UKIP leader = hardest job in politics.

mkpdavies · 25-05-2006, 09:56 AM

Let's be honest.

As most UKIP members are not of the sheep variety, managing to keep this rabble of anti-establishment, single-minded, fruitcakes and gadflies is a monumental task.

You'd have to be mad to take the task on.

Perhaps that's where UKIP go wrong. It doesn't cater well enough for sheeple.

John Page · 25-05-2006, 10:21 AM

Hi Matt

Unusually, I don't agree with any of your post.

I accept that UKIP has a higher proportion of politically minded members than Labour or the Conservatives.

Of course the party's present sense of drift makes people querulous. But I believe many members (and the small minority who post here are by definition not typical) want visible leadership, a clear direction, and responsiveness.

All three are lacking.

The party needs clear choices in the forthcoming leadership election. Hence this. Then I really don't see why this should be a particularly hard party to lead, certainly as far as the mass membership are concerned.

mkpdavies · 25-05-2006, 10:40 AM

While I agree the current leadership have been abject failures in almost every department, I do actually think the best leaders in the world would be critisised by at least one chunk of the party.

Lot's of independent thinkers. Lot's of cynical types. Lot's of Victor Meldrews.

I guess what I am trying to say is, whoever the new leader is, they will have to have thick skin.

No shrinking violets, who get upset by a bit of critisism and circle the wagons at the first sign of trouble.

You don't have to take everything on board, but you do have to listen and keep an open mind.

Something that has been badly lacking from a number of the current old guard.

John Page · 25-05-2006, 10:59 AM

Every party leader gets criticised by some of their party most of the time (that is, except when they've just won an election!).

Every party leader needs to set the vision, make things happen, and communicate, communicate, communicate, both inside and outside the party.

Members want visible leadership, a clear direction, and responsiveness. The manifestos when they appear must make candidates' visions clear, so that losers accept that the majority voted for the winner's clearly expressed vision.

Every party leader needs a thick skin.

I still don't see leading UKIP as "the hardest job in politics".

douglas denny · 25-05-2006, 11:06 AM

[quote][quote="John Page"

I still don't see leading UKIP as "the hardest job in politics".[/quote]

Then you are admirably suited to the job.
Iexpect to see your application put in soon. 8)

Douglas.

John Page · 25-05-2006, 11:13 AM

Hi Douglas

I didn't say it wasn't hard!

I just said it's not "the hardest job in politics", which was the proposition of this thread.

Should you be interested, I knocked up a quick view of what a new leader should do.

UkipScot · 25-05-2006, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Page

I still don't see leading UKIP as "the hardest job in politics".

Perhaps "most frustrating" would be a better definition...

Intbel · 25-05-2006, 05:18 PM

Being a leader of any political Party is not an easy job.
It becomes more difficult when you are leader of the opposition.
And when you get to be PM things just get worse ...

Yup, you need to have a thick skin; to be able to not allow hostile comments to affect you on a personal level and even be able to turn such comments to your advantage.

kernow · 26-05-2006, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkpdavies

Perhaps that's where UKIP go wrong. It doesn't cater well enough for sheeple.

I really think how to appeal to the "Sheeple" is a serious problem for the UKIP leadership! Appealing to the UKIP chattering class on this forum will not win us any seats in Westminster, but somehow coming up with how to appeal to the sheeple (alias Joe Public) just might! Crime and Immigration are the things uppermost in Joe Public's mind, health and education come 3rd and 4th. UKIP needs to be a "Liberal" political party ,but not were crime and Immigration are concerned!

Petrina · 29-05-2006, 09:59 AM

UKIP should be an easy party to lead as we are all committed to one aim .The rank and file are in the main ,determined and dedicated to their task .

What makes UKIP difficult is that the main power base of the Party is now based abroad and has developed a bunker like mentality because as a group they see themselves under attack .So much so that there is clearly
a possibility that they may not accept the decision of the membership on the new leader if he/she is not to their liking .

Any new leader if not " the chosen one " faces very real difficulties from that quarter .

What we need is a senior member to act as a President /Fixer and bash some heads together .It will have to be someone who is known and respected by both camps but not directly involved with either .

