UKIP Uncovered

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

Sunday, June 27, 2004

Hodge Hill is UKIP's Strongest Birmingham Constituency

A correspondent has kindly informed me of the following facts:-

Quote
You may already be aware of this but if not it may interest you to know that at this years local elections UKIP's best electoral performance in Birmingham happened to be in the Hodge Hill constituency.

In the Hodge Hill ward Peter Frank Johnson (UKIP) came in fifth place, polling 1,644 votes. A further 341 votes would have been enough for 3rd place and a seat on the council. Peter out polled all 3 conservative and 2 Lib Dem candidates.

In the Shard End ward Joyce Ware (UKIP) came in 7th place with 729 votes out polling 2 conservative and 2 Lib Dem candidates.

The final ward of the constituency (Washwood Heath) is less encouraging (only 415 votes) but this is an inner city ward with a nearly 50% muslim polulation and so hardly where the focus of any UKIP campaign would be.

Full results can be found from this link.
Unquote

From that link we can quickly see that the 1644 votes received in Hodge Hill ward of the 17,511 total cast represents 9.39 per cent - probably among the best in the country.

Some within UKIP, apparently having their case put forward at the NEC by non-member but powerful cabal confidant John Harvey, are extolling Hartlepool as the ideal by-election possibility. Harvey has been a powerful presence within the party (I am told since its inception) works closely with Nigel Farage in the South East and keeps tight control of the totally lamentable Independence News which must be responsible for deterring many potential new, more diverse, party members).

Considering Hartlepool at all at the moment presumes the twice sacked minister and personal friend of Blair, Peter Mandelson in a further defiant display of cronyism will be appointed to the EU Commission from October. This wil have to be acceptable to the so far sleaze compliant Labour Party, who might be more reluctant than previously, when they see the real danger UKIP could represent to their seats - not least the risk of then spectacularly losing the Hatrlepool by election only months before the supposed preferred General Election date. (As Scotland on Sundaylinked here points out, Labour and all the existing parties now face a huge crisis, one small quote alone gives the flavour of the article: The story was even worse for Labour in the UK as a whole, where its share of the vote - just 23% - was its lowest in a national vote since 1918.).

So let's have a look at the Hartlepool results as opposed to Birmingham's Hodge Hill. The detail is available from this link and the votes obtained by UKIP in the wards in which they stood are as follows: Thomson-Burn Valley 324, Springer-Fens 632, Fitzgerald-Grange 458, Esquival-Oston 253, Wilson-Park 714, Pascoe-Rossmere 367, Devon-St Hilda 279, Wyatt-Seaton 524, Wyatt-Throston 498.

I make that 4479 votes in total or 17.2 per cent.

Now this is indeed an excellent result and all credit to Eric Wilson and his fellow candidates. Particularly striking is the spread, albeit there were seven wards in which UKIP had no candidate. Peter Fitgerald missed being elected by one vote! (Pity the North East had no respectable MEP lead candidate in the Euros - surely that would have made all the difference - another example of Farage's malign influence working against the party and the anti-EU cause!).

Given the factor of timing, (the further from a General Election the more likely dedicated Labour supporters might be to impart a kick up the backside to their Government) and the risks that even the totally discredited Blair might think twice before appointing such a clearly disgraced figure and close personal friend as a Commissioner to the already unpopular EU (especially with the Referendum waiting in the wings); it seems the utmost folly to pass up the chance of standing now in Hodge Hill while the publicity and momentum from the European election campaign is still fresh in the minds of the electorate.

Acknowledging that UKIP have a huge electoral asset in the popular Robert Kilroy-Silk, who was born in the Hodge Hill constituency and
CONTRARY TO WHAT UKIP ARE TRYING TO PRETEND - HODGE HILL IS AN EXTREMELY ATTRACTIVE PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCY FOR THE ANTI- EU MOVEMENT, THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT THEY SHOULD RUN. (Even without Kilroy, if necessary - but is he really that reluctant to return to Westminster?).

posted by Martin |7:30 AM