Bluemerle

When is the next Lechlade meeting?? I hope it hasn't packed up because I think it is only through some sensible discussions that we can ever regroup and take the Party forward.

Anthony Butcher

We have reached the stage where everything that the Lechlade group stands for is up for grabs in the leadership election. There are several hustings on the way, so it seems a bit pointless to have a meeting at this time.

Colin McNamee

Great shame and not sure I follow the logic.

I have been interested in attending for sometime but was unable to make last meeting in Lechlade and away for Bovey Tracey meeting.

Discussion and ideas could have influenced leadership candidates. I thought influence was what Lechlade was about?

Also the subsequent controversy regarding the East Midlands meeting could have been openly discussed and clarified Lechlade position as well, possibly, that of Delroy Young.

tamashi

I am not a member of "lechlade" but followed their antics via the forum.

In answer to the question "has Lechlade packed up" it would seem YES would be appropriate.

The naivety of the group has been its undoing and the claim it has gone quiet because of the Leadership election is very strange when compared to its activity leading up to the NEC Elections.

Could it be Lechlade was only ever a vehicle for certain people to advance onto the NEC and now that has been achieved the group has served its purpose and disbanded?

Or perhaps the defection of their "token black" to the enemy has finally shown the Lechlade Group that they were "usefull idiots" whose time has past and so can be allowed to die?

Anthony Butcher

The problem is that the primary function of the group is to discuss and encourage policy direction of the party. We are now in a situation where that is all that is happening because of the leadership election. What would be the point of a Lechlade meeting when there are hustings around the country?

We also suffered because the group divided on who to support in the election - some preferred Delroy over Richard because they know him better.

Hence there is little room for the group at the moment, but that doesn't mean that it won't rise from the ashes after the election. Indeed if the right person is elected, it may prove to be even more popular so that members can voice their optimism and ideas for the future.

tamashi

Good,

I hope Lechlade does return, any party needs dissenting voices or the yes men (and women) have no one to call them to account.

As regards a forum for ideas, I would prefer the NEC hold their meetings in different regions around the country rather than London and each meeting should have two parts. An open forum where any member can discuss items on the Agenda or indeed place items onto the Agenda themselves. The NEC meting proper should then follow this. Any member with a good idea then had a direct route to the NEC should they wish to take the matter right to the top. There would obviously have to be some rules regarding structure to prevent the same person turning up every meeting to ride the same hobbyhorse. Perhaps one of the Leadership Candidates might want to take up this as a policy?

BASILDON BOY

We have UKIPH**E now - so goodbye Lechlade!

B.A.Ware

We have UKIPH**E now - so goodbye Lechlade! :? :?

Hi Bluemerle

The Lechlade has not gone away, If you remember our goals were to get members on the NEC and to back a reforming leadership candidate.

We have achieved the first goal and now we are working hard trying to achieve the other, perhaps when Richard wins the election we can have a Lechlade meeting, which Richard can come and attend.

THE POWER OF THE FORUM

John Page

I'm a relatively recent arrival to Lechlade. I've always understood we will facilitate meetings where local UKIP members want us to, but we're not about turning up in the town square, banging a drum, and demanding to be heard.

So - we're not top down, we're bottom up.

kernow

Tell me John, does the whole of the Lechlade group support the same candidate?