Press releases I wish UKIP had issued

C_steam · 13-02-2006, 08:34 PM

Not especially - the gist is that any railway has to be inspected to the same H&S standards - no matter if it is a heritage line with 5 miles of track and speed restricted to 20MPH (IIRC).

I would expect all of the heritage railway magazines to carry something on this in their April (poss May) editions. David Morgan has a monthly slot in Railway magazine, or so I'm told.

David Holland · 14-02-2006, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Page

*** This is not a UKIP press release ***

UKIP supports steam railways

UKIP responded to reports that Health and Safety Executive regulations could force volunteers to pay bills running INTO phpbb_thousands of pounds to keep their cherished schemes alive.

Their difficulties have been caused by the executive's interpretation of an EU directive on rail safety which, their association says, has imposed upon its members an impossible burden.

A UKIP spokesman said: "It would be a tragedy if steam railways were forced to close because a quango of bureaucrats has gold-plated an EU directive.

"Already we are over-regulated, which damages our economy. UKIP calls for an end to over zealous interpretation of EU rules. We also support a bonfire of controls when the UK frees itself from the tightening grip of the EU.

"Meanwhile, we support any efforts by these excellent railways to have this ruling overturned."

*** This is not a UKIP press release ***

See the story in the Telegraph today - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main...3/nsteam13.xml

I mentioned in another thread how releases like these could also go to specialist magazines, which might be more likely to use them.

C_Steam may have some specialist knowledge here?

Hopefully after the NEC elections you will be doing this !

John Page · 17-02-2006, 08:39 AM

*** This is not a UKIP press release ***

UKIP slams government for obscuring wasteful spending

UKIP today attacked the government for the way it is pursuing its programme of efficiency savings.

A spokesman pointed to findings from the National Audit Office which showed

- Over 20% of projects aimed at delivering savings do not have baseline comparison figures attached.

- 15% of savings are due to be delivered through IT projects, where the government's record is "less than perfect".

- Most projects are not taking account of the cost of the efficiency plans themselves when calculating the savings made.

The UKIP spokesman said:

"If the government are not being wilfully devious about these projects, these findings reveal stunning incompetence which would never be tolerated in private sector businesses which have the discipline of the profit motive and cannot keep calling on taxpayers to pay for their waste. Any private sector employees who ran projects in this way would face the sack.

"It is no surprise that the CBI report that nine out of 10 British firms think the government will miss its efficiency target.

"Taxpayers' money belongs to taxpayers. Even when it comes to efficiency savings it seems the government cannot resist the urge to fiddle the figures."

*** This is not a UKIP press release ***

More here.

Bluemerle · 17-02-2006, 11:59 AM

John, UKIP leaders and press officer have missed many golden opportunities in the past few months. I think we are all very frustrated that these have not been picked up and put out. We must now do something about it.

The first thing is to get a Press Officer who is on the ball, not someone who is ducking all the important issues.

Nearly every day my husband says "why wasn't this on the front page". Things which UKIP should be saying.

New Leader, new Press Officer, new NEC, onwards and upwards.

John Page · 25-02-2006, 10:22 AM

*** This is not a UKIP press release ***

UKIP calls for abolition of the Standards Board

UKIP holds no brief for Ken Livingstone, the high spending mayor of London.

However, the decision of the Standards Board to suspend him from office for a month is a perversion of democracy.

UKIP believes Mr Livingstone's comments to the journalist were insulting and boorish. If nothing else, simple good manners should have led him to apologise.

Mr Livingstone high handedly chose not to do so. That is a reflection on his judgement, his decency, and his character.

But UKIP deplores the intervention of the unelected Standards Board quango. This government body costs the taxpayers money which could be better spent elsewhere - by the taxpayers themselves.

UKIP also notes that the Board's remit extends only to local government. If the Board was convened every time an MP or a government minister made an offensive remark, we suspect it would be very busy indeed.

*** This is not a UKIP press release ***

David Holland · 25-02-2006, 12:44 PM

[quote="John Page"]*** This is not a UKIP press release ***

/quote]

I wish it was.

Intbel · 26-02-2006, 08:18 PM

Another release NOT released by UKIP ....

We have been warning people about the "Thought Police" for years and have been considered nutters and conspiracy theorists for so doing.

