being fielded by UKIP are too old. If re-elected they will be almost seventy at the start of their new terms. Possibly the tax-free pension entitlement is considerably greater for an MEP elected for two terms rather than one and that is the driving incentive, but do either of the two gentlement involved really have such a desperate need for the extra cash? I believe they do not - by trying for it they not only appear to be anyway putting it beyond reach; they are quite clearly damaging if not destroying the cause in which they are supposed to believe.

Other lead candidates elsewhere are approaching a similar age. Then there is the acceptability factor. Nattrass and Farage have both been involved in scandals attracting national media coverage in the past few years - what makes them think they are exempt from the so accurate attacks of Kilroy regarding the general standards of those involved in politics/ UKIP's hypocrisy in the South East and West Midlands sticks out like a sore thumb - do UKIP's leadership cabal think the electorate completely stupid? Does their greed for the MEP perks blind them even to the most basic of common sense?

Unhappily looking further down the regional lists, the second placed MEP candidates in other regions also seem to have image problems, BUT on each list there must surely be a worthy, untainted relatively youthful candidate who the party could now nominate, possibly with a fanfare announcement in a reforming speech and attendant publicity given by Mr Kilroy-Silk.

A MID-CAMPAIGN CRISIS MEETING IS URGENTLY REQUIRED TO RE-APPRAISE THE CANDIDATE LIST. ONLY THE DONORS OF THE WAR CHEST CAN NOW SPUR THE NECESSARY CHANGES.

I have received email commending the idea that there can be no justification for UKIP MEPS standing for two terms in the European Parliament. I certainly cannot see any reasonable argument as to why these particular UKIP three should do so. Please send such communications to the party rather than this blog, however. Only UKIP itself can now take the kind of drastic action necessary to save their campaign. There is still the time for a bold gesture!

posted by Martin |6:44 AM