If we let the whole thing dissolve because of our personal differences it will be a tragedy .

No one owns this party ,only the membership do .

25-05-2006, 09:56 AM	#1 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 31,183 Party: Libertarian Party	UKIP leader = hardest job in politics. Let's be honest. As most UKIP members are not of the sheep variety, managing to keep this rabble of anti-establishment, single-minded, fruitcakes and gadflies is a monumental task. You'd have to be mad to take the task on. Perhaps that's where UKIP go wrong. It doesn't cater well enough for sheeple. __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

25-05-2006, 10:40 AM	#3 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 31,183 Party: Libertarian Party	While I agree the current leadership have been abject failures in almost every department, I do actually think the best leaders in the world would be critisised by at least one chunk of the party. Lot's of independent thinkers. Lot's of cynical types. Lot's of Victor Meldrews. I guess what I am trying to say is, whoever the new leader is, they will have to have thick skin. No shrinking violets, who get upset by a bit of critisism and circle the wagons at the first sign of trouble. You don't have to take everything on board, but you do have to listen and keep an open mind. Something that has been badly lacking from a number of the current old guard. __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

25-05-2006, 05:18 PM	#8 (permalink)
Intbel Uber Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: In a field near you - look for the yellow and purple tent ... Posts: 4,665	Being a leader of any political Party is not an easy job. It becomes more difficult when you are leader of the opposition. And when you get to be PM things just get worse ... Yup, you need to have a thick skin; to be able to not allow hostile comments to affect you on a personal level and even be able to turn such comments to your advantage. __________________ We are all free to choose - every step of the way - no exceptions.

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25-05-2006, 10:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
John Page Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Welwyn Hatfield (Herts.) Posts: 1,878	Hi Matt Unusually, I don't agree with any of your post. I accept that UKIP has a higher proportion of politically minded members than Labour or the Conservatives. Of course the party's present sense of drift makes people querulous. But I believe many members (and the small minority who post here are by definition not typical) want visible leadership, a clear direction, and responsiveness. All three are lacking. The party needs clear choices in the forthcoming leadership election. Hence this. Then I really don't see why this should be a particularly hard party to lead, certainly as far as the mass membership are concerned.

25-05-2006, 10:59 AM	#4 (permalink)
John Page Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Welwyn Hatfield (Herts.) Posts: 1,878	Every party leader gets criticised by some of their party most of the time (that is, except when they've just won an election!). Every party leader needs to set the vision, make things happen, and communicate, communicate, communicate, both inside and outside the party. Members want visible leadership, a clear direction, and responsiveness. The manifestos when they appear must make candidates' visions clear, so that losers accept that the majority voted for the winner's clearly expressed vision. Every party leader needs a thick skin. I still don't see leading UKIP as "the hardest job in politics".

25-05-2006, 11:06 AM	#5 (permalink)
douglas denny Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: CHICHESTER Posts: 1,120 Party: UKIP	[quote][quote="John Page" I still don't see leading UKIP as "the hardest job in politics".[/quote] Then you are admirably suited to the job. Iexpect to see your application put in soon. 8) Douglas.

25-05-2006, 11:13 AM	#6 (permalink)
John Page Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Welwyn Hatfield (Herts.) Posts: 1,878	Hi Douglas I didn't say it wasn't hard! I just said it's not "the hardest job in politics", which was the proposition of this thread. Should you be interested, I knocked up a quick view of what a new leader should do.

29-05-2006, 09:59 AM	#10 (permalink)
Petrina Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: sussex Posts: 1,037	UKIP should be an easy party to lead as we are all committed to one aim .The rank and file are in the main ,determined and dedicated to their task . What makes UKIP difficult is that the main power base of the Party is now based abroad and has developed a bunker like mentality because as a group they see themselves under attack .So much so that there is clearly a possibility that they may not accept the decision of the membership on the new leader if he/she is not to their liking . Any new leader if not " the chosen one " faces very real difficulties from that quarter . What we need is a senior member to act as a President /Fixer and bash some heads together .It will have to be someone who is known and respected by both camps but not directly involved with either . If we let the whole thing dissolve because of our personal differences it will be a tragedy . No one owns this party ,only the membership do .