Millennium3

It seems to me that it is time to find some resolution to the differences between the current leadership and the members on this forum.

One solution might be a compromise candidate and Gerard seems the obvious choice as he has been willing to help with UK based activities.

He is a London MEP and therefore has a London office from which the Party could be run. As an MEP he would not need to be paid. The other MEP's could help top up Gerards earnings if he lost income through spending to much time in the UK.

Nigel would remain leader of the MEP's.

Would this be the best solution in the circumstances?

mkpdavies

Being an MEP is a big minus point for me.

However, if there was a guarantee that they would focus on the UK and the party and be seen to be doing it to, then I would still consider them.

Without such a promise, you can forget it.

__________________
http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/
http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/
http://lpuk.org

My ignore list

Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

Colin McNamee

Worthy of consideration, depending on quality/potential of other candidates.

However, if other MEP's contribute to any shortfall in income could that in itself be an area of conflict of interest / pressure ?

Similar area of concern for myself.

Millennium3

I think the MEP contributions could only be a short-term solution. Once we get going again we would need to see how the members could contribute more. Labour Party have monthly DD system for members. £5 pm would bring in three times more income!

harryaldridge

I think this is a tricky issue. Being an MEP gives a person direct experience of the goings on in the EU and provides them with stories and examples. It really does help them argue the case as NF has done on many occassions.

However, it does mean they spend lots of time in the EU bubble, and cannot spend enough time leading the party back home and raising our profile.

Perhaps what we need is a strong double-act. One who is not an MEP and one who is. Campbell-Bannerman and Nigel Farage seemed to do pretty well at the local manifesto launch and around Camerons attacks. Of course there is room for improvement bu maybe this kind of double-act would work.

harryaldridge

I have suggested this many times. Why are we not already using Direct Debit to collect memebership fees and donations? It seems silly not to.

Why do we think peoples memberships lapse? some actively dont want to renew and others cant be bothered or forget. Lets make it DD and force people to actively leave if they wish but not allow them to drop off through wastage.

Millennium3

I do not know the circumstances of Mr Petrina's health - certainly hope he is well on the road to recovery. However, she has said that she intends to continue to be involved. How about Petrina for Deputy Leader - providing a certain ironic justice too.

SponPlague

You need to read the constitution - there isn't a deputy leader any more...
(has anyone told Mike :P )

One Londoner

Wow, well spotted! So who gets to play croquet on the lawn when the leader is on holiday? :wink:

And more to the point, who runs the party if the leader suddenly resigns or walks under a bus?

Millennium3

The constitution can be re-amended. I would have thought there is a need for a Deputy leader apart from One Londoners point. Extremely useful if the leader was Gerard an MEP - who must be at the EU Parliament sometimes.