Today we are vindicated.

The new inquisition has its latest victim in its hungry maw, in the form of dissident historian David Irving, sentenced in Vienna to three years in prison for blaspheming the sacred icon of Holocaustianity, those Auschwitz execution gas chambers.

"More women died in the back seat of Edward Kennedy's car at Chappaquiddick than ever died in a gas chamber at Auschwitz."

Is this line more offensive to Jews than an editorial cartoon depicting the prophet Muhammad with a turban bomb is to Muslims?

Apparently it is, because the editorial cartoonists are still free, whereas the man who made this statement - British author David Irving - was sentenced this week to three years in an Austrian jail for violating a law that says it is a crime if a person "denies, grossly trivializes, approves or seeks to justify the National Socialist genocide or other National Socialist crimes against humanity."

Mr. Irving should be free to write whatever he chooses and express whatever views he holds about any topic he likes the same as all of us.

Freedom is a principle that must be applied indiscriminately. We have to defend Irving in order to defend ourselves. Once the laws are in place to jail dissidents of Holocaust history, what's to stop such laws from being applied to dissenters of religious or political histories, or to skepticism of any sort that deviates from the accepted canon?

UKIP will always fight to retain our right to freedom of expression for this is not a right which is given or awarded - it is a birthright which can be taken away.

NOT a UKIP press release.

John Page · 27-02-2006, 03:10 PM

*** This is not a UKIP press release ***

UKIP attacks restrictions on Councillors

UKIP today attacked restrictions on councillors set out in John Prescott's code of conduct. It has been used in Powys by unelected council officials to stop councillors representing their electors' interests.

A UKIP spokesman said: "This is another undemocratic restriction on our freedoms by this centralist Labour government. It makes a mockery of their so called new strategy of empowerment, champoined by the very government Department which imposed these restrictions.

"As a libertarian party, UKIP calls for the repeal of this undemocratic measure."

*** This is not a UKIP press release ***

Sheila · 28-02-2006, 12:34 PM

The press office might also try for more accuracy in the press releases they do issue.

Such as this one
http://www.ukip.org/ukip_news/gen12.php?t=1&id=1889
which got the name of the committee wrong - it has also been suggested that one of the people mentioned was not even present (but I have not seen the minutes of the meeting yet, so can't confirm this).

Karen · 02-03-2006, 11:36 AM

To be treated seriously as mainstream political party, as we are, it is time to have our media relations run by a professional.

25-02-2006, 12:44 PM	#46 (permalink)
David Holland Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: London Posts: 1,319	[quote="John Page"]* This is not a UKIP press release * /quote] I wish it was. __________________ More people + no new homes = housing shortage.

27-02-2006, 03:10 PM	#48 (permalink)
John Page Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Welwyn Hatfield (Herts.) Posts: 1,878	Democracy denied * This is not a UKIP press release * UKIP attacks restrictions on Councillors UKIP today attacked restrictions on councillors set out in John Prescott's code of conduct. It has been used in Powys by unelected council officials to stop councillors representing their electors' interests. A UKIP spokesman said: "This is another undemocratic restriction on our freedoms by this centralist Labour government. It makes a mockery of their so called new strategy of empowerment, champoined by the very government Department which imposed these restrictions. "As a libertarian party, UKIP calls for the repeal of this undemocratic measure." * This is not a UKIP press release *

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

13-02-2006, 08:34 PM	#41 (permalink)
C_steam Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Paddling up 5hit creek..... Posts: 7,803	Not especially - the gist is that any railway has to be inspected to the same H&S standards - no matter if it is a heritage line with 5 miles of track and speed restricted to 20MPH (IIRC). I would expect all of the heritage railway magazines to carry something on this in their April (poss May) editions. David Morgan has a monthly slot in Railway magazine, or so I'm told.

