Petrina Holdsworth Resigns

Alex McKee · 01-10-2005, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jean Pool

Who are the present frontrunners - And what are Mr Knapman's chances of staying at the helm? Seems like a carefully orchestrated campaign to pick off the choice berries before they have chance to reach fruition.

Well done, Roger.

Let's not speculate too much here people . . . don't want to look like idiots now do we?!

Jean Pool · 01-10-2005, 10:56 PM

It's patently obvious Ms Holdsworth was priming herself for the hotspot. A perfectly reasonable question to ask who else is in the frame, Alex.

Or if it is a foregone conclusion.

RedWhite&Blue · 01-10-2005, 10:56 PM

What a party that would make! , If Petrina joined forces with RKS!, THAT WOULD PULL THE RUG FROM UNDER EM!

Bluemerle · 02-10-2005, 12:03 AM

A further element of flux

On the eve of their own conference, with Tory MPs finally beginning to prepare for battle on the European Union, their deadly foe at the polls, the UK Independence Party is reeling from the loss of their party chairman, Petrina Holdsworth (below).

In a letter to MEPs and National Executive Council Members, she reminds them that she has "received a number of highly offensive and inaccurate emails from the Deputy Leader of our party", MEP Mike Nattrass (below).

Having replied "in a reasonable and civil fashion" and demanded an apology from him, she goes on, Nattrass had refused "and indeed added to his insults". A further request had been answered with a critical "round-robin", which, writes Holdsworth, means that "he could not have made his position clearer."

In response, writes Holdsworth, "I shall make mine clear as well":

I will not stand by and take this, all of this oafish treatment from Nattrass coupled with no backup from the leadership who should have seen that his emails were totally unacceptable in any organisation let alone in the high profile area of politics. I therefore resign from the Chairmanship and the NEC forthwith.
She was not, she added, "prepared to work with people at the top of the party who send foul mouthed and illiterate correspondence."

This development comes at a particularly sensitive time, shortly after Holdsworth had conveyed her members' concerns to UKIP MEPs that they were spending too much time in Brussels and Strasbourg. This was felt to be partially responsible for the UK profile of the party suffering, with membership plummeting from a pre-election high of 28,000 to just over 20,000 currently.

With party leader Roger Knapman – never known for his high profile – now in increasingly ill health – the Party is effectively leaderless, Petrina Holdsworth having held it together through a series of contentious changes to its constitution and management.

For some time, Nattrass has been believed to have been manoeuvring to bid for the Party leader's post, when it becomes vacant next year. Some believe he could well succeed , a move which many observers consider would be disastrous for the Party, especially as it has not been able to recruit any wealthy backers since Yorkshire millionaire Paul Sykes refused to support them at the general election.

A core of MEPs, led by Nigel Farage (left), is now understood to be under pressure to quit the Party and sit as independents, and it has been suggested that they offer to work with Tory MEPs, if the Conservative Party elects a Eurosceptic leader.

Coming while the Tory leadership campaign is in full flow, any such move could backfire badly. Tory leadership candidates – already reluctant to discuss the EU issue – could take the UKIP troubles as confirming that the European Union is no longer a major issue and that, at the next general election, UKIP will present little electoral threat.

On the other hand, this could be seen by the Tories as an opportunity to win back support from disaffected voters, by providing a robust policy on the EU.

Either way, this adds a further element of flux to a highly volatile Tory leadership contest, possibly making the outcome even more uncertain.

http://eureferendum.blogspot.com/

Bluemerle · 02-10-2005, 12:04 AM

It is Nattrass that should go. He is an illiterate oaf. :evil:

spaman · 02-10-2005, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluemerle

It is Nattrass that should go. He is an illiterate oaf. :evil:

Can anyone provide any real information on Nattrass - as to his motives and activities......... did anybody get copies of the circulating Emails...?

.........lacking the full picture here, and I know nothing of Nattrass

arden forester · 02-10-2005, 09:03 AM

I've only just seen this thread. I have always been surprised as to why Nattrass was let INTO phpbb_UKIP in the first place. If he attempts to take over as leader, for he has the "et tu Brute" methods about him, then I suggest all you good folks on this forum that believe in toleration in debate as well as putting forward critical opinions concerning Europe and our country, seize the moment!

Mikeuk · 02-10-2005, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spaman

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluemerle

It is Nattrass that should go. He is an illiterate oaf. :evil:

Can anyone provide any real information on Nattrass - as to his motives and activities......... did anybody get copies of the circulating Emails...?

.........lacking the full picture here, and I know nothing of Nattrass

I won't hear a word said against Mr Nattrass; he's a brother surveyor.

