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


Saturday, July 31, 2004 

Politics by the pen

In rereading the obituary of my journalist forebear Mark Fooks, I came upon this passage which I did not immediately see as relevant and therefore did not quote. As this week has progressed it now seems increasingly significant and I therefore quote it here:

In 1859 he came to Ripon to edit the 'Richmond and Ripon Chronicle' where he remained four or five years. Moving to Darlington in 1863 he made his home there until 1911.

Mr Fooks was first of all engaged on the "Darlington Telegraph," when it came into the hands of Messrs Burney. It was afterwards taken by the heads of what was at that time known as "the Pease Party," who needed to be represented in opposition to the organs of Mr H.K. Spark - the "Darlington and Stockton Times" and "Darlington Mercury."

A very fierce controversy arose from 1867 onwards, the old local and political parties resenting the attempts of Mr Spark to upset the order of things. The opposing newspapers were the main factors in dealing with those issues, which were frequently not confined to principles involved, but developed into personalities of a most virulent type. Libels flew thick and fast, but no action was taken to stop this wordy war. The Spark party alleged what was little short of peculation (embezzlement of public money -ed) on the part of the leading men on the opposite side. For a time no notice was taken, but at length detailed statements were made. Mr Fooks then obtained detailed information and official data from local sources, and put the enemy to rout.

The power of the pen and nowadays the internet in politics should never be under-estimated, as my ancestor so clearly proved. Is there a moral here for Nigel Farage MEP as he considers his options in Hartlepool, now that the chance of a Kilroy bid seems ever more remote? Supporting me as the Hartlepool by-election candidate will necessarily bring me back within the party and thus serve to centre the debate over the party's best future course away from the public domain. The only real risk of course is that I might succeed, especially if the UKIP leadership including Nigel Farage, Robert Kilroy-Silk and the influential Paul Sykes get fully behind the campaign. But why should that be problematic? Admittedly there will be a strong and influential voice in Westminster, already proven to forcefully express strongly held views, but it would be a voice arguing for Britain's withdrawal from the EU in the only place where that can be achieved - isn't that what UKIP wants and really believes is the best course?

posted by Martin |6:19 AM
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