I have had a reply from Douglas Denny, none yet from Geoffrey Kingscott.
Dear Margaret,
I assure you I do not approve of smear tactics in any election campaign. It happens every time, in all elections.
This particular campaign has become nasty with the supporters of various of the candidates doing what they know they really should not!
I am glad to say though, the candidates themselves are being restrained and keeping within the bounds of a clean campaign.
I am aware of the rumours about Richard Suchusorski, and aware they are being put about on the internet, but as you should know yourself from the kind of antics on the 'Forum', it is simply not possible to "stamp out" these kind of nasty rumours and their spread.
If people with their own agendas insist on saying untruths how do you propose to counter it? The internet has made it so easy for those who use it to have access to, and add to, the general cloud of information, that it is impossible to try to sweep through the rubbish with one clean sweep with the truth. For my part, I simply do not approve of any rumour, I always reject it - I only deal in fact, evidence and what is the nearest one can get to the truth. With a rumour like that - I demand evidence first before I shall believe it.
I tried on the 'forum' myself to make things clearer about issues and only found it made things worse if anything, with the inevitable nonsensical people deliberately distorting and misrepresenting what I had to say regardless of the truth.
The only saving grace I can suggest for you to consider, is that luckily there are not that many of the "ordinary " members of UKIP who take an active interest in what is promulgated on the internet political scene. There are near 18,000 members out there in the country; most are getting on with their lives without recourse to reading the internet rubbish - they have better things to do. And of those who do read it I think you can be reassured most will be able to recognise "********" propaganda when it hits them in the face. I do not think it will be damaging to the overall result.
If you want to repeat what I have said, please do so if you think it might help.
Regards,
Douglas.
P.S. to last e-mail:
Just a small point - my position is 'Party Secretary'....... not 'General Secretary' - which is Geoffrey Kingscott.
Although I am theoretically responsible for the election campaign constitutionally; the job of organising the election is a full-time one which I could not possibly carry out so has been officially delegated (and agreed by the NEC) to the General Secretary, Geoffrey Kingscott who would be interested in your comments too.
Actually, as he is organising the election and is responsible for it with his delegated powers, your request is more properly in his domain. You might like to repeat your concerns to him.
His e-mail is:-
Kingscott Geoffrey (GENERAL ...
E-mail Address:
gensec@ukip.org
Personal Information:
Address:
Geoffrey Kingscott
General Secretary
UK Independence Party
PO Box 408
Newton Abbot
TQ12 9BG
Phone: 0800 5 876 587