17-02-2006, 08:39 AM	#43 (permalink)
John Page Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Welwyn Hatfield (Herts.) Posts: 1,878	* This is not a UKIP press release * UKIP slams government for obscuring wasteful spending UKIP today attacked the government for the way it is pursuing its programme of efficiency savings. A spokesman pointed to findings from the National Audit Office which showed - Over 20% of projects aimed at delivering savings do not have baseline comparison figures attached. - 15% of savings are due to be delivered through IT projects, where the government's record is "less than perfect". - Most projects are not taking account of the cost of the efficiency plans themselves when calculating the savings made. The UKIP spokesman said: "If the government are not being wilfully devious about these projects, these findings reveal stunning incompetence which would never be tolerated in private sector businesses which have the discipline of the profit motive and cannot keep calling on taxpayers to pay for their waste. Any private sector employees who ran projects in this way would face the sack. "It is no surprise that the CBI report that nine out of 10 British firms think the government will miss its efficiency target. "Taxpayers' money belongs to taxpayers. Even when it comes to efficiency savings it seems the government cannot resist the urge to fiddle the figures." * This is not a UKIP press release * More here.

17-02-2006, 11:59 AM	#44 (permalink)
Bluemerle Uber Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dorset. Posts: 3,252	John, UKIP leaders and press officer have missed many golden opportunities in the past few months. I think we are all very frustrated that these have not been picked up and put out. We must now do something about it. The first thing is to get a Press Officer who is on the ball, not someone who is ducking all the important issues. Nearly every day my husband says "why wasn't this on the front page". Things which UKIP should be saying. New Leader, new Press Officer, new NEC, onwards and upwards.

25-02-2006, 10:22 AM	#45 (permalink)
John Page Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Welwyn Hatfield (Herts.) Posts: 1,878	* This is not a UKIP press release * UKIP calls for abolition of the Standards Board UKIP holds no brief for Ken Livingstone, the high spending mayor of London. However, the decision of the Standards Board to suspend him from office for a month is a perversion of democracy. UKIP believes Mr Livingstone's comments to the journalist were insulting and boorish. If nothing else, simple good manners should have led him to apologise. Mr Livingstone high handedly chose not to do so. That is a reflection on his judgement, his decency, and his character. But UKIP deplores the intervention of the unelected Standards Board quango. This government body costs the taxpayers money which could be better spent elsewhere - by the taxpayers themselves. UKIP also notes that the Board's remit extends only to local government. If the Board was convened every time an MP or a government minister made an offensive remark, we suspect it would be very busy indeed. * This is not a UKIP press release *

26-02-2006, 08:18 PM	#47 (permalink)
Intbel Uber Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: In a field near you - look for the yellow and purple tent ... Posts: 4,665	Another release NOT released by UKIP .... We have been warning people about the "Thought Police" for years and have been considered nutters and conspiracy theorists for so doing. Today we are vindicated. The new inquisition has its latest victim in its hungry maw, in the form of dissident historian David Irving, sentenced in Vienna to three years in prison for blaspheming the sacred icon of Holocaustianity, those Auschwitz execution gas chambers. "More women died in the back seat of Edward Kennedy's car at Chappaquiddick than ever died in a gas chamber at Auschwitz." Is this line more offensive to Jews than an editorial cartoon depicting the prophet Muhammad with a turban bomb is to Muslims? Apparently it is, because the editorial cartoonists are still free, whereas the man who made this statement - British author David Irving - was sentenced this week to three years in an Austrian jail for violating a law that says it is a crime if a person "denies, grossly trivializes, approves or seeks to justify the National Socialist genocide or other National Socialist crimes against humanity." Mr. Irving should be free to write whatever he chooses and express whatever views he holds about any topic he likes the same as all of us. Freedom is a principle that must be applied indiscriminately. We have to defend Irving in order to defend ourselves. Once the laws are in place to jail dissidents of Holocaust history, what's to stop such laws from being applied to dissenters of religious or political histories, or to skepticism of any sort that deviates from the accepted canon? UKIP will always fight to retain our right to freedom of expression for this is not a right which is given or awarded - it is a birthright which can be taken away. NOT a UKIP press release.

28-02-2006, 12:34 PM	#49 (permalink)
Sheila Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 580	The press office might also try for more accuracy in the press releases they do issue. Such as this one http://www.ukip.org/ukip_news/gen12.php?t=1&id=1889 which got the name of the committee wrong - it has also been suggested that one of the people mentioned was not even present (but I have not seen the minutes of the meeting yet, so can't confirm this).

02-03-2006, 11:36 AM	#50 (permalink)
Karen Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Maldon Posts: 302	To be treated seriously as mainstream political party, as we are, it is time to have our media relations run by a professional.