UKIP Uncovered

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

Tuesday, August 24, 2004

UKIP's lack of ambition or vision

Having disgraced, demeaned and exposed its mercenary motives over the Hartlepool candidate selection, UKIP's leadership, have now compounded the fiasco by setting out in a ludicrous press statement the complete lack of planning, ideas or ambition at the head of the party. Looking at the press statement, which is linked from the post immediately below this - what are Roger Knapman and Nigel Farage actually trying to say. The original press report is in italics, with my comments in bold type.

The UK Independence Party has announced plans for prominent politician Robert Kilroy-Silk to stand as a candidate for the party's most winnable seat, which could lie in the Westcountry.

UKIP leader Roger Knapman has confirmed Anthony Steen's Totnes seat lies in an area where the party has raised considerable support.

Rather than a co-ordinated strategy for the entire country and party, we here have apparent acceptance of and capitulation to the harshest recent media criticims that UKIP is but a one issue party with only a single worthwhile celebrity candidate in Robert Kilroy-Silk.

Mr Knapman was speaking after The Times carried an interview with Nigel Farage, leader of UKIP's group of 11 MEPs in the European Parliament.

Mr Farage revealed Mr Kilroy-Silk, already an MEP, would make a bid for the "most winnable constituency," backed by a full manifesto.

He said the party aimed to destroy the BNP's chances by offering an outlet for voters who felt threatened by the domination of Europe, who might otherwise vote for the far-right party.

This sudden obsession with BNP makes little sense. They are a fringe party sharing the main UKIP aim of Britain's withdrawal from the EU. Most people join UKIP with the aim of obtaining a restoration of Westminster sovereignty, seats at Westminster are thus required - clearly these are now held by Labour, Conservative and LibDem MPs all to a greater or lesser extent wishing a continuation of the UK's EU membership regardless of whether democracy and accountability exists or not. BNP are not the enemy - sitting MPs ARE!

Mr Farage tackled the accusation that the UKIP politicians were the "BNP in blazers". He said: "The UKIP is a country mile away from the BNP on any issue. We're not racist, we're for free trade."

He added: "There is only one party in Britain that can stop the BNP and that's UKIP. Why should we be frightened of that?"

What can such a statement mean? Where lies any connection between racism and free trade? Slavery itself could be said to have been the very epitome of free trade! And why this renewed fixation on the BNP ? Are accusations of far right connections suddenly becoming too close to home?

Mr Knapman, who is based in Newton Abbot, said the party would fight to win as many seats as possible in the next election.

He said: "No decision has yet been taken, but nearly all the MEPs will be standing for good seats.

Here of course is demonstrated the major problem at the very centre of the UKIP. Knapman demonstrates that the leadership have become obsessed with Europe and their new grand role in the EU Parliament. The UK Independence party seeks freedom from the EU - the best in the party are not the scum that has now risen to the top as in jam making. The lying, cheating and other skullduggery involved in drawing up the UKIP lists for MEP candidates ensured that fact.

The anti-EU movement cannot count on UKIP to promote their cause, this now could not be made any clearer! Why on earth will voters in a General Election vote for newly elected UKIP MEPs?

posted by Martin |8:58 AM