Swivel Eyed Fanatic

Even if we have a valid discipline pannel what are it's powers? Ask people nicely "Please don't be naughty again"?

UKIP as a party have no stick to enforce discipline with......if you throw someone out of the party then how will that hurt them? If you throw an MEP out of the party then they don't even have to give up their seat, ask RK-S about that one! If an MEP is suspended pending a criminal investigation, which was pending but he didn't declare before his election then what happens to him? You cannot enforce discipline without being able to enfoce sanctions, something the pacafist brigade seem to overlook when they call for unliateral dissarmament.

The other approach is rhe carrot? What Carrots do we have, be good and you'll get a safe seat in the next eclection, be good and we'll get you a cushy job in Brussels, well there are a limited number of those to hand out......

So it's all accademic anyway, the only discipline UKIP Has is self discipline.......

Anthony Butcher

This is another reason to increase the number of positions available in the party, even if they aren't paid. The spokesmen should be regarded as the top spots in the party, with people vying for home/foreign affairs etc.

However, as you say, there is almost nothing to aim for; no carrots and no sticks. We don't seem to have any regular reshuffles to encourage good behaviour either.

Nor does it help when senior figures step in to take over roles already assigned to others. Peter Baker was put in charge of the conference, but was overruled at the last minute for example, as happened the year before. Trevor Coleman was in charge of the party manifesto, but was dismissed very close to the general election in favour of one of the MEPs, I believe.

Swivel Eyed Fanatic

Well there is another problem, who can afford to take an unpaid position in the Party and give it the attention it needs......answer, those with a private income, pension, MEP's salary, etc. How many partry members can afford not to work, I know my wife complains now about the time I put INTO phpbb_UKIP when i could be earning money at my real job.....how many young, ambitious graduates could work for UKIP for nothing, I know the idealistic flock to work for Labour and to a lesser extent the Conservatives and Lib-dems but they can offer the ultimate carrot, a nice safe seat in the House of Commons for life and a nice big pension when you give it up...maybe even a seat in the Lords if you've been a good boy or girl.....