Party Leader Praises Tory MPs who backed the 'Better off Out

mkpdavies · 27-04-2006, 11:17 AM

http://www.ukip.org/ukip_news/gen12.php?t=1&id=2110

Quote:

Roger Knapman, the leader of the UK Independence Party, today (26.4.06) praised the honesty and bravery of six Conservative MPs who publicly pledged to support a new campaign to take Britain out of the European Union.

The campaign entitled 'Better off Out' was launched in Westminster by the Campaign for an Independent Britain and the Freedom Association.

The MPs who publicly supported the campaign are: Bob Spink (Castle Point), Philip Davies (Shipley), Douglas Carswell (Clacton), Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield), Ann Winterton (Congleton) and Philip Holborn (Kettering).

The MPs backed the campaign just hours after their leader David Cameron had warned that there would be no place on his Front Bench for Euro-sceptics.

Mr Knapman said that it was good to see politicians refusing to be bullied and standing up for their beliefs.

"We know that many, many Conservative MPs share our views on Europe but these are the first to come out and say so publicly".

Normally I would grizzle that we are focusing on the Tories again.

Normally I would moan that we can't trust them and we should fight them.

Normally I would say this is just the issue of the EU, albeit the issue closest to my heart.

However, this is different. These six, have stood up and been counted, just after their "leader" threatened to stunt their careers. They have actually advocated withdrawal from the EU.

I think it would be VERY unwise for UKIP and it's members to waste an ounce of effort fighting these people. Indeed, I think we should help them. They have seen the light and have had the guts to stand up and say so.

The same would apply to anyone else who joined their campaign, from whatever party. UKIP is still limited in what it can acheive and this just makes our job of targeting that bit easier.

progcon.org · 27-04-2006, 11:34 AM

I agree. This is an important development and one that must be supported and nurtured.

It would be incredibly counterproductive to put party politics before a growth in cross-party support for withdrawal.

Colin McNamee · 27-04-2006, 12:24 PM

Quote:

The MPs who publicly supported the campaign are: Bob Spink (Castle Point), Philip Davies (Shipley), Douglas Carswell (Clacton), Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield), Ann Winterton (Congleton) and Philip Holborn (Kettering).

Just a minute, just a minute, where's that leading euosceptic Con MP David Heathcoat-Amory for Wells, Somerset ?

ALWAYS bleating down here in the press and on TV about how UKIP damage his vote. Can't quite grasp that all those who vote UKIP would not be voting Con anyway.

Like 'Dave' perhaps DHA's colours are blue with gold (or is it yellow?) spots.

mkpdavies · 27-04-2006, 12:45 PM

Exactly. And those kind of people get the full treatment, using the resource saved from fighting people who do have the guts to stand up and be counted.

In an ideal world, they would make the ultimate sacrifice and ditch the Tories. However, there are many reasons why they may choose not to do that.

michael mcgough · 27-04-2006, 03:32 PM

As well as the six mentioned on the UKIP website also in attendance,supporting but not speaking were Christopher Chope,Eric Forth and David Davies--ie nine are on OUR side.Fuller details are on www.tfa.net and www.betteroffout.co.uk
These MPs are the full ticket and in my opinion we should NOT challenge them.Those that don't support---well that s a different matter.At least there are 9 in the tent doing the business.
Channel 4 TV filmed extensively ,possibly for later use.

mkpdavies · 27-04-2006, 03:59 PM

It's a shame the 50 odd didn't turn up that they expected, but then that's what Camerons threat of carreer damage did. Yes you are right though, mark it up to 9 as our last seats to fight in a GE (IE never), unless of course it was deemed we could help them.

progcon.org · 27-04-2006, 04:33 PM

Think how it would strengthen this cross-party campaign if UKIP made an official statement to support it and not stand against these MP's.

EU withdrawal should be firmly placed above party politics.

Simon Richards · 27-04-2006, 04:36 PM

May I, on behalf of The Freedom Association's BETTER OFF OUT campaign, thank those on this forum for their constructive and positive comments about the nine Conservative MPs who had the guts to attend the campaign launch. Roger Knapman's magnanimous message of support for the MPs backing the campaign compared very favourably to the disgraceful remarks David Cameron and Francis Maude recently made about the UK Independence Party.

