Biscuitman

REPORT ON CONFERENCE SENT TO ME BY A MEMBER:-

SUMMARY OF OUTCOMES OF 2005 UKIP ANNUAL CONFERENCE 8.OCTOBER - THEME “THE WAY FORWARD”

Party conferences are partly jamborees of pep talk rhetoric. These aspects are mainly ignored in this review. Instead of an agenda of events this summary tries to summarise the conference content that is relevant to UKIP becoming a credible party attractive to members and the electorate.

MEPs and NEC as a whole were not wheeled on to the stage. There was no question time provision.

PLANNING “THE WAY FORWARD” ANNUAL ACCOUNTS & FINANCIAL POSITION/PLAN
None presented but see Dick Horsenell objectives

MEMBERSHIP
Not covered, See Leader comments.

REPORTS ON PAST YEAR LOGISTICS AND POLITICAL AIMS & ACTIVITY AND WHAT WAS ACHIEVED BY (a) LEADERSHIP b) NEC c) MEPs)
Only Petrina below. Titford – “Many people want to know what MEPs do” (but we were then not told)

POLITICAL BUSINESS PLAN, ACTIVITY, OBJECTIVES AND TARGETS FOR COMING YEAR
No integrated “top down “political plan presented as such (or seems to exist) but there are several stand alone initiatives (see following). However Petrina (not attending) had prepared “The way forward” speech verbalised by Peter Baker and/or noted in agenda as:-.

Party machine needed complete overhaul but had to wait until after general election

Since then structure improved by new appointments (see later), more to come

Message - Down to us to educate the people, stick to moral high ground and not be tarred

Internals – We need to identify and develop talent in the party

High grade pamphlets needed – & not just on EU. “No” worked in past but we now need +ve images

Decent Print Press facilities - £25k

Must show small businesses that UKIP is relevant

Member Forum will be held late 2005 or early 2006 to get views of members

NEC reviewing rules -Draft New Constitution for comment later this year

NEW STAFF RESOURCES

ADMINISTRATION STRENGTHENING NEW POSTS

GENERAL SECRETARY - GEOFFREY KINGSCOTTE - “Party is restructuring & this needs to be done quickly.” Aims to improve co-ordination/communication with members. Invites members to write to him on admin matters. Says “important to get views of members heard”. Sees he is responsible to Leader of this party ie “all 25,000 of them!”

BY ELECTION COORDINATOR - STEVE ALISON – “need right candidate in right campaign”

LOCAL ELECTION CO-ORDINATOR - JONATHON ARNOTT – see later

ASSISTANT PRESS OFFICER – STEPHEN SOBEY – ex foreign office press officer

FUND RAISER – DICK HORSENELL@ ukip.org – (most successful candidate in general election) Target £20m by next election! Small businesses up to 250 staff will be targeted, tailoring message to each type of business, trading UKIP stance of getting rid of EU regs that strangle such businesses for small business £ and other support for UKIP.

ASSISTANT PRESS OFFICER - CLIVE PAGE - gift of the gab & humorous – Said no system of liaison between Regional & Central Press Offices – “ We don’t make the news but just push it out” - “Up to leader/MEPs to come up with the news”

BBC - No conspiracy, “we get more from BBC than we have a right to expect!” (PW note – why then did UKIP get completely excluded from pre gen election BBC political analysis) “Deal is BBC national gives UKIP parity where UKIP strong (but doesn’t work re local stations & poor deal from ITV etc”). “Inquiry showed BBC bias in pro EU reporting & not considering withdrawal as an acceptable option for media scrutiny. - so BBC now retraining staff.”

