Many thanks to all who campaigned in Bromley

Anthony Butcher · 03-07-2006, 01:06 PM

http://www.ukip.org/ukip_news/gen12.php?t=1&id=2297

Quote:

Without doubt the Bromley by-election was a hard fought contest. Nigel worked from before dawn to late into the night, literally. His campaigning day stared at 6.00am when he was meeting commuters outside railway stations and ended at 9.00pm when it became too late to continue door knocking. The campaign team were all first class and deserve congratulations rather than criticism. The team know who they are and so I will not name individuals but they were all hard working and enthusiastic. Valuable lessons were learned for the future and the next by-election will be even better.

The local Party were extremely supportive and there were upwards of 50 people on the streets some days. The entire constituency had a last minute leaflet delivered on the final Wednesday of the campaign. However, UKIP were still out gunned by the Liberal Democrats. Their by-election machinery and the manpower they mobilise is a lesson to us all. UKIP’s support had reached a peak of around 18% to 20% with three days of the campaign remaining. This was confirmed by polls from the other parties and the early postal vote returns.

The support however dropped away in the last three days as more and more tactical voting was promoted. Labour and Tory voters were persuaded to stay away rather than vote UKIP and the floating voters were heavily targeted by the Lib-Dems with their message that only they could beat the Tories. Unfortunately the electorate fell for it, once again, and firm UKIP supporters cast their vote for the Lib-Dems in a vain hope of beating the Tories. If the electorate could be persuaded to vote with their heads rather than with their tribal loyalties then UKIP could have easily been second or might even have won the Bromley by-election.

There has also been speculation on the amount of money spent by UKIP on the Bromley and Chislehurst by-election and much comment on whether it was value for money. As Election Agent for Nigel Farage it is my legal responsibility to prepare the election accounts, which will then be a matter of public record. Until the accounts are completed and signed by myself and the Candidate then any final total is pure speculation.

Unfortunately for our country things are going to have to get an awful lot worse before the electorate turn to UKIP. The sad thing is that I believe things will inevitably get much much worse and I only hope it is not too late when the people finally wake up.

Congratulations to Nigel on an energetic and well fought campaign and thanks once again to the campaign team and the UKIP members who turned out at Bromley and Chislehurst. Our day will come. Until then we keep fighting, keep learning and keep getting better and better.

Stephen Allison
UKIP Campaign Manager
Bromley and Chislehurst

Anthony Butcher · 03-07-2006, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Allison

Unfortunately for our country things are going to have to get an awful lot worse before the electorate turn to UKIP.

This is a statement I have to disagree with. Defeatist comments like this are, I think, based on the fact that UKIP's brand is very poor at the moment and the belief that it won't ever improve. It is also based on the idea that UKIP is an EU pressure group, and that voters will only look to us is and when the EU becomes the predominant issue of the day. That may never happen.

If I believed that we have to wait for the electorate to come to us, I would pack it all in today. But I don't. We have barely scratched the surface of what UKIP can achieve if UKIP can turn itself into a credible alternative to the other three parties as a pro-British party.

I think's Steve's comments sum up why the anti-EU pressure group strategy is doomed to consistent failure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Allison

UKIP’s support had reached a peak of around 18% to 20% with three days of the campaign remaining. This was confirmed by polls from the other parties and the early postal vote returns.

The support however dropped away in the last three days as more and more tactical voting was promoted. Labour and Tory voters were persuaded to stay away rather than vote UKIP

Do people really chop and change their votes like that during a by-election? Steve has a lot more experience of all this than me though.

radical spartacus · 03-07-2006, 09:53 PM

i found canvassing in Bromley by- bow a doddle,just joking. the greener pastures of bromley were pleasant;compared to some canvassing i have done in lambeth, and parts of surrey,most people at least took my literature,and were prepared to at least wish ukip good luck,even if they didn't mean it.

if we gain membership then it would be worth it,if as i feel most people are only interested in their own wage packet and dreadful programs which i don't watch,like bbrother.then you would need VALIUM,!

One piece of good news in pasttimes ,people are 73% interested in History, football 47%,so we have to hope they believe history started before 1973?

mkpdavies · 03-07-2006, 10:17 PM

There were some "rougher" areas in Bromley too. Can't think why they sent me into to do them bits.

Clippo · 04-07-2006, 07:55 AM

Steve Alison wrote:-

Quote:

Valuable lessons were learned for the future and the next by-election will be even better.

Anyone know what these lessons are?

BASILDON BOY · 04-07-2006, 08:10 AM

Squeeze the party that is in 2nd and 3rd like the LibDesm do?

'Its a 2 horse race' 'Labour can't win here'

Anthony Butcher · 04-07-2006, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clippo

Anyone know what these lessons are?

Steve Allison and Piers Merchant did compile some good reports on previous by-elections so that the experience isn't lost. I presume that they will do the same for this one.

03-07-2006, 09:53 PM	#3 (permalink)
radical spartacus Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 54	i did a bit of canvassing in bromley i found canvassing in Bromley by- bow a doddle,just joking. the greener pastures of bromley were pleasant;compared to some canvassing i have done in lambeth, and parts of surrey,most people at least took my literature,and were prepared to at least wish ukip good luck,even if they didn't mean it. if we gain membership then it would be worth it,if as i feel most people are only interested in their own wage packet and dreadful programs which i don't watch,like bbrother.then you would need VALIUM,! One piece of good news in pasttimes ,people are 73% interested in History, football 47%,so we have to hope they believe history started before 1973?

03-07-2006, 10:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 32,078 Party: Libertarian Party	There were some "rougher" areas in Bromley too. Can't think why they sent me into to do them bits. __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Lib Dems

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04-07-2006, 08:10 AM	#6 (permalink)
BASILDON BOY Uber Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: N'Djamena, Chad Posts: 2,055	Squeeze the party that is in 2nd and 3rd like the LibDesm do? 'Its a 2 horse race' 'Labour can't win here'