UKIP Uncovered

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

Wednesday, December 29, 2004

UKIP Candidate to fight Cash in Stone

The controversial decision to fight the Stone Constituency against Bill Cash continues to reverbrate through the UKIP. The Party's Deputy Leader, Mike Nattrass, who Party Leader Knapman said would be the candidate on Radio Four is now circulating an explanation of the strange course of events that includes this paragraph:-

It is up to the UKIP membership in the area to decide if I am selected or not. As yet interviews have not been held. It is NOT up to me to say I AM standing but only to say "I would like to". Why the speculation? I shall stand elsewhere if not selected there and maybe there is a local man who is well known to the voters and who can do a better job,I do not know and no one has told me the thinking in Stone. I will not use any strings to influence them.The best person to hit Cash must be selected and I hope it is me.

It seems the Stone Constituency Association has apparently ceased to exist, vapourised perhaps?

This statement does not fit at all with the original statement put out by the Chairman of the Stone Constituency, who yesterday apparently denied reports that he was planning to join the English Democrats. The original post we published on this issue was temporarily withdrawn at his request pending clarification from him which has not been received. I therefore republish the post below - I will amend or publish UKIP's own version of events should such changes be requested or an alternative explanation for these odd events be received.

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UKIP Deputy Leader Nattrass' Bill Cash Challenge a typically cheap stunt

Many members of UKIP were surprised to learn, via the World at One today, that Mike Nattrass had been selected to fight the Parliamentary constituency of Stone, Staffordshire, currently held by allegedly eurosceptic Conservative MP Bill Cash.

UKIP, in a press release, referred to him as a 'strong candidate'. Well, after all, he is the Deputy Leader, personally chosen by Leader Roger Knapman.

Mr Bill Cash scored a hit on World at One when referring to Nattrass's idiotic 'Chechnya' remarks, which are hardly likely to induce many electors in Stone to vote UKIP. More likely the complete reverse. One comment by Knapman in this broadcast was a reference to UKIP's policy
of standing in all seats, even against so-called 'eurosceptics', but adding that 'the final decision will be made by local UKIP Constituency Associations'.

The news about Nattrass standing against Cash came as a complete surprise to the Stone UKIP Constituency Association, however. Nattrass is not the UKIP candidate for Stone. It was, to put it charitably, a UKIP stunt. Nattrass is not on even on the short-list for Stone. Indeed, the UKIP Stone C.A. is meeting next week and has three candidates on the shortlist, not one of which is Mike Nattrass.

The entire Stone Branch is furious, and is now more determined than previously to ensure that Robert Klfroy-Silk becomes Party Leader and sorts out UKIP ASAP.

The press notice below has been circulated by the Stone UKIP Branch late this afternoon, after the news about Nattrass broke:

"Please circulate.This is to notify everyone that Mike Nattrass is not on any UKIP short-list for the constituency of Stone. The press release issued by Mike Nattrass is a publicity stunt. Stone C.A. will be holding a selection meeting shortly and we have three good canddiates on the short list. They do not include Mike Nattrass. I repeat again; our candidate will not be Mr. Nattrass.The type of tactics the current leadership are using simply beggers belief. Kind
Regards Paul Barnish Chairman UKIP Stone Branch "

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posted by Martin |9:28 AM