However he does bear a striking resemblence to a another FRICS once described as 'the most hated estate agent in Hampshire'. I'm sure this man's life was threatened daily by vast numbers of sacked staff, dissatisfied customers etc. Could the secret services have arranged a life-saving change of location and identity?

Surely not. Relocation to Birmingham would be a fate worse than death.

As I wrote in my Right Now! review of the recently-published UKIP history

Quote:

Sadly, the one lasting impression gained from this book is that UKIP has suffered a history of vicious infighting that no other British party, not even the old National Front, could possibly equal.

I suppose you have to be a relatively disengaged member of UKIP not to consider resigning.

Maybe I will be the last member. I hope there's money left in the pot. :wink:

komerad · 02-10-2005, 09:53 AM

Petrina resigns after rows with Nattrass about offensive E-mails, and suggestions that the MEPs spend too much time in Brussels & Strasburg to the detriment of issues at home. Perhaps the gravy is tasteing nice :?:
Farage wants to shut down the Members Association- don' like any criticism, do they?
Talk about the Liebour party :!:
If the Party Chair cannot criticise or suggest something to the cabal, what chance the membership. :cry:

C_steam · 02-10-2005, 10:19 AM

I feel I need to comment on Bluemerles previous post, or more precisely the extract from Euroreferendum, bearing in mind that 'euroreferendum' does not necessarily mean 'member of UKIP' by any stretch of the imagination.

Quote:

On the eve of their own conference, with Tory MPs finally beginning to prepare for battle on the European Union, their deadly foe at the polls, the UK Independence Party is reeling from the loss of their party chairman, Petrina Holdsworth.

Not sure about deadly foe, but what the hey.

Quote:

In a letter to MEPs and National Executive Council Members, she reminds them that she has "received a number of highly offensive and inaccurate emails from the Deputy Leader of our party", MEP Mike Nattrass.
Having replied "in a reasonable and civil fashion" and demanded an apology from him, she goes on, Nattrass had refused "and indeed added to his insults". A further request had been answered with a critical "round-robin", which, writes Holdsworth, means that "he could not have made his position clearer."

In response, writes Holdsworth, "I shall make mine clear as well":

I will not stand by and take this, all of this oafish treatment from Nattrass coupled with no backup from the leadership who should have seen that his emails were totally unacceptable in any organisation let alone in the high profile area of politics. I therefore resign from the Chairmanship and the NEC forthwith.
She was not, she added, "prepared to work with people at the top of the party who send foul mouthed and illiterate correspondence."

The above are the only extracts from petrina's letter. Everyting below is may be speculation or worse.

Quote:

This development comes at a particularly sensitive time, shortly after Holdsworth had conveyed her members' concerns to UKIP MEPs that they were spending too much time in Brussels and Strasbourg. This was felt to be partially responsible for the UK profile of the party suffering, with membership plummeting from a pre-election high of 28,000 to just over 20,000 currently.

With party leader Roger Knapman – never known for his high profile – now in increasingly ill health – the Party is effectively leaderless, Petrina Holdsworth having held it together through a series of contentious changes to its constitution and management.

For some time, Nattrass has been believed to have been manoeuvring to bid for the Party leader's post, when it becomes vacant next year. Some believe he could well succeed , a move which many observers consider would be disastrous for the Party, especially as it has not been able to recruit any wealthy backers since Yorkshire millionaire Paul Sykes refused to support them at the general election.

A core of MEPs, led by Nigel Farage (left), is now understood to be under pressure to quit the Party and sit as independents, and it has been suggested that they offer to work with Tory MEPs, if the Conservative Party elects a Eurosceptic leader.

Coming while the Tory leadership campaign is in full flow, any such move could backfire badly. Tory leadership candidates – already reluctant to discuss the EU issue – could take the UKIP troubles as confirming that the European Union is no longer a major issue and that, at the next general election, UKIP will present little electoral threat.

On the other hand, this could be seen by the Tories as an opportunity to win back support from disaffected voters, by providing a robust policy on the EU.

Either way, this adds a further element of flux to a highly volatile Tory leadership contest, possibly making the outcome even more uncertain.

Note that this briefs against Knapman, against Nattrass and suggests that there is pressure for Farage and co to 'quit the party and sit as independants'. Not true. There is some feeling that the MEP's should not sit on the NEC, but that is all, AFAIK. Do you really feel UKIP wants its MEP's to B***** off and be independants?

So, rather than being an article which either supports or doesn;t Petrina's stance, it turns INTO phpbb_a piece which - wouldn't you guess - supports Farage. That with a leadership contest coming up too.

Don't be taken in by this pro-farage spin.

02-10-2005, 09:03 AM	#17 (permalink)
arden forester Uber Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Solihull, in The Forest of Arden, Warwickshire! Posts: 2,700 Party: None	I've only just seen this thread. I have always been surprised as to why Nattrass was let INTO phpbb_UKIP in the first place. If he attempts to take over as leader, for he has the "et tu Brute" methods about him, then I suggest all you good folks on this forum that believe in toleration in debate as well as putting forward critical opinions concerning Europe and our country, seize the moment! __________________ www.ardenforester.blogspot.com www.westminster-whispers.blogspot.com

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01-10-2005, 10:56 PM	#12 (permalink)
Jean Pool Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 884	It's patently obvious Ms Holdsworth was priming herself for the hotspot. A perfectly reasonable question to ask who else is in the frame, Alex. Or if it is a foregone conclusion.

01-10-2005, 10:56 PM	#13 (permalink)
RedWhite&Blue Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: upnorth Posts: 298	What a party that would make! , If Petrina joined forces with RKS!, THAT WOULD PULL THE RUG FROM UNDER EM!

02-10-2005, 12:03 AM	#14 (permalink)
Bluemerle Uber Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dorset. Posts: 3,252	A further element of flux On the eve of their own conference, with Tory MPs finally beginning to prepare for battle on the European Union, their deadly foe at the polls, the UK Independence Party is reeling from the loss of their party chairman, Petrina Holdsworth (below). In a letter to MEPs and National Executive Council Members, she reminds them that she has "received a number of highly offensive and inaccurate emails from the Deputy Leader of our party", MEP Mike Nattrass (below). Having replied "in a reasonable and civil fashion" and demanded an apology from him, she goes on, Nattrass had refused "and indeed added to his insults". A further request had been answered with a critical "round-robin", which, writes Holdsworth, means that "he could not have made his position clearer." In response, writes Holdsworth, "I shall make mine clear as well": I will not stand by and take this, all of this oafish treatment from Nattrass coupled with no backup from the leadership who should have seen that his emails were totally unacceptable in any organisation let alone in the high profile area of politics. I therefore resign from the Chairmanship and the NEC forthwith. She was not, she added, "prepared to work with people at the top of the party who send foul mouthed and illiterate correspondence." This development comes at a particularly sensitive time, shortly after Holdsworth had conveyed her members' concerns to UKIP MEPs that they were spending too much time in Brussels and Strasbourg. This was felt to be partially responsible for the UK profile of the party suffering, with membership plummeting from a pre-election high of 28,000 to just over 20,000 currently. With party leader Roger Knapman – never known for his high profile – now in increasingly ill health – the Party is effectively leaderless, Petrina Holdsworth having held it together through a series of contentious changes to its constitution and management. For some time, Nattrass has been believed to have been manoeuvring to bid for the Party leader's post, when it becomes vacant next year. Some believe he could well succeed , a move which many observers consider would be disastrous for the Party, especially as it has not been able to recruit any wealthy backers since Yorkshire millionaire Paul Sykes refused to support them at the general election. A core of MEPs, led by Nigel Farage (left), is now understood to be under pressure to quit the Party and sit as independents, and it has been suggested that they offer to work with Tory MEPs, if the Conservative Party elects a Eurosceptic leader. Coming while the Tory leadership campaign is in full flow, any such move could backfire badly. Tory leadership candidates – already reluctant to discuss the EU issue – could take the UKIP troubles as confirming that the European Union is no longer a major issue and that, at the next general election, UKIP will present little electoral threat. On the other hand, this could be seen by the Tories as an opportunity to win back support from disaffected voters, by providing a robust policy on the EU. Either way, this adds a further element of flux to a highly volatile Tory leadership contest, possibly making the outcome even more uncertain. http://eureferendum.blogspot.com/

02-10-2005, 12:04 AM	#15 (permalink)
Bluemerle Uber Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dorset. Posts: 3,252	It is Nattrass that should go. He is an illiterate oaf. :evil:

02-10-2005, 09:53 AM	#19 (permalink)
komerad Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cardiff. S.Wales Posts: 611	Petrina resigns after rows with Nattrass about offensive E-mails, and suggestions that the MEPs spend too much time in Brussels & Strasburg to the detriment of issues at home. Perhaps the gravy is tasteing nice :?: Farage wants to shut down the Members Association- don' like any criticism, do they? Talk about the Liebour party :!: If the Party Chair cannot criticise or suggest something to the cabal, what chance the membership. :cry: