Anthony Butcher resigns

Anthony Butcher · 18-09-2006, 04:17 AM

I sent this letter earlier to the Party Secretary:

Quote:

Please accept this letter as a formal resignation of my position on the UKIP NEC and of my party membership.

I believe that any new party leader should be given 6-12 months of absolute support to run things his way and stamp his vision on a party, but I do not feel that I am in a position to offer Nigel that support.

As an NEC member it is my responsibility to ensure that truth, democracy, legitimacy and professionalism are adhered to by the party leadership, on behalf of the members who elected me. Unfortunately, I do not feel that my standards are in any way compatible with the new leadership’s and will only result in more friction. Since I cannot see a way to support the new leader and also retain the integrity of my position, I have chosen to resign. I am not willing to put up with four more years of unnecessary arguments, personal abuse, lies and having common sense ideas ignored.

As for my membership of the party, despite the fact that I am such a strong supporter of everything that UKIP stands for, I have come to the conclusion that UKIP is now a hindrance to the anti-EU movement and will never progress beyond being a Tory pressure group. Nigel’s initial statements as leader have merely confirmed this. It is a legitimate tactic, but not one that I feel will ever work and it is not one that I want to be involved with.

This is not a decision that I have taken lightly, having expended a huge amount of time and money on UKIP. I have been considering my position in the party for some time (having seen more than enough to put me off while serving on the NEC) and stayed on in the hope that we could elect someone with a passion for change and professionalism in the party.

I have made a number of friends in UKIP, and met many very dedicated people. I wish them all well for the future. I believe that I have tried hard to implement the agenda that I was elected to the NEC for, but I have met continual resistance and made no real difference in the end.

Anthony Butcher

To add some irony to the situation, I had to send the letter to both Douglas Denny and Geoffrey Kingscott because UKIP is so messed up that there is considerable disagreement about who should currently be the Party Secretary. :roll:

ukipteen · 18-09-2006, 06:48 AM

Anthony, this upsets me.

You have been a marvellous member of the NEC since your election but obviously your reasoning is fully understandable.

I really hoped that you would be an integral part of the party on this new journey.

My regards and all the best for the future,

Chris

brian lee · 18-09-2006, 07:11 AM

Anthony, you did your best. Thanks for trying.

Best wishes,

Brian Lee

prober · 18-09-2006, 07:13 AM

This is really tragic, how can UKIP afford to not only lose such good people but not just that, but letting a situation stay where they feel they have to leave because they reckon UKIP is no longer the answer to battling the EU & other party failures on domestics, and no one has sat down with them and tried to bring a range of talents and approaches into letting them provide the answer. day 7 of the 100 days. whose next ? What is the alternative ?

komerad · 18-09-2006, 07:24 AM

Anthony - Very, very sorry to hear of your decision to resign from the party. No one has done more to try to advance the party, but unfortunately the same cabal have apparently managed to remained in power. :cry:
I would say that many more activists are considering their options at present. You & your comon sense ideas will be sorely missed.
I wish you all the best for the future.

cookie65 · 18-09-2006, 08:04 AM

I too am very sorry to see this, the party needs young and dedicated people.
With the loss of both yourself and Gill is this going to leave Richard in an untenable position on the NEC?
I wish you well in whatever direction you take , but please do not close the door on UKIP forever.

andypandy · 18-09-2006, 08:32 AM

Your loyalty to the cause of the UK Independence Party does you credit and it is sad that any party should find itself in a position in which long-standing members feel they are best suited acting in a position outside of the party apparatus.

This clearly is a responsibilty of the new party leader, as he had an opportunity to make public a new direction for UKIP, but instead, he has chosen to adopt more of the same old and failed rhetoric and tactics of the last 10 years.

Perhaps he will now be able to truly speak his mind without fear of "retributions".

mkpdavies · 18-09-2006, 08:48 AM

Good effort chap, you tried hard.

Good luck in you alternate missions to sort this country out!

Bluemerle · 18-09-2006, 09:16 AM

I am sorry that you have been forced to come to this conclusion. Let's hope another opportunity will come up shortly to which you can pin your colours. Good luck Tony.

Niall Warry · 18-09-2006, 11:33 AM

I'm sure this is the right decision for you. It's such a pity that Nigel so far appears to have NOTHING to try and heal the genuine divides in the Party. :cry:

18-09-2006, 08:48 AM	#8 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 31,053 Party: Libertarian Party	Good effort chap, you tried hard. Good luck in you alternate missions to sort this country out! __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

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18-09-2006, 06:48 AM	#2 (permalink)
ukipteen Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 190	Anthony, this upsets me. You have been a marvellous member of the NEC since your election but obviously your reasoning is fully understandable. I really hoped that you would be an integral part of the party on this new journey. My regards and all the best for the future, Chris

18-09-2006, 07:11 AM	#3 (permalink)
brian lee Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: South Essex Posts: 613	Anthony, you did your best. Thanks for trying. Best wishes, Brian Lee

18-09-2006, 07:13 AM	#4 (permalink)
prober Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 854	This is really tragic, how can UKIP afford to not only lose such good people but not just that, but letting a situation stay where they feel they have to leave because they reckon UKIP is no longer the answer to battling the EU & other party failures on domestics, and no one has sat down with them and tried to bring a range of talents and approaches into letting them provide the answer. day 7 of the 100 days. whose next ? What is the alternative ?

18-09-2006, 07:24 AM	#5 (permalink)
komerad Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cardiff. S.Wales Posts: 611	Anthony - Very, very sorry to hear of your decision to resign from the party. No one has done more to try to advance the party, but unfortunately the same cabal have apparently managed to remained in power. :cry: I would say that many more activists are considering their options at present. You & your comon sense ideas will be sorely missed. I wish you all the best for the future.

18-09-2006, 08:04 AM	#6 (permalink)
cookie65 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: hyde cheshire Posts: 648	I too am very sorry to see this, the party needs young and dedicated people. With the loss of both yourself and Gill is this going to leave Richard in an untenable position on the NEC? I wish you well in whatever direction you take , but please do not close the door on UKIP forever.

18-09-2006, 08:32 AM	#7 (permalink)
andypandy Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 880	Your loyalty to the cause of the UK Independence Party does you credit and it is sad that any party should find itself in a position in which long-standing members feel they are best suited acting in a position outside of the party apparatus. This clearly is a responsibilty of the new party leader, as he had an opportunity to make public a new direction for UKIP, but instead, he has chosen to adopt more of the same old and failed rhetoric and tactics of the last 10 years. Perhaps he will now be able to truly speak his mind without fear of "retributions".

18-09-2006, 09:16 AM	#9 (permalink)
Bluemerle Uber Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dorset. Posts: 3,252	I am sorry that you have been forced to come to this conclusion. Let's hope another opportunity will come up shortly to which you can pin your colours. Good luck Tony.

18-09-2006, 11:33 AM	#10 (permalink)
Niall Warry Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 603	I'm sure this is the right decision for you. It's such a pity that Nigel so far appears to have NOTHING to try and heal the genuine divides in the Party. :cry: