UKIP: state of the nation?
Posted by: Tony2011 on 27 April 2014
Do UKIP reflect the way the nation is currently heading in its "tolerant society" stand in the european democratic system? Could this be a warning of things to come?
UKIP is likely to be just as much of a threat to Labour votes as Tory.
It could take off, and that is a very worrying in my opinion. But that is democracy, and truth to tell democracy has not tended to produce the results I would want in many cases.
But the system is nominally democratic so as an individual one accepts the outcome, even if without enthusiasm.
ATB from George
I see UKIP as a branch of the Monster Raving Lunatic Party. Farage doesn't even have to wear funny clothes to qualify.
If UKIP do nothing other than keep the other party's focused on this things the average Joe Bloggs is concerned about, that's all right with me
Any more & they are a high risk.
I do not want to leave EU, I want to make it better & we need to be in the mix to do that. I am convinced all member countries other than Germany & possibly France will be better served to restructure.
The Euro is a fiscal impossibility & the only beneficiary is the strongest - at the moment that's only Germany. On this one point I agree with UKIP.
I do not want to restrict migration (both ways) but I do want it better controlled. I would be quite happy to make any/all benefits & handouts zero-zinch-nana until 1 year of full tax paid employment.
As someone from Scotland the UKIP phenomenon ably illustrates the problem with the union.
UKIP are big news down south but are virtually an irrelevance up here yet their influence down south could ultimately affect Scotland if they get their way and force the UK out of the EU. They appear to have the English focused parties on the run and to a greater or lesser degree the other parties are having to dance to their tune.
Not really, they wouldn't last five minutes if the media really decided to get it's teeth into them.
Which says it all really. All you need to know about who runs the electorate.
If Farage ever gets any power all meeting would be in the nearest pub. Always appears to have a pint in his hand.
Mista H
As someone from Scotland the UKIP phenomenon ably illustrates the problem with the union.
UKIP are big news down south but are virtually an irrelevance up here yet their influence down south could ultimately affect Scotland if they get their way and force the UK out of the EU. They appear to have the English focused parties on the run and to a greater or lesser degree the other parties are having to dance to their tune.
I don't think you need to worry about that Jota, the chances of UKIP getting more than one MP (possibly Farage himself) at the next election are pretty close to zero.
Were the media to ask some slightly more penetrating questions of Mr Farage and his motley crew, they (and thus the British public) would know that they are a ragtag bunch of bigots, nutters and antediluvians with an astute eye for a headline-grabbing (if not terribly well thought out) policy which often appeals to the disgruntlement of many Englishmen and women. But I think, at the ballot box on the day, most people will see through them. That said, they may do very well at the forthcoming local and Euro elections.
As someone from Scotland the UKIP phenomenon ably illustrates the problem with the union.
UKIP are big news down south but are virtually an irrelevance up here yet their influence down south could ultimately affect Scotland if they get their way and force the UK out of the EU. They appear to have the English focused parties on the run and to a greater or lesser degree the other parties are having to dance to their tune.
I don't think you need to worry about that Jota, the chances of UKIP getting more than one MP (possibly Farage himself) at the next election are pretty close to zero.
Were the media to ask some slightly more penetrating questions of Mr Farage and his motley crew, they (and thus the British public) would know that they are a ragtag bunch of bigots, nutters and antediluvians with an astute eye for a headline-grabbing (if not terribly well thought out) policy which often appeals to the disgruntlement of many Englishmen and women. But I think, at the ballot box on the day, most people will see through them. That said, they may do very well at the forthcoming local and Euro elections.
Antediluvians.......Jesus,thats a huge word coming from a West ham man. have you ever been on countdown by any chance !!
As someone from Scotland the UKIP phenomenon ably illustrates the problem with the union.
UKIP are big news down south but are virtually an irrelevance up here yet their influence down south could ultimately affect Scotland if they get their way and force the UK out of the EU. They appear to have the English focused parties on the run and to a greater or lesser degree the other parties are having to dance to their tune.
I don't think you need to worry about that Jota, the chances of UKIP getting more than one MP (possibly Farage himself) at the next election are pretty close to zero.
Were the media to ask some slightly more penetrating questions of Mr Farage and his motley crew, they (and thus the British public) would know that they are a ragtag bunch of bigots, nutters and antediluvians with an astute eye for a headline-grabbing (if not terribly well thought out) policy which often appeals to the disgruntlement of many Englishmen and women. But I think, at the ballot box on the day, most people will see through them. That said, they may do very well at the forthcoming local and Euro elections.
I think the problem is that large sections of the media are not and will not ask these questions due to their ulterior motives and a large swathe of people consume that particular media to reinforce their world views. They appear to be a party of slogans for people who cannot think beyond slogan levels of thought and we'll find out come the next election just how many people fall into that category.
Isn't it ironic that the right-wing press and media, who've been busily fuelling the anti-immigrant, anti-benefit juggernaut, should now find that, rather than inducing people to switch to the Conservatives, have in fact been instrumental in creating and fuelling the UKIP monster instead?
Predictable more than ironic really. One only has to read history to make an educated guess as to how the further Right will bite in when the nation is on its heels. Just keep stoking the paranoia with fear, stir and watch the scum rise.
It seems common ground that Nigel Far Age(no, not misspelled!) and followers are on a sad crusade.
We will see! Thanks everyone for the contributions.
It was interesting to hear this morning that Farage will not be standing in the Newark by-election as he has to prepare for the Euro and local elections. Given that - theoretically at least - Newark is a winnable seat for UKIP, it seems odd that another candidate cannot be found.
This may be because there are no credible candidates apart from Farage himself...
It was interesting to hear this morning that Farage will not be standing in the Newark by-election as he has to prepare for the Euro and local elections. Given that - theoretically at least - Newark is a winnable seat for UKIP, it seems odd that another candidate cannot be found.
This may be because there are no credible candidates apart from Farage himself...
I didn't think he would have wanted to stand as if he failed in his attempt to get elected UKIP would be dead in the water. They will look for a safe seat for him.
He's a one man band. Why is this do you think? At the end of the day UKIP looks pretty ugly to people.
To be fair to Farrago, he is charismatic, a good public speaker, has a well-developed sense of mischief and does that "I'm just a normal commonsense bloke down the pub with my pint and my fag" routine pretty well.
Most of the rest of the party are lumpen blazered golf club bores; pretty ugly, and they hold uglier views.
I think the thing that could actually eventually scupper them is not their racism - closet or openly expressed - but their misogyny and dinosaur sexism. It doesn't do to insult 52% of the population... 
No, I missed it, I've been on holiday J. Is it available online? Was it actually broadcast on TV?
Just watched it on the BNP's YouTube channel. What utter shite - "the BNP's message of hope" LOL.
UKIP is an irrelevance north of the border but still may end up affecting us. Yet another reason for us to look after our own affairs.
Farage is clearly a far more charismatic leader than any of the rest of his party and as others have said on here, is probably the most likeable element of the whole bandwagon.
I have spent years feeling that it was essential the UK remained part of Europe and that we permitted free movement of people between nations however the deluge of Eastern Europeans (in particular) coming over here is a worry to me. This is not for reasons of race but it is for reasons of common sense - we're overcrowded, there is a massive shortage of housing and land which has caused ridiculous house price inflation and unaffordability. If you try to move anywhere at peak times due to traffic you can't and we seem to have an army of benefits claimants bleeding the nation dry. These are all legitimate concerns to the majority of British people and yet they have been ignored by all the mainstream parties. UKIP are the only party to have stood up and said 'enough is enough' and for that they are to be applauded.
Lets face it we are unlikely to be overrun by people from Sweden, Germany France or Holland trying to come over here to make a better life but for people struggling in the old Eastern block England must look like a land of milk and honey. Sadly when they get here and find themselves renting a dingy flat and cleaning people's houses for £8 an hour or working as prostitutes (for doubtless considerably more!) they just join a growing army of disaffected and disenfranchised people for whom home ownership and a nice quality of life are almost unattainable. Many of them too probably don't run legitimate tax paying businesses (but then again who does nowadays - certainly not Google, Apple, Amazon etc)
I'm seriously worried about the in-balance in our society and the massive gulf between the bankers and Directors whose bonuses and earnings seemingly rise inexorably every year and the growing millions in this country who are struggling to put shoes on their childrens feet. I also don't feel that the squeezed middle are happy about things either - in my own organisation I have watched a new CEO come in and pay off the previous directorate with a year's salary while signing up himself for an uncapped bonus which forecasts predict could be £6 million within 3 years of joining. Meanwhile the rest of us work harder and harder in the face of pay freezes and cuts to terms and conditions because 'costs must be trimmed'. Capitalism is delivering on its promise to make a few people very very rich while the great majority feel more disenfranchised and disillusioned with every passing day. It is most certainly failing to make everybody feel a little richer which would be my goal for any political system!!
I've spent the past few years voting Labour and remain in my soul somebody who believes that we should be striving to improve everyone's lot whether they are immigrants or born here. 90% of the time I would cross the street to avoid the pink trouser wearing toadies of Farage's club but I do think the man has made some valid points that have resonated with a large section of Britain. The big question is what the mainstream politic intend to do about it and if there is a rational answer?
Jonathan
The company that I work for has a strategy for discouraging Polish people from coming here looking for jobs. They are moving the jobs to Poland.
If you try to move anywhere at peak times due to traffic you can't and we seem to have an army of benefits claimants bleeding the nation dry. These are all legitimate concerns to the majority of British people and yet they have been ignored by all the mainstream parties. UKIP are the only party to have stood up and said 'enough is enough' and for that they are to be applauded.
So UKIP is going to knock an hour off my rush hour journey times, put an end to poverty deprivation, chronic illness and disability and build millions of homes. Or will they shoot the cripples and and poor people and give their homes to other people? Still might be tempting if I could get from here to Gatwick at peak times on a Monday morning in less than four hours.
I do see what you mean though. A weary population sees less straight and sometimes it comes down to unclutched straws. And at the end of the day we live in a democracy of sorts, so if a significant proportion of the electorate favour UKIP then so be it. It will likely hurt the Tories most, which I won't mind.
we could vote UKIP and leave the EU and make our own laws on employment and get people working ................ again.
good plan, i'm with you..............
apologies for cherry-picking bits of your thoughts, but they did seem somewhat wide-ranging.
UKIP have a good point , but sadly it would all fall apart. As it does with every other political party. They all say it was their idea when it goes correctly, then back stab like hell when it goes tits up.