The BETTER OFF OUT campaign welcomes supporters from ALL political parties - including UKIP, the Conservatives, Labour etc., etc.

If you'd like to support the campaign, please visit the web site at www.betteroffout.co.uk[/url]

mkpdavies · 27-04-2006, 04:39 PM

It's a no-brainer for UKIP anyway. UKIP's consitiution say we will try to fight every seat. Clearly that has been impossible, due to lack of resources so far anyway.

Farage made the promise before the last election, that we would not fight the seats of MP's that advocated withdrawal. We now have 9 who have done exactly that.

I believe the NEC should change the constitution slightly, to state we will not see these seats as targets and place them at the very bottom of our list to fight. Therefore in reality we won't be fighting them, unless UKIP grows so much in strength, that there is a good chance we could be winning a lot of seats anyway.

Bluemerle · 27-04-2006, 05:15 PM

I doubt they will need any help in a General Election. They will walk it. Perhaps we should concentrate on Cameron's seat and Maude's.

27-04-2006, 12:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 31,183 Party: Libertarian Party	Exactly. And those kind of people get the full treatment, using the resource saved from fighting people who do have the guts to stand up and be counted. In an ideal world, they would make the ultimate sacrifice and ditch the Tories. However, there are many reasons why they may choose not to do that. __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

27-04-2006, 03:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 31,183 Party: Libertarian Party	It's a shame the 50 odd didn't turn up that they expected, but then that's what Camerons threat of carreer damage did. Yes you are right though, mark it up to 9 as our last seats to fight in a GE (IE never), unless of course it was deemed we could help them. __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

27-04-2006, 04:39 PM	#9 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 31,183 Party: Libertarian Party	It's a no-brainer for UKIP anyway. UKIP's consitiution say we will try to fight every seat. Clearly that has been impossible, due to lack of resources so far anyway. Farage made the promise before the last election, that we would not fight the seats of MP's that advocated withdrawal. We now have 9 who have done exactly that. I believe the NEC should change the constitution slightly, to state we will not see these seats as targets and place them at the very bottom of our list to fight. Therefore in reality we won't be fighting them, unless UKIP grows so much in strength, that there is a good chance we could be winning a lot of seats anyway. __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

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27-04-2006, 11:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
progcon.org Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 934	I agree. This is an important development and one that must be supported and nurtured. It would be incredibly counterproductive to put party politics before a growth in cross-party support for withdrawal.

27-04-2006, 03:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
michael mcgough Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Essex Posts: 1,016	As well as the six mentioned on the UKIP website also in attendance,supporting but not speaking were Christopher Chope,Eric Forth and David Davies--ie nine are on OUR side.Fuller details are on www.tfa.net and www.betteroffout.co.uk These MPs are the full ticket and in my opinion we should NOT challenge them.Those that don't support---well that s a different matter.At least there are 9 in the tent doing the business. Channel 4 TV filmed extensively ,possibly for later use.

27-04-2006, 04:33 PM	#7 (permalink)
progcon.org Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 934	Think how it would strengthen this cross-party campaign if UKIP made an official statement to support it and not stand against these MP's. EU withdrawal should be firmly placed above party politics.

27-04-2006, 04:36 PM	#8 (permalink)
Simon Richards Newbie Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 8	May I, on behalf of The Freedom Association's BETTER OFF OUT campaign, thank those on this forum for their constructive and positive comments about the nine Conservative MPs who had the guts to attend the campaign launch. Roger Knapman's magnanimous message of support for the MPs backing the campaign compared very favourably to the disgraceful remarks David Cameron and Francis Maude recently made about the UK Independence Party. The BETTER OFF OUT campaign welcomes supporters from ALL political parties - including UKIP, the Conservatives, Labour etc., etc. If you'd like to support the campaign, please visit the web site at www.betteroffout.co.uk[/url]

27-04-2006, 05:15 PM	#10 (permalink)
Bluemerle Uber Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dorset. Posts: 3,252	I doubt they will need any help in a General Election. They will walk it. Perhaps we should concentrate on Cameron's seat and Maude's.