UKIP Uncovered

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

Wednesday, December 08, 2004

More on the Manifesto

I have been sent a complete copy of the draft UKIP manifesto. I first believed it must be an elaborate hoax designed to discredit this blog. I therefore checked around and to my amazement I now believe the document is completely genuine. At least the NEC apparently had the sense to reject it.

Also from one who has clearly taken the time and trouble to read the full document comes this commentary and selected highlights.

" The UKIP Manifesto was promised 'by September'. Then it was October, then November, then 'definitely by the NEC Meeting on 22 November', then definitely by the NEC Meeting on 5 December.

In fact, the NEC received, less than 24 hours before they met on Monday 6 Decemebr, a scrappily-written 27-page draft Manifesto which exludes many subjects and has long screeds on the European Consititution, on farming, fishing and, as can be seen below, some bizarre ideas on transport.

'UKIP Uncovered' has been sent a complete copy of the Manifesto and, in the interests of conveying information about its content to UKIP members, we'll publish more details in due course. By the way, we understand the NEC rejected the Draft Manifesto and, unsurprisingly, has called for it to be completely rewritten!

In the meantime, as a taster, here is a brief look at 25 policies that you will find in the Draft Manifesto. All the items in quotation marks are verbatim extracts from UKIP's draft Manifesto, which, remember, has taken months to produce.

Oh, by the way, the latest on when the Manifesto will appear is: "Er, well, may be some time in January... "

“Orange flashing lights and other issues” -25 new policies in UKIP’s Draft Manifesto (submitted to the UKIP N.E.C. on 6 December 2004); all items within quotation marks are direct quotes from the Draft Manifesto

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1. The title of UKIP’s Manifesto:

“Entrust and Empower the People Through ACTIVE DEMOCRACY”

2. What UKIP says about the European Constitution, on which there will be a referendum in 2006:

“CONSTITUTION

We have come to the point in our history when we must ask ourselves do we want to grant politicians the absolute right to rule?

Can we let them trample over and replace our own Constitution with an inferior and dangerous model which takes away vast swathes of this country’s power to rule itself. Although the Prime Minister has graciously decided to allow us a referendum on the EU Constitution he has not informed the people that this new model expressly takes precedence over our Constitution and is incompatible with it.

He is required under our Law expressly to repeal any Constitutional Enactments. He cannot do it by stealth. The time must come when we stand up and demand that the Government admit that they are demolishing our Constitution and with it our democracy and our way of life. Then let us see what the people decide”.

3. On leaving the E.U., UKIP would not necessarily take Britain out of the E.U. They would leave it to the people to decide in a referendum:

“If it is the will of the British people, democratically expressed, that Britain should leave the European Union (EU) the following will take place…”

4. UKIP will set up a new Ministry to take Britain out of the E.U. - but only if the people vote in a referendum to come out of the E.U. UKIP will set up a Ministry called ‘META’ (pronounced ‘metre’)

“National independence for Britain only requires (at the moment) the repeal of the European Communities Act, 1972 by a British Parliament. On the day (Independence Day) of such an event Britain becomes, immediately, a free, self-governing nation. There would, however, still be a number of important issues to be resolved. For that purpose a period of 24 months will be designated the ‘transition period’ so that those issues can be addressed.
Managing freedom: On Independence Day a new Ministry, the Ministry of EU Transitional Arrangements (META), headed by a senior Cabinet Minister with a second-in-command from the Opposition, will be charged ith the responsibility of managing and negotiating the transition period. All other relevant ministries will report to META on all transition matters. META will be staffed by senior executives from the British private sector, from business, transport, energy, City, farming, fishing and legal circles. META will complete the bulk of its work by the end of the transition period but will remain in existence for a further two years to help resolve any outstanding issues. By statute it will be dissolved exactly four years after Independence Day. All EU law, regulation and case law will cease to apply to the UK at the expiry of the transition period”.

5. Guaranteed jobs for UKIP Political Assistants, Researchers and Secretaries:

“British MEPs will resign their seats on Independence Day and thereafter take no further part in the EU parliament’s activities. If necessary, arrangements will be made to accommodate their staff in employment in the UK”.

6. A new UKIP policy of freedom of information:

“That the Ministerial veto contained in the Freedom of Information Act, 2000 be abolished”.

7. UKIP will allow public referendums on key issues, including on the death penalty. There are two ideas: the ‘popular veto’ and the ‘popular initiative’:

“That there should be a mechanism by which the British public can demand a public referendum in the following terms.
The Popular Veto If, within six months, 1.5% (approximately 750,000 currently) of the national electorate sign a petition requiring a referendum on some question currently under discussion in Parliament, then the government will be obliged to hold a binding referendum on that matter within a further six months.
The Popular Initiative If, within six months, 3% (approximately 1.5 million currently) of the national electorate sign a petition requiring a referendum on some question not currently before Parliament, then the government will be obliged to hold a binding referendum on that matter within a further six months”

8. The law at present allows householders to use ‘reasonable force’ to defend themselves against intruders and burglars. It is hard to see how the policy below differs very much:

“UKIP considers that a person who is subject to unlawful attack or intrusion should have the right to use whatever force they consider necessary to prevent the continuance of that unlawful conduct…Where a person is subject to an unlawful assault or intrusion into their dwelling then that person may use such force as they consider necessary in order to defend themselves or their property”

9. Another new UKIP policy:

”The Police Service should be excluded from the Equal Opportunities legislation”

10. Another new UKIP policy:

“Judges will retain their independence but should be aware of the views of the local communities in which they sit”

11. Another new UKIP policy:

”The Home Office shall, apart from legislation passed in Parliament, be advisory and responsible for common services including the provision of training”

12: UKIP policy on ‘minimum sentences’:

“Sentencing will be strengthened and the introduction of minimum-maximum sentences considered”

13. UKIP policy on immigration. Their policy on citizenship of E.U. Member States seems a trifle muddled:

“There should be process of repatriation of those illegally in this country and the early introduction of a fair, firm policy of entry based very much on systems operating elsewhere in the world. Such a system must also, sympathetically, take into account the plight of those EU and UK citizens who have taken advantage of the ‘free movement of people’ within the present EU…whatever policies are introduced, the rights of those EU citizens in the UK and UK citizens in the EU, should be acknowledged”

14. A new UKIP policy on defence:

“UKIP will focus on effective requirements analysis and on reducing procurement bureaucracy & waste”

15. UKIP policy on GM crops (not the same as in the new Alan Bown leaflet):

“All the available evidence concerning genetically modified crops should be gathered and reviewed. In Britain there should be a moratorium on the planting of such crops. Experiments, if they are considered necessary, should only be carried out only in a controlled environment where contamination outside the experimental area cannot occur. If this is not possible, experimentation should not take place”

16. A new UKIP fishing policy:

“Technical measures will be introduced to help in selectivity and cut down on those gears which do most damage to the marine environment or those methods of fishing which are upsetting the balance of the marine ecosystem, including the unnecessary slaughter of dolphins…Overall control will lie with Westminster but we will set up regional management teams made up of administrators, enforcers, scientists and at least 50% fishermen. They will be responsible for all aspects of fishing within their region and will, therefore, have a direct interest in ensuring a sustainable future”’

17. UKIP’s new traffic policies (none of which are costed). There’ll be lots of orange flashing lights and a queue of very slow lorries in the slow lane of our motorways:

“A. Reducing existing traffic lights at roundabouts to flashing orange operation.
B. Replacing traffic lights-controlled junctions with roundabouts.
C. Wider use of smart traffic lights and orange flashing signals.
D. Conversion of traffic calming into traffic flow without compromising safety.
E. Introduction of higher, staged speed limits on motorways.
F. Prohibiting overtaking by lorries on motorways
G. Downgrading bus lanes from ‘no entry’ to ‘no obstruction’ status”.

18. A bold new UKIP policy on the NHS which will mean that children and disabled people unable to work when they leave school won’t qualify for free help outside the NHS:

“NHS healthcare will continue to be free at the point of delivery but only to those who have paid into the system”

19. UKIP’s solution to the problems of funding the NHS:

“Funding for the NHS, in particular through PFI, will be reviewed”
20. UKIP’s bold news for ‘traditional families’. UKIP apperar, however, to have abandoned its commitment in the 2001 Manifesto to re-introduce marriage tax allowances:

‘In support of the traditional family unit UKIP will research a system of taxation that will encourage its continuance”

21. New legislation for those in same-sex relationships…but what will that legislation be?

“UKIP will also introduce legislation to safeguard the rights of individuals in ‘same-sex’ relationships”

22. UKIP’s policy on tax and government spending is crystal clear - let no-one mock UKIP for not havig bold, radical policies:

“We will review the shortcomings of current taxation and government spending and will invite discussion as to how they should be reformed”

23. New UKIP policy on the Budget:

“The presentation of The Budget to the nation, in the House of Commons, will be in such a form that it is clear, concise and easily understood by all”

24. Another UKIP review promised. The policy of re-opening hundreds of Post Offices is not costed:

“The Postal Service in Britain will be the subject of a review followed by the implementation of measures designed to restore the nationwide network of post offices, large and small, and a service that is efficient and cost-effective”

25. UKIP policy on the House of Lords - but no detail on how these new Lords will be chosen:

“Should consist of representatives from the counties not specifically political, but those who serve the community - talented/altruistic - not government cronies”

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Last weekend I published some wierd policies once put forward by present day UKIP MEP Graham Booth, it seems he might have had a hand in this document too!

SURELY NOW UKIP MEMBERS CAN SEE THE NEED FOR SOME PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP!

posted by Martin |4:15 PM