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Raymond Finch · 20-05-2007, 05:44 PM

[quote=Tom Wilde][quote="mkpdavies"

If on the other hand their incentive for joining UKIP was to benefit from UKIP's activist base, media recognition etc, then they would be making a big mistake to try to rebrand UKIP as the 'Real Conservatives' or similar.

I agree with Stathan that UKIP appeals to a much wider group of people than just disillusioned Tories, and many Ukippers would be quite unhappy to suddenly find themselves in a "Tory Party MkII".

If a bunch of Tory eurosceptic MPs decide to join UKIP, we should welcome them with open arms - it would be a fantastic opportunity for UKIP. It could well be the big break we've been waiting for. Of course if there were many of them then they would be bound to gain an influence over UKIP policy and tactics. But Nigel would be wise be make clear to them in any initial discussions that UKIP's name, its 100% opposition to EU membership and its broadly libertarian orientation aren't negotiable.[/quote]

This is right. I, and many of my colleagues didn't join this party to be a Tory pressure group. We joined because we don't trust the previously existing parties to set us free from the evil empire their traitorous forbears consigned us to.

20-05-2007, 05:44 PM	#32 (permalink)
Raymond Finch Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 515	[quote=Tom Wilde][quote="mkpdavies" If on the other hand their incentive for joining UKIP was to benefit from UKIP's activist base, media recognition etc, then they would be making a big mistake to try to rebrand UKIP as the 'Real Conservatives' or similar. I agree with Stathan that UKIP appeals to a much wider group of people than just disillusioned Tories, and many Ukippers would be quite unhappy to suddenly find themselves in a "Tory Party MkII". If a bunch of Tory eurosceptic MPs decide to join UKIP, we should welcome them with open arms - it would be a fantastic opportunity for UKIP. It could well be the big break we've been waiting for. Of course if there were many of them then they would be bound to gain an influence over UKIP policy and tactics. But Nigel would be wise be make clear to them in any initial discussions that UKIP's name, its 100% opposition to EU membership and its broadly libertarian orientation aren't negotiable.[/quote] This is right. I, and many of my colleagues didn't join this party to be a Tory pressure group. We joined because we don't trust the previously existing parties to set us free from the evil empire their traitorous forbears consigned us to.