UKIP to face fines from the Electoral Commission?

Anthony Butcher · 25-10-2004, 02:59 PM

It would appear that the recent telephone poll and the subsequent intense examination of the results by certain party members could leave the party in trouble.

It would appear that we have 233 branches/constituencies, but that only 181 of them are properly registered. This may be complete nonsense, and I am sure that nothing would come of it. However, given the spotlight now placed on the situation, the Commission may feel obliged to look INTO phpbb_the matter. Common sense would dictate that they should just issue a warning if there is actually a problem.

The following extract is taken from UKIP Uncovered. Remember that the site is rabidly anti-Knapman, so should be read with caution:

Quote:

"A pro-Kilroy Branch Chairman in eastern England has twice been in touch with the Electoral Commission about UKIP's persistent breach of the 'Accounting Unit' rules.

She has been informed that the fine for failing to report changes to the existence, termination or creation of new Accounting Units, or changes in the officials of these Accounting Units, within either the 14-day or 28-day periods required by law, may result in the Party being fined 'a minimum of £500 and a maximium of £5,000 PER ACCOUNTING UNIT'.

On the worst case scenario, given the discrepancy between 233 claimed Branches and the 181 that UKIP has so far registered with the Electoral Commission, is £260,000! - with another £5,000 for each new Branch that UKIP's Party Secretary fails to report.

Under the Party Constitution, the Party Leader is responsible for maintaining the proper administration of the Party".

mkpdavies · 25-10-2004, 03:04 PM

Good to see are own branch leaders are grassing us up for any potential mistakes we are making, thus oppening us up to fines. :roll:

RKS is right that more organisation is now required, but then I have seen lots of examples that this is starting to happen anyway. My local branch is splitting INTO phpbb_more localised section because of the rapid growth it is experiencing.

Yes any iregularities should be pointed out, but internally. We don't need some external source coming in and making a few quid out of us!

goodsize · 25-10-2004, 04:57 PM

There is no excuse for not being properly registered it is gross negligence, but then most of them run their own businesses in the same manner. How do you except the people to vote for some one like that and run the country. It is a good job that you are only a pressure group on the EU.

Anthony Butcher · 25-10-2004, 05:32 PM

As I said, there is nothing definite there. And it is up to the Party Secretary to deal with that kind of bureaucracy. Given that the party has had three secretaries in the not too distant past, it wouldn't be surprising if things had been falling INTO phpbb_some disorder.

This is hardly the most important thing to concern UKIP at the moment, and it shouldn't be blown out of proportion.

Quote:

It is a good job that you are only a pressure group on the EU

I take it then that you are not a UKIP supporter? Please note that the site is intended for members and supporters. You are welcome to post as long as you keep your criticisms reasonable and backed up.

Quote:

most of them run their own businesses in the same manner

Can you provide some evidence of that please?

goodsize · 25-10-2004, 06:01 PM

I am a UKIP support, and I do believe that all things should be in the open; if it is not “corruption follows” I understand that UKIP is a pressure group against the EU, that’s all you ever do. Only in one general election did UKIP put a PPC in all the constituencies at the cost to some Tory businessman; a name I can’t remember at the moment, and as for local government, most UKIP branches in Yorkshire could not be bothered to put forward anyone. How many bankrupts were there in the last 18 months. I understood that bankrupts are businessmen; is that not so, and UKIP is the businessman political party; that’s why we business people support it.

Anthony Butcher · 25-10-2004, 06:27 PM

Apparently the matter is now being dealt with properly by Petrina Holdsworth, the Party Chairman. In a letter to a UKIP Branch Chairman, she states that "the previous system devised by the former Party Secretary [Michael Harvey] and the former Party Treasurer [John de Roeck] has not been followed. The matter is now being looked INTO phpbb_by the Party Treasurer".

The penalties for delay in registering changes within the required 28-day period is as follows:

Delays of up to 3 months - Fine of £500
Delays of up 3 to 6 months - Fine of £1,000
Delays of 6 to 12 months - Fine of £2,000
Delays of over 12 months - Fine of £5,000.

I would hope that the Electoral Commission will apply some leniency in this case and allow the party a little time to get itself sorted out properly. However, it is being investigated by a registrar at the moment.

Anthony Butcher · 25-10-2004, 06:29 PM

goodsize,
you didn't provide any evidence of your claim that "most of them run their own businesses in the same manner". Instead you appear to have added to it with an accusation that the UKIP leadership are bankrupts?

