Nigel rises again- Is this the second coming?

Having lived through the last meteoric rise of an alternative party, and seen the initial gains and enthusiasm hit the cold hard light of day, (Who remembers the SDP?) I would estimate that UKIP might come out of the general election with a serious share of the vote, certainly in the 15-25% region, and a handful of seats, maybe six or seven.

Meanwhile Milliband will be allowed to blunder into power by default, our economy will be on the rocks by 2017-19 and we will never have been permitted to have our say on the EU.

Moggy

Winning with incumbents or candidates who have switched sides is not quite the same as standing “cold”. They have yet to achieve a win there.

None of us can predict what will happen and perhaps it will not be quite as interesting as some here would hope!

Its easy to engage on the basis of the little things, like the Mosque, but antipathy towards UKIP rarely moves past a simple dismissal.

It looks to me as if things are changing not inconsiderably, and regardless of my views on the subject, UKIP is moving mainstream. Time to widen the debate I feel.

I will not be voting for them at the general election – I need the party I vote for to have firm, real policies on a whole range of things. At this time, UKIP is not there.

This time last year, I was certain that UKIP would not win a seat. Irrelevant by elections aside, I am not so sure now. I don’t think anyone can predict what will happen in May, but the consequences are likely to be, err, interesting….

Bruce

Here’s a thought for you, John. When Nigel’s ascendancy is complete and UKIP win the mandate to govern, you so sorely desire, he will have to go to the Lords as Prime Minister as he will not be an MP. At least I cannot imagine he will stand anywhere unless he is certain of winning. Could he be the first since the Marquess of Salisbury to hold office in the Lords, discounting The Earl of Home, who renounced his peerage after 3 days?

If we all vote for UKIP we won’t have to rely on untrustworthy politicians.

A statement with no basis whatsoever in fact or reality

Moggy

And it is conveniently ignored by some here but no recent polling has found a majority for leaving the EU. Majorities for reform and a different relationship with the EU have been polled.

MEPs in general have little power and their constituencies are far too large for them to be properly representative. Very small percentages elect them and they pick up large salaries and expenses for their pains. They are expensive rubber stampers in a largely undemocratic organisation.

John

Serious thought, now I know you feel that get of the EU is absolute top priority, most of us would wish for some changes to our obligations and relationship with the EU. With that in mind I and probably many others would expect our MEPs to make representing our interests their main priority, certainly I would expect UKIP MEPs to be at the forefront making their case and proving their points, reality is that UKIP MEPs have the lowest attendance record of anyone, Farage for example has attended only 28% of debates and/or votes. In other words I doubt if he has much idea of what is actually going on and yet he hopes to carry a large proportion of the electorate on a subject of which his knowledge is not much more than any normally informed individual.

For me I agree that very few of us voted for the EU that we now have, but reality is simple, even if we leave, Europe won’t simply vanish, we will still have to work with the EU in many ways and I feel we have or should have considerably more influence within the EU, than stood on the side lines.

I am also pretty sure that getting out of the EU is not that clear cut, sure we can just say that’s it we are out of here, but were will that leave this country? not in a very good place I imagine. Just for laughs let’s not forget who now owns most of our power generation and railways and even some of our water authorities, I bet they would love to operate in a country close by without the need to abide by EU rules.

…..capable of some scepticism when it comes to trusting, let alone believing, politicians of ANY persuasion.

Phew! You had me worried for a moment!

John

Check this hashtag #thingsthatarenotmosques, may amuse you or possibly not.

You must be reading from a different script. I am very tolerant of others opinions and sometimes very suspicious of my own, knowing that I am predisposed to ‘knee-jerk’ actions – occasionally.

I’d appreciate your being a bit more evenhanded in your condemnation of others who display the dogmatism of which you accuse me.

You seem to think that I’m in the business of evangelising politics – I’m not ! My sole concern is for this country to leave the EU and the quickest and most efficient means to do so. I hope I’ve cleared the air.

As for you not voting for UKIP. That’s your concern not mine.

Trust me – damn ! – Now I’m at it ! Charlie, you won’t be surprised to know that I am a deeply loveable human, full of trust and feelings of warmth towards my fellows but, capable of some scepticism when it comes to trusting, let alone believing, politicians of ANY persuasion.

John

You amaze me when you can be so derogatory of other peoples opinions when they don’t happen to coincide with your own, it may have escaped your notice that come a full election the majority will be eligible to vote, is your opening gambit to call everyone who does not follow in your footsteps deficient in some way, not the best plan I wouldn’t have thought.

Incidentally, I wouldn’t vote for Farage under any circumstances and I am allowed my opinion.

John

You surprise me. You have convinced yourself that Farage is different from “untrustworthy politicians”. I wonder why. Because you need to believe him I suppose.

It’s no good. It should not be a secret. If we all vote for UKIP we won’t have to rely on untrustworthy politicians. On the other hand, are there any other kind ?

I did hear a whisper that exiting the EU is not high on some priorities.

Faragist has uncomfortable echoes of Falangist

I too recall:

“I want a referendum on the EU, I don’t trust the party that is promising to deliver one not to renege, so instead I’ll vote for a party without a hope in hell of delivering one. That way at least I won’t feel cheated when I don’t get my referendum”

Great, joined-up thinking

Moggy

That’s the very one, John. I had a feeling you’d know it…

I seem to recall something about that Charlie, yes.

Moggy

Permit me to rewrite that:

…”Am I right in saying that there is a reliably honest UK political party, who have a track record in not breaking their promises and therefore can be trusted with honouring their pledges and with a leader possessing the same qualities committed to doing just that.?”

The pink pigs are out in force to-day !

Am I right in saying that there is a UK political party committed to doing just that..?