Conservative John Redwood MP calls UKIP 'stupid'

Britannist · 16-12-2006, 01:31 AM

The number of attacks by Conservatives on UKIP appear to have increased this year. David Cameron set the tone on 4.4.2006 when he made insulting remarks about UKIP in an early morning interview on London's LBC Radio.

Now John Redwood, the Conservative MP for Wokingham in Berkshire, has written the following on his blog (web log):

"The last three General Elections have shown that neither the Referendum Party nor UKIP can win a single Westminster seat, however strongly and fiercely they put their case for disengagement or withdrawal from the European Union. They have also shown that by putting some of their better candidates and strongest efforts into opposing eurosceptic Conservatives in seats the Conservatives can win, they may give us more federalist (i.e. pro-EU integration) MPs by tipping the balance in favour of the pro-EU Liberal Democrat or Labour candidate. How stupid can you get?"

Mr. Redwood was vying with Michael Portillo to be the top eurosceptic in the Conservative Party ten years ago. Both had ambitions to lead the Conservatives. Portillo has failed in two Conservative leadership contests and since giving up his political ambitions (after his failure to become Conservative leader) hardly has a bad word to say about the EU these days. Mr. Redwood even went as far to stand against 'Conservative' Prime Minister John Major in a leadership contest in 1995. Mr. Redwood lost. And he angered many eurosceptics and anti-EU people by forming a pact with extreme europhile 'Ken' Clarke during the leadership contest - despite his own dislike of plans for a single european currency and EU 'integration'.

The criticism of UKIP by Mr. Redwood is thought to be the first time he has openly verbally attacked the party. Previously when asked about UKIP he has answered with neutral remarks or even with an appreciation of the reasons why UKIP was formed.

For the second time in just over a week, Conservative Home has filled up with a huge number of remarks and comments from readers keen to debate UKIP - a party which has recently heard from several former Conservative Parliamentary candidates keen to join up after abandoning the Cameron liberalisation 'project':

http://conservativehome.blogs.com/to...pid_as_uk.html

* Mr. Redwood wrote that UKIP has failed to win a single seat in the Commons in the last three General Elections. He should not forget that both the Scottish and Welsh nationalist parties fought many General Elections before making a breakthrough. Both parties now have seats in the Commons - as does the DUP which now holds half the constituencies in Northern Ireland despite having been formed only three decades ago.

The Conservatives, of course, have failed to win seats in large parts of the country at the last three General Elections, too - a position which some political analysts say is not likely to change any time soon.

Internationalist · 16-12-2006, 01:35 AM

If UKIP does get into the position of winning Westminster seats you may find many of these Conservatives suddenly discovering their anti-EU principles. Their key principle is of course getting into office.

Britannist · 16-12-2006, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unionist

If UKIP does get into the position of winning Westminster seats you may find many of these Conservatives suddenly discovering their anti-EU principles. Their key principle is of course getting into office.

John Redwood MP never used to write such hostile things about UKIP before pro-EU David Cameron became Conservative leader.

mkpdavies · 16-12-2006, 01:43 AM

More proof they are rattled.

It's also one of the weakest arguments ever. Are we supposed to accept that the Tories are the party of low taxation, fair immigration controls and small government? All while they continue to suck up to the EU?

They really have lost touch with reality, if they think they represent any kind of opposition now!

Oh and don't forget he voted for the Maastricht treaty.

Britannist · 16-12-2006, 02:02 AM

There are still some people in British politics who hope that UKIP will just go away or fold or something.

Neither will happen. And even if it did another anti-EU party would fill the gap left by UKIP and start gathering and increasing its support.

The EU issue not going to go away and neither are anti-EU parties - some who are more used to politics before UKIP was formed and started fielding candidates in 1994 - seem to have a problem in getting their heads around that fact.

A party such as UKIP is needed even after the UK quits the EU (or if the EU collapses first) so as to guard over our sovereignty and to expose all europhile politicians the moment they start trying to get up to their tricks.

Torytruth · 16-12-2006, 10:30 AM

Redwood is a weird prat

Petrina · 16-12-2006, 11:23 AM

What Redwood overlooks is that under the Boy King the" A list" is full of
pushy careerists and celeb types who have been chosen for their "coolness" they are not eurosceptics or else they would not be on the "A list" .
The real eurosceptics have been removed from the list altogether( including Lyndsay Jenkins ) in the cull which took place under the direction of the Party Chairman Francis Maud as soon as the Boy King took office .Cameron has made it clear that no one who wants out of the EU will get anywhere in his "Opposition" party .

Now that we are separating the sheep from the goats by not standing against sitting BOO members we can honestly say that we have done our best to minimise GENUINE Eurorealists being attacked by us .

Redwood has always been suspect ,he twists with the wind and is brought out to calm the "grass roots" with a bit of eurosceptic guff when it suits them .I`m glad we are standing against HIM.

BASILDON BOY · 16-12-2006, 11:29 AM

In politics you never give the opposition the oxygen of publicity.

So why are the tories attacking us like this?

Are they:-

1) Stupid
2) Scared
3) Afraid of the rise of the BNP so are promoting UKIP as an alternative 'far' right party?

mkpdavies · 16-12-2006, 03:24 PM

You should know BB, what did the latest members newsletter say?

Hartlepool · 16-12-2006, 04:32 PM

To see the real stupidity of the fool who dares call UKIP and its Members=

We need to promote his foolishness again,its been hidden now for a long time by the Conservatives,thousands have never even seen the video yet.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sit...s/anthem.shtml

Scroll down to watch "Deadwood lost for words"

ops:

Select VIDEO to see him perform.

He has to be the perfect example of a useless Tory bustard I believe.