RESEARCH CO-ORDINATOR - TONY BUTCHER – Aim is to get grass roots involved ( see link through ukipforum.org)

ADMIN
PRINTING FACILITIES - A large scale modern integrated bulk printing facility is being set up SW HQ. £12k needed (subsequently announced as pledged)

ALAN BOWN (Major patron). Confirms continued financial backing for UKIP & Leader & sponsoring of 3 initiatives: - a) Catering company for UKIP events, b) Leaflets (see later), c) identify RISING TALENT IN UKIP through “Opportunity Knocks” Region heats open to all except NEC/MEPS/ROs. Competitors to speak for 5mins on any subject. Prizes £1000 down to £250, with 11 finalists to be given a free Brussels trip to EU.

LEAFLETS & BROCHURES – Alan Bown - “UKIP needs top quality Leaflets & brochures. idea is to print sequence of small brochures targeting specific business ( eg health food shops )

LOCAL ELECTION STRATEGY - (2006 1/3 seats up, all in 2007)
Jon Arnott seems now to have the “ideas” role with David Samuel Camps dealing with election procedure and Mark Croucher the media aspects. (Colin Cain also involved in UKIP Local)

David said a “UKIP LOCAL” website will be set up for UK wide candidate info exchange. Updated manual & Local Policy document nears completion & guide for 1st time candidates.

Aim is to have a single identity & style in material used. Usual call for local involvement.

Message needs to show public that UKIP can make a difference at local level.

Presence in local elections may “influence” regional assemblies
John – Cost effective National leaflets will be designed /printed for local elections (one side national other for local say), with choice of designs to reflect Lib/Lab/Con controlled wards...

“Evidence is that MP success needs local election success (also makes party visible)”. Themes “power to the people “ Election positions include waste on regional assemblies, halving Council tax , get rid of politically correct jobs, local referendum & facing up to crisis of LA pensions burden.
Mark - Branches to select a press officer and make name known to National Press Office- Training courses for branch press officers will be set up. Key to entry INTO phpbb_local media is local issues.

Party will develop selected issues eg local business rates


YOUTH UKIP (For under 30s) www.ukipyouth.org

Now being properly set up with a constitution & website. All speakers passionate & eloquent.

ALEX McKEE (chairman, not present)

KATY DAVIES – Nigel’s assistant - ex NUS education committee - UKIPyouth will not be a youth club but instead inspire young people INTO phpbb_what they can do about their concerns. UKIP blocked from NUS conference Katy fighting this.

MATHEW FAITHFUL – Rushcliffe candidate – Midlands County committee- (I might have wrong who said the following) – vivid explanation that young people don’t understand what we mean by “country” or “belief” as in the education system they have none. Hence cultural impoverishment. Slogan needed “we want to give you a country “(with values to live by) & make such education a prime issue. Young need to be educated by UKIP in ways they understand on what we are losing to EU. Same to country but also make it worth saving. Turn tide stop the rot.

DELROY YOUNG - Blaby candidate – change social ethos to respect elderly, only 1 way, the British way, challenge multiculturism and political correctness

JOHN WEST – Suffolk - “Joined as I believe in truth- need to address domestics not just EU “

MEMBERS ASSOCIATION ( see link through ukipforum.org )
It seems Mark Croucher prevented handing out of material in foyer. It seems Nigel apologised for having a go at MA (it seems he misunderstood who was handing out another leaflet). It was unfortunate that the MA did not have a proper airing at the conference.

MOTIONS - 44 motions presented (full list published), only 3 chosen, key ones excluded

PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION – Graham Booth - Voted down 408 (for 260, abstain 15).

This was an important motion as some electoral reform is essential for UKIP to win an MP seat in the foreseeable future. Unfortunately it was clumsily presented (Graham spoke after the vote! saying 26 MPs would be won on the 2004 vote %) and not actively “sold” by the leadership. Opposition was principled against PR as corrupting and interpreting the motion as solely about PR rather than broad options of electoral reform. I spoke to Gerard Batten ( who had prepared a paper on reform) afterwards & put to him that the motion did and should not prevent UKIP actively lobbying for non full PR electoral reform. He agreed.

FLAT RATE TAX – Denis Walker Bosworth Chairman Passed 340 against 10
Well outlined as being a potential UKIP platform both understandable, easily explained and electorally appealing as not a benefit for the rich but crucially the poor and pensioners s, with most other tax payers also benefiting due to simplification resulting in higher tax yields (because less need for evasion).

DEFENCE – Worthy but not really relevant to UKIP priorities so not covered. However a significant point was a show of hands wanting UKIP as a priority to make public aware of police state nature of the EU. Speaker turned to leader saying “please note”

KEY SPEAKERS
GERARD BATTEN – Dealing with the terrorist threat - Ref his UKIP briefing document September 2005. - ( Notably UKIP was silent after the London atrocities and took no political position versus other party guilt and proposals until Gerrard eventually spoke out in his London MEP category.)

He emphasised government failures, government threat to our civil liberties, and irrelevance of traditional “negotiation” solutions “no negotiable demands”.

He wants independent multi aspect enquiry INTO phpbb_long term government failure ( Londistahn), ethos change, repeal of HR Act, tackling asylum/immigration abuse/chaos , update of treason laws, expectation of loyalty and UK identity ( eg challenge multiculturism ) withdrawal of citizenship obtained under false pretences.

This speech is significant re branches taking a stronger stance at local elections on pc pandering to hatred of UK or non muslims..

JOHN WHITTAKER MEP – EXCHANGE RATES ETC – Good authoritive speaker on complex subject. He has been monitoring recent EU developments.

Important bit is the cosmetic target of EU to “reduce” regulations by setting up “better regulations and scrutiny committees “ & “Competition & Innovation framework Committees” ( ie more bureaucracy/staff/programme/ seize up. Conclusion- Previously people have not noted financial impact of EU. When people get hit in pocket things will change. It will be the economy that brings realisation that future is NOT the EU.

DICK MORRIS - spoke well in motivation rhetoric – “Backdoor & salami slicing is the essence of the EU elite approach to bypass the electorate to get its way as they know electorate will never agree to what is going on”.

Developed a theme that UKIP MEP election success was the trigger for Blair’s referendum thus triggering the French one which was lost. Hence indirectly UKIP stalled the EU dream & hence “ It does not matter if UKIP is not represented in Westminster , THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT UKIP EXISTS & speaks out at attempts at EU integration & guards the back door”. “UKIP is only reason Tories are not marching INTO phpbb_EU”

NIGEL – Emphasised media assumption that the EU problem had gone away since the French/Dutch referendum & UKIP needs to do everything it can to reveal back door implementation of EU agenda & roll on to integration. Eventually EU will overreach itself and fail.

Wants Ken Clarke as Tory leader to end the myth that Tory Party establishment is Euro sceptic.

UKIP should put Country before Party and back anyone from ANY party that “outs” against the EU.

Blames Petrina fiasco on use of email used instead of phone. Wants party discipline at top & full time paid chairman “not surprising Petrina resigned a demanding unpaid job costing her £15k plus /yr.”.

“Members Association” not needed, let’s get fresh ideas & people but within party discipline, (heckled by member demanding transparency). UKIP most united and confident I have seen it.” “We won’t get MPs elected without many Councillors first. Lot of success in politics comes from “good planning”. Core message needs to be “We want our country back”.

ROGER KNAPMAN – Funny clever motivating speech, partly refuting doubters & having gone at Tories, he has come a long way in presentation. He gained a standing ovation by the great majority of the audience which means his position is secure. The substance portion of what he said was …..

Politics of ideology to be replaced by politics of identity (We are British & going to remain so) “Free trade & friendship YES, Political Union NO “.
Take long view – quoted Temperance candidate 1908, 650 votes. On 6th try (30yrs?) seat won.

UKIP successes not just due to electoral success- we have moved issues onto political ground other parties don’t want to tread. ( presumably EU) Even when we don’t win we apply pressure/

We have to fight battle alone as we builDs a party as well as a pressure group ( despite some Tories now outing to a “pull out of EU” position, don’t count on Tory policy change) . Last year we were a party, now we are a pressure group. Does it matter?

UKIP will do better, as party of winners. Despite setbacks we must not lose sight of objectives

A few members gone, so what, fair weather friends, membership numbers will soon go back up. “He that hath no stomach for the fight depart” ( Henry V ?)

REFERENDUM POSITION – Yes they go in the bin but 1m will stretch round Buckingham Palace & encourage French euro sceptics. All we have to do is convince people to vote in referendum. If we then lose we will demand another –just as in the EU (a joke, (I think))

UKIP will watch the back door (China wall breached not by armies but by bribery of gate keepers)

Several ways to get out of EU (eg collapse) as well as voting out.

BRIEF CONCLUSIONS
POSITIVE ( mainly but not exclusively to initiatives originating outside the UKIP establishment)

Party infrastructure remains viable for future transformation INTO phpbb_an ambitious political party

The rise of Member Association opens door to filter combine and strengthen members concerns

The NEC agreement to a research post opens door to UKIP generating credible material

The establishment of youthkip sets up a pathway to encourage young members & ideas

Organisation/admin/media access/fundraising strengthened by new HQ posts

The slight emergence of comment that UKIP needs to start developing positive messages

Strengthening printing capability. Strengthening quality leaflet design capability

Establishing central access information base for local government UKIP involvement.

Beginnings of identifying priority political platforms for local government elections

Alan BOWN competition to identify talent Alan Bown still on board financially

Beginnings of recognition that UKIP must campaign on electoral reform to achieve MP seats

A potential domestic policy emerging – flat rate tax

One MEP ( Gerard Batten) had a stall with leaflets for member information on his policies

NEGATIVE ( mainly relating to the UKIP establishment )
Leadership gave the impression of being complacent and comfortable with the status quo situation

Impression of much activity but mental laziness at the top with “gentlemens club “ cosiness

The 3 centres of power seem more or less to do their own thing (MEPgroup, NEC, Leader group).

UKIP now firmly back to being a one issue party with only lip service to being a 4th domestic party Electoral ambition drastically downgraded ( 30 year view, mere existence of UKIP enough )

Interest in local government merely because this is assumed to be pathway to winning MP seats

No real interest in initiatives to tackle regionalisation

No recognition of potential electoral disaster in 3 ½ & 4 ½ years unless UKIP establishes credibility

UKIP as a pressure group seems to be a replacement to instead of essential dimension to UKIP’s role. No sign that petition for a referendum will be a real campaign to educate for and win a referendum.

The Petrina fiasco allowed to happen, making UKIP look buffoons and a joke party in the media

Petrina unsuccessful in getting MEP resources more focussed on a non EU UKIP priorities

Unconcern that MEPs NEC & leadership do not deem it necessary to explain what they do

Overall - limited and half hearted political objectives and none really in domestic politics

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IF THE EU WAS THE ANSWER, IT MUST HAVE BEEN A STUPID QUESTION!

prober

It is difficult to see that UKIP has learned much from the general election result. ie UKIP sees that an efficient election machine and shouting louder will eventually win us seats.

What is missing is the realisation that the obsession of UKIP with "saying No", reliance only on simple messages and refusal to explain itself as a brand, set of beliefs, principles etc to the public will simply not get enough votes ( 50% needed on EU constitution insterad of 16% and 30% needed at an MP election instead of 10% ). The UKIP leadership is simply blind to or unconcerned that UKIP needs to establish multi aspect credibility with public, media, and political chatterers as a real political movement.

The Leader's statement of contempt of those that have left UKIP (" He that has no stomach for the fight depart") seems blind to the reality that these people gave up on UKIP mainly because the Leadership seemed to have given up the fight.

There was no indication of any humility by the Leadershio at the conference in recognizing the need to build the shattered morale amogst activists and indifference of members.

So where do we go from here ?

Biscuitman

Lechlade 12th November, thats where.

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IF THE EU WAS THE ANSWER, IT MUST HAVE BEEN A STUPID QUESTION!