You simply cannot make damning accusations like that without providing some evidence.

Free UK · 27-10-2004, 04:58 PM

[ I understand that UKIP is a pressure group against the EU, that’s all you ever do.

UKIP started out as pressure group Anti-Federalist League under Alan Sked and contested Parliamentary Elections.Gerard Batten suggested that to be a political party it should be called UKIP with it's own Manifesto.

Dave · 28-10-2004, 10:35 AM

mkpdavies Said;

"My local branch is splitting INTO phpbb_more localised section because of the rapid growth it is experiencing".

More naiviety, your branch is being told to split to make it harder for branches with real concern to call an EGM

rjt · 28-10-2004, 11:33 AM

That is very cynical, he might just be telling the truth some of us do. n I dont know of the precise details regarding his branch but you do seem to be looking for hidden agendas in everything.

25-10-2004, 03:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 30,615	Good to see are own branch leaders are grassing us up for any potential mistakes we are making, thus oppening us up to fines. :roll: RKS is right that more organisation is now required, but then I have seen lots of examples that this is starting to happen anyway. My local branch is splitting INTO phpbb_more localised section because of the rapid growth it is experiencing. Yes any iregularities should be pointed out, but internally. We don't need some external source coming in and making a few quid out of us! __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

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25-10-2004, 04:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
goodsize Newbie Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 7	There is no excuse for not being properly registered it is gross negligence, but then most of them run their own businesses in the same manner. How do you except the people to vote for some one like that and run the country. It is a good job that you are only a pressure group on the EU.

25-10-2004, 06:01 PM	#5 (permalink)
goodsize Newbie Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 7	I am a UKIP support, and I do believe that all things should be in the open; if it is not “corruption follows” I understand that UKIP is a pressure group against the EU, that’s all you ever do. Only in one general election did UKIP put a PPC in all the constituencies at the cost to some Tory businessman; a name I can’t remember at the moment, and as for local government, most UKIP branches in Yorkshire could not be bothered to put forward anyone. How many bankrupts were there in the last 18 months. I understood that bankrupts are businessmen; is that not so, and UKIP is the businessman political party; that’s why we business people support it.

25-10-2004, 06:27 PM	#6 (permalink)
Anthony Butcher Administrator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Long Ashton, Bristol Posts: 9,425 Party: None	Apparently the matter is now being dealt with properly by Petrina Holdsworth, the Party Chairman. In a letter to a UKIP Branch Chairman, she states that "the previous system devised by the former Party Secretary [Michael Harvey] and the former Party Treasurer [John de Roeck] has not been followed. The matter is now being looked INTO phpbb_by the Party Treasurer". The penalties for delay in registering changes within the required 28-day period is as follows: Delays of up to 3 months - Fine of £500 Delays of up 3 to 6 months - Fine of £1,000 Delays of 6 to 12 months - Fine of £2,000 Delays of over 12 months - Fine of £5,000. I would hope that the Electoral Commission will apply some leniency in this case and allow the party a little time to get itself sorted out properly. However, it is being investigated by a registrar at the moment.

25-10-2004, 06:29 PM	#7 (permalink)
Anthony Butcher Administrator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Long Ashton, Bristol Posts: 9,425 Party: None	goodsize, you didn't provide any evidence of your claim that "most of them run their own businesses in the same manner". Instead you appear to have added to it with an accusation that the UKIP leadership are bankrupts? You simply cannot make damning accusations like that without providing some evidence.

27-10-2004, 04:58 PM	#8 (permalink)
Free UK Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Yeading,Hayes,Middlesex Posts: 39	[ I understand that UKIP is a pressure group against the EU, that’s all you ever do. UKIP started out as pressure group Anti-Federalist League under Alan Sked and contested Parliamentary Elections.Gerard Batten suggested that to be a political party it should be called UKIP with it's own Manifesto.

28-10-2004, 10:35 AM	#9 (permalink)
Dave Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 229	mkpdavies Said; "My local branch is splitting INTO phpbb_more localised section because of the rapid growth it is experiencing". More naiviety, your branch is being told to split to make it harder for branches with real concern to call an EGM

28-10-2004, 11:33 AM	#10 (permalink)
rjt Uber Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Aldershot Posts: 5,151	That is very cynical, he might just be telling the truth some of us do. n I dont know of the precise details regarding his branch but you do seem to be looking for hidden agendas in everything.