16-12-2006, 01:31 AM	#1 (permalink)
Britannist Uber Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: London Posts: 23,176	Conservative John Redwood MP calls UKIP 'stupid' The number of attacks by Conservatives on UKIP appear to have increased this year. David Cameron set the tone on 4.4.2006 when he made insulting remarks about UKIP in an early morning interview on London's LBC Radio. Now John Redwood, the Conservative MP for Wokingham in Berkshire, has written the following on his blog (web log): "The last three General Elections have shown that neither the Referendum Party nor UKIP can win a single Westminster seat, however strongly and fiercely they put their case for disengagement or withdrawal from the European Union. They have also shown that by putting some of their better candidates and strongest efforts into opposing eurosceptic Conservatives in seats the Conservatives can win, they may give us more federalist (i.e. pro-EU integration) MPs by tipping the balance in favour of the pro-EU Liberal Democrat or Labour candidate. How stupid can you get?" Mr. Redwood was vying with Michael Portillo to be the top eurosceptic in the Conservative Party ten years ago. Both had ambitions to lead the Conservatives. Portillo has failed in two Conservative leadership contests and since giving up his political ambitions (after his failure to become Conservative leader) hardly has a bad word to say about the EU these days. Mr. Redwood even went as far to stand against 'Conservative' Prime Minister John Major in a leadership contest in 1995. Mr. Redwood lost. And he angered many eurosceptics and anti-EU people by forming a pact with extreme europhile 'Ken' Clarke during the leadership contest - despite his own dislike of plans for a single european currency and EU 'integration'. The criticism of UKIP by Mr. Redwood is thought to be the first time he has openly verbally attacked the party. Previously when asked about UKIP he has answered with neutral remarks or even with an appreciation of the reasons why UKIP was formed. For the second time in just over a week, Conservative Home has filled up with a huge number of remarks and comments from readers keen to debate UKIP - a party which has recently heard from several former Conservative Parliamentary candidates keen to join up after abandoning the Cameron liberalisation 'project': http://conservativehome.blogs.com/to...pid_as_uk.html * Mr. Redwood wrote that UKIP has failed to win a single seat in the Commons in the last three General Elections. He should not forget that both the Scottish and Welsh nationalist parties fought many General Elections before making a breakthrough. Both parties now have seats in the Commons - as does the DUP which now holds half the constituencies in Northern Ireland despite having been formed only three decades ago. The Conservatives, of course, have failed to win seats in large parts of the country at the last three General Elections, too - a position which some political analysts say is not likely to change any time soon.

16-12-2006, 01:43 AM	#4 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 32,078 Party: Libertarian Party	More proof they are rattled. It's also one of the weakest arguments ever. Are we supposed to accept that the Tories are the party of low taxation, fair immigration controls and small government? All while they continue to suck up to the EU? They really have lost touch with reality, if they think they represent any kind of opposition now! Oh and don't forget he voted for the Maastricht treaty. __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Lib Dems

16-12-2006, 02:02 AM	#5 (permalink)
Britannist Uber Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: London Posts: 23,176	UKIP is here to stay There are still some people in British politics who hope that UKIP will just go away or fold or something. Neither will happen. And even if it did another anti-EU party would fill the gap left by UKIP and start gathering and increasing its support. The EU issue not going to go away and neither are anti-EU parties - some who are more used to politics before UKIP was formed and started fielding candidates in 1994 - seem to have a problem in getting their heads around that fact. A party such as UKIP is needed even after the UK quits the EU (or if the EU collapses first) so as to guard over our sovereignty and to expose all europhile politicians the moment they start trying to get up to their tricks.

16-12-2006, 03:24 PM	#9 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 32,078 Party: Libertarian Party	You should know BB, what did the latest members newsletter say? __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Lib Dems

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16-12-2006, 01:35 AM	#2 (permalink)
Internationalist Moderator Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,235	If UKIP does get into the position of winning Westminster seats you may find many of these Conservatives suddenly discovering their anti-EU principles. Their key principle is of course getting into office.

16-12-2006, 10:30 AM	#6 (permalink)
Torytruth Banned Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 80	Redwood is a weird prat

16-12-2006, 11:23 AM	#7 (permalink)
Petrina Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: sussex Posts: 1,064	What Redwood overlooks is that under the Boy King the" A list" is full of pushy careerists and celeb types who have been chosen for their "coolness" they are not eurosceptics or else they would not be on the "A list" . The real eurosceptics have been removed from the list altogether( including Lyndsay Jenkins ) in the cull which took place under the direction of the Party Chairman Francis Maud as soon as the Boy King took office .Cameron has made it clear that no one who wants out of the EU will get anywhere in his "Opposition" party . Now that we are separating the sheep from the goats by not standing against sitting BOO members we can honestly say that we have done our best to minimise GENUINE Eurorealists being attacked by us . Redwood has always been suspect ,he twists with the wind and is brought out to calm the "grass roots" with a bit of eurosceptic guff when it suits them .I`m glad we are standing against HIM.

16-12-2006, 11:29 AM	#8 (permalink)
BASILDON BOY Uber Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: N'Djamena, Chad Posts: 2,063	In politics you never give the opposition the oxygen of publicity. So why are the tories attacking us like this? Are they:- 1) Stupid 2) Scared 3) Afraid of the rise of the BNP so are promoting UKIP as an alternative 'far' right party?

16-12-2006, 04:32 PM	#10 (permalink)
Hartlepool Uber Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northern England Posts: 7,105 Party: Free England Party	To see the real stupidity of the fool who dares call UKIP and its Members= We need to promote his foolishness again,its been hidden now for a long time by the Conservatives,thousands have never even seen the video yet. http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sit...s/anthem.shtml Scroll down to watch "Deadwood lost for words" ops: Select VIDEO to see him perform. He has to be the perfect example of a useless Tory bustard I believe.