Anthony Butcher

I think that we can overplay the strength of UKIP's negative image with the public. As you said previously, most people are only vaguely aware of its existence and any feelings they have towards us are superficial at best.

Yes, we have a dreadful image with those who are interested, but I don't think that it is irrepairable. If we carry on with Nigel as leader, then I imagine the brand will stay pretty much the same - he and some others at the top (especially the MEPs) don't think that we have an image problem. They might be right, but I disagree.

John Page

Britannist

It's probably worth me reminding critics of UKIP's performance last Thursday at Bromley of the result - by coincidence almost exactly a year ago - of the last By-Election in a Parliamentary constituency where there was a 'two-horse' Conservative-Liberal 'Democrat' battle.

At Cheadle on 14.7.2006, the europhile Liberal Dims retained the seat on a 52.15% share of the vote. The former Conservative MP for the constituency came in second on 42.42%. Labour were third with a 4.63% share and lost their deposit.

UKIP did not contest the seat - but Veritas did and their candidate Les Leggett secured a paltry 218 votes. No doubt, after that poor electoral performance he did leg-it :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: .

So that's 0.58% for the anti-EU candidate in the Cheadle By-Election a year ago in a Conservative-LD battle compared to 8.07% for UKIP in a similar Conservative-LD battle at Bromley last week. I know which result I prefer. In just a year, the anti-EU vote has shot up 16 times in the second of two Conservative-LD By-Election battles.

Of course, it (the campaign at Bromley) has cost UKIP money - but we can see from the press that UKIP's third place at Bromley has been reported widely. UKIP has successfully beaten Labour - party whose leader, Bliar, was verbally attacking UKIP's Nigel Farage MEP only six months ago in Brussels.

I thought before the Bromley result was declared that UKIP would be doing well to get third place and push Labour into fourth position in the ranking. The result for UKIP at Bromley - when compared to the low vote the anti-EU candidate got at Cheadle - is a particularly good one.

Result Cheadle (votes) 14.7.2005: Fiberal Dims 19593, Conservative 15936, Labour 1739, Veritas 218, Alliance for Change 81.

Anthony Butcher

Are you sure that this has anything to do with the "anti-EU" vote?

Comparing Veritas and UKIP is, I think, largely meaningless. People don't switch parties arbitrarily on the basis of a single policy (or at least I would be very surprised if more than a handful do).

Nigel fought his campaign on immigration and low taxes, and a direct appeal to use UKIP as a protest vote. I don't think that any of that comes under a direct anti-EU vote.

Millennium3

It seems pretty clear to me that UKIP is at a critical point - whoever is leader.

Clearly we are an anti EU Party and if our policy is for a referendum on Europe - no one should be put off [it is simply democratic].

But we need more and there presently seems to be avoidance of this fact.

What were those famous Jack Nicholson lines? You want the truth - ???

andypandy

UKIP - the Teflon Party; where voters just don't stick!

Millennium3

Perhaps we are using the wrong adhesive!

andypandy

Yes, like that other space-race by-product "Houston, we have a problem".

Millennium3

Houston seemed to have fixed their problem[even if it has to be done in space] - can we fix ours?

andypandy

Like NASA, send the culprits into orbit! A few whirls around the equator should cure any doubts regarding UKIP's grounded mission by those at the top. And a change in weather is not going to improve things.

The membership must advocate a separation of UKIP national parties into their respective England, Scotland, Wales, and anywhere else left that UKIP campaigns in, groups, as a matter of urgency.

Otherwise, its a case of "boldly going (no)where no other man has been".