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


Saturday, August 14, 2004 

Ineptitude?

The question I have yet to see asked about UKIP's Hartlepool candidate, let alone answered of course, is:-

"Once Kilroy decided not to run - why did Farage or Knapman not step forward?"

Peter Oborne in this week's 'The Spectator' has this to say:-

Michael Howard’s less important piece of luck concerns the UK Independence party. At the time of its European election triumph in June it looked as if Ukip - which holds a poignant appeal to the most atavistic and, sadly for Michael Howard, by no means least numerous section of the Conservative party activist base - could cause desperate problems at the general election. The worry is not that Ukip could win parliamentary seats on its own account, rather that it would shave thousands of voters in marginal constituencies, costing the Tories dozens of seats.
this
This disconcerting prospect has become rather less likely over the past few weeks, thanks to the fathomless ineptitude of Ukip. At the time of the European elections I described the party as a 'rackety collection of conmen, perjurers, convicted criminals and semi-racists', and for weeks afterwards my postbag featured howls of complaint from outraged Ukip supporters. But it was not long before this assertion began to be vindicated. It soon emerged that one of Ukip’s victorious MEPs, a certain Ashley Mote of the South-East electoral region, was facing trial on allegations of housing fraud. Now comes the Hartlepool by-election, and signs that Ukip is falling apart. I am told that the party originally planned to run Robert Kilroy-Silk as Peter Mandelson’s successor. This could have been a brilliant stroke: Kilroy-Silk is a charismatic and plausible candidate who might well have taken the seat by storm. Envious colleagues seem to have blocked the plan, and the Tories can heave a provisional sigh of relief that Ukip is going nowhere for the time being.

The article (linked here) was brought to my attention by the blogger of EU Referendum linked here, for which thanks. The same Richard North also pointed me towards Guacemoleville blog concentrating on the Hartlepool by-election which is linked from here.


posted by Martin |8:46 AM
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