FuroraCeltica

Shame you've resigned Anthony, but if thats your decision then thats it.

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Every great movement must experience three stages: ridicule, discussion, adoption. John Stuart Mill

One person with a belief is equal to ninety-nine who have only interests. Stuart Mill

Tom Wilde

I've just come back from my hols and read that Anthony has resigned from the NEC and from UKIP.

This is the worst news for UKIP that I have heard for a long time. To my mind, it is much worse than the leadership election result, which I'm ambiguous about anyway. Farage, Richardski and DCB each had major strengths and different failings, and it was never a clear-cut matter for me as to which was the best potential leader.

One thing I've always believed, though, was that UKIP would do better, and deserve to do better, if it was run by people who were moderate, intelligent, talented and prepared to take the initiative. People with a sense of fairness. People with the ability to communicate clearly, effectively and courteously, and with a bit of diplomatic sense. Unfortunately, we don't seem to have the knack of finding such people, or else they take one look at the shambling, squabbling mess that is UKIP and take their talents elsewhere. Anthony was a rare exception. If he has any sense of wanting a proper political career then he'll join the LibDems and try to push them in a more eurosceptical direction. But I find myself hope that he one day takes leave of his senses again and rejoins UKIP, as without people like him this party definitely has no future, regardless of who is at the helm.

Roger Gough

Nigel will, with the 'strength' of the membership having affirmed his leadership, plough on as before - or will he? The one thing he needs to do before anything else (it'd be worth the cost) is to ask all past members why they are no longer with the Party. Unless he knows why we're losing members he (and everyone else) is surely wasting their time. The Party was shipping water and going down like a lead balloon well before the Lead/Elect. If the Party is alienating members in big numbers he must find out why. We can have policies etc to attract but we get rid of those which aren't positive. I, for one, might even think it worthwhile to carry on if HQ was even 20% more efficient that it has been (wherever located) in the past 5 years. The conduct of staff there has been inept and uninterested. How can this possibly attract, never mind retain members.

Karen

The loss of Anthony Butcher is a disaster. We need a change of direction, but the party will continue to be run by the press office instead of the elected NEC.

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Lady Di, Hitler and Communism are dead. Forward to Independence!

Colin McNamee

Was it ever run by the NEC ? Just asking.

BASILDON BOY

One man does not a party make - the truly Glorious Nigel (Peace and Blessing be upon him) is our new leader and the one we should unquestionably follow - let him lead us to future victories where we make the Conservatives more right wing and adopt Conservative values!

The loss of one person who was nothing more than a trouble makes is a glorious victory to the new leadership.

What was he trying to do - trying to make UKIP into a seperate political party - don't you realise we are the new conservatives?

Andrew Constantine

Whilst I was a member of UKIP earlier this year, I asked most of the leading contenders for the UKIP leadership why they did not focus on the growing demand for an English Parliament. I could understand why, say. DCB with his Scottish heritage was not keen, but I was very disappointed by the lack of interest shown by the others.

The idea that the present Westminster Parliament (with its heavy contingent of Scots MPs who wish to keep England down) ever allowing proper debate on whether the UK should quit the EU is not credible. The formation of an English Parliament seems to me a necessary pre-condition to leaving the EU.

If other disillusioned UKIP members can also see the logic of this, they will find a welcome from the EDP. And they will find in Robin Tilbrook an appreciative and charismatic leader.


Andrew Constantine (edp.laoc@googlemail.com)

mkpdavies

Do they implant a chip in your head when you join the EDP? It's just the word obsession seems to take on a new meaning, when thinking about members of that party.

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Andrew Constantine

I would hope we are both "obsessed" with restoring parliamentary democracy by quitting the EU. My nation is that of England - what you slag off as obsession, others might call patriotism.

Note that if the opinion polls on the mood of the Scottish electorate are right and that mood carries through to the May 2007 Scottish elections (with the SNP and Scots Lib Dems thus able to form a coalition), UKIP might have to redefine itself anyway.

Good luck to the Scots, but why should UKIP hang around waiting for the Scots to jilt England?

Andrew Constantine

Oliver

I come to bury Butcher, not to praise him

But can't do either for EDP trols all over the place.

God bless the Union and the Union Jack :!: :!: :!: