Down and out in Henley
Saturday, June 28, 2008 In politics you have to work with the system as it is, not how you want it to be. The only way we can persuade government to introduce amendments (yes, amendments) to the smoking ban is to concentrate our efforts on lobbying those in power or likely to be in power in the foreseeable future.
I should add that, having had a chat with the immensely likeable UKIP leader Nigel Farage (above left) at the Forest bash on Tuesday (where he gave a short but impressive speech), I have even more respect for him than before - but I still wouldn't vote for his party in a non-European election because single issue parties don't win elections. And yes, I know that UKIP isn't a single issue party, but try telling the vast majority of the British electorate. As far as they're concerned, UKIP is interested in one thing and one thing only - getting Britain out of the EU.
Someone (I think it was Brian Monteith) later reminded me that Nigel tried to change the party's name from UKIP to the Independence Party but without success. I don't know why it hasn't happened (perhaps someone can tell me) but if UKIP is to have any chance of picking up seats in a general election (without proportional representation) a name change and a drastic re-branding is absolutely vital. And even that is grasping at straws.
PS. A few years ago a friend of mine (a disillusioned Conservative) registered the name "Enterprise Party". The project, such as it was, never got off the ground, but I still think it's a great name and concept for a political party. One day, perhaps.
Reader Comments (5)
I have to agree with you Simon and, from your point of view, you are doing the right thing.
From my point of view, I will continue to support UKIP in any way I can. Via your excellent website, I came to my own conclusion that only political pressure can alter the draconian smoking ban and all other curtailment of liberty. I looked at all parties and only UKIP offered a viable alternative. They are an established party and have ten valuable honest elected MEP's already doing a brilliant job on our behalf. I became a member and now have even greater access to their manifesto and workable principles.
At the time of choosing them, I reasoned that they are small enough and independent enough for members of the public to have influence in the continuing formation of the party.
Criticism which could still be levelled against them in that although the leadership is libertarian, the membership is full of disaffected, right-wing, illiberal Tories. Apparently the brilliant "Devil's Kitchen" was once a member but, due to this, broke off to help form the Libertarian Party. A great pity and a great loss. All that he has achieved, apart from a stunning website, is a party without existing MPs or MEPs and, seemingly, very little infrastructure. However, such is his personality, he could further weaken the UKIP vote.
Better by far that he had remained within and helped put things right.
I believe in Nigel Farrage and am reminded that the "Hour Produces the Man". Winston Churchill was never the favourite card in the pack but he WAS the man when our country needed him most.
My view of politics is that one should not sit in lofty judgement, having let others do the work of establishing the parties, and pick the one most likely to succeed.
So I, and the many smoker/libertarians like me who have suddenly and unexpectedly been forced to examine the real world, will continue to support and try to influence this civilised United Kingdom Independance Party.
They really are the only one which can get us out of the dangerous Nazi-type controlled state we head inexorably towards. AND are already doing so in Brussels - having been elected there by the British voters.
It is glaringly obvious that they have not sold out to the EU as the leaders of the big three so obviously have.
So, yes, Simon. It is up to the big three - Tories in particular - to prove that they are willing to reverse our situation.
If I may? An entertaining little UTube for the weekend. Viewers should be warned that strong language and sub-titles are a necessary part of it. It's brilliant, though, and does raise more than a chuckle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADbTCSuNSms
The by-election result was absolutely extraordinary - not just because the Tories won by such a margin but because the number of votes for Labour ranked alongside those for fringe parties.
When Labour polls fewer votes than the BNP, I feel that it's safe to vote according to my conscience in the general election rather than use my vote tactically. The only reason for doing the latter would be if a particular Party had promised in its manifesto to amend the smoking ban (I'd be in an absolute quandary if that were Labour but I'm sure the issue won't arise!). If this is what Simon means by working "with the system as it is" then I agree. Otherwise I take the view that there is nothing to lose by voting for a fringe Party and that if sufficient numbers of other people also believe that, then a fringe Party will grow into a mainstream Party.
I, too, chatted to Nigel Farage at Boisdale and was impressed by the passion of his conviction - a refreshing change from the career politician. I'd like to see UKIP focus on throwing off its image of a single issue Party and I think that Margot makes a very useful point when she says that UKIP is still small enough to be influenced at grassroots level.
I do admire both Margot and Joyce (above) for their loyalty to UKIP, and for their constant promoting of their chosen party, even though I disagree with them.
I am not anti UKIP, far from it. I agree with their policy on Europe, and of course on their anti smoking ban policy, and, as so many people have pointed out, Nigel does seem like a thoroughly likeable person, and a man of principals.
But, and here is where I am going to come in for strong criticism, he also seems to me, to be something of a one man band, and as we all know, one man bands, can be very entertaining, but they never come across as experts in any one field. They can play the mouth again a bit, bang the drums a bit, rattle a tambourine a bit, but I have never heard of any one man bandsman becoming a virtuoso in any one field!
With supporters such as Margot and Joyce, and I am sure many more, why the hell doesn't Nigel start drawing more into his coterie instead of relying all the time on just himself?
This week on Channel Four, we heard their rather dull and dreary, ex Tory, MP, Bob Spink, trying to put something or other over. I never did figure out what it was. He was just so boring. And to make matters worse, he never even mentioned the smoking ban, which is supposed to be high on UKIPs agenda, why?
Both Margot and Joyce now have presumably strong links to UKIP and to Nigel, so please do something about it and help get UKIP kick started if you really want them to start making ground with the general public. Nigel cannot do it on his own, and I doubt very much if the likes of Bob Spink will do much for the party, or any party come to that.
p.s. supposed to say "play the mouth organ" not play the mouth. (sorry about that)
Nigel does more than play the mouth and already has a strong band of nine more elected MEPs around him within the EU. You, Peter, and everyone, should just see the recent video on the UKIP website. It was taken live within the EU parliament when they had received the horrifying news that the Irish had said No to the Lisbon Treaty. Nigel spoke strongly and at length and pulled no punches as the EU leadership uncomfortably tried to wriggle around this No vote.
These MEPs are busy doing a great job out in Brussels and back in the UK, UKIP's National Executive consists of 15 elected members, plus their leader Nigel Farage. They have regional offices throughout the UK and many are staffed by dedicated voluntary workers. What they DON'T have are handy billionaires slipping them the odd million or two, such as finance the Tory party.
Do these very wealthy people back the Tory party for the good of Britain? Reason would suggest that the opposite is true and their interest would lie in maintaining the status quo - i.e. complete domination and control by Brussels.
As for widening UKIP numbers, Steve Harris, regional co-ordinator for the South East, works night and day to trawl for suitable candidates in preparation for the next general election, [if there ever is one]. Very busy though he is, he took the trouble to phone me one day and made time for a long chat. A genuine, dedicated likeable chap.
I think UKIP are doing a brilliant AND GENUINE job considering that they have no major funding from anywhere.