Tony Bennett

This week's 'Southend Times' has a major headline, in capitals:

'RESIGNATIONS PUT LOCAL UKIP IN TURMOIL', accompanied by a photo of Brian Lee.

The article, by reporter John Black, begins: "Two of the leading members of the South Essex Branch of UKIP have resigned from the party. Members were rocked by the decision of Chairman Brian Lee and Treasurer Ken Bennett to leave the party and join up with the English Democrats. The departure of Mr Lee in particular is a major setback, because he set up the branch 12 years ago and his organisational skills have ensured that UKIP was a major force to contend with in both local and national elections".

There is then a long quote from Brian, the salient parts of which are:

"Basically, we have had enough...we have not had the support from higher up. It's not to do with policy. I still believe we should cmoe out of the E.U. The big problem is that the party has not built up a proper organisation. I have been fighting different managements for this to be done.

"It came to a head when rules were passed down to regions on how they should operate, but one of our MEPs, Tom Wise, decided to ignore them and set up a committee which did not comply with the rules. Both he and our local MEP, Jeffrey Titford, seem to want to control everything...We have passed over all the books in a civilised manner and it is now up to others to take the party and the branch forward".

There is a second article in the paper about a Mr John Croft, the UKIP candidate for May's Council elections, who said he is staying with the party: 'I won't jump ship'.

Brian Lee is undoubtedly a good organiser; moreover he negotiated to write a full page article about UKIP for one of the local free papers once a month. For over 8 years he has written good quality, well-researched articles in a calm and reasoned manner about UKIP and its aims, and about the E.U., which would have impressed neutral readers.

The election results in south Essex, where Brian chaired no fewer than 7 constituencies under the 'South Essex Branch' banner, were usually good to very good for UKIP. That is partly due to the latent euroscepticism amongst the throngs of social class Cs and Ds of south Essex - but also due to Brian's tireless campaigning efforts.

Brian has at last recognised what I have stated previously on this Forum - and I take no pleasure in stating it - that UKIP is a sinking ship.

The English Democrats may not be the most attractive alternative ship on the sea - and I'm not sure how clear-cut its policy on the E.U is these days.

But at least it appears to run fewer risks of sinking in the foreseeable future

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BASILDON BOY

Any chance of the full article?

eublues

This poll is a distraction from us trying to make things happen for UKIP and the UK.

mkpdavies

Out of the frying pan, into the fire that has had loads of dog turds thrown into it and huge amounts of fuels being thrown onto it.

I can understand people leaving UKIP, but to join the EDP? I guess it's true, there is one born every minute.

__________________
http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/
http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/
http://lpuk.org

My ignore list

Labour, Lib Dems

eublues

"...ensured that UKIP was a major force ..."

Just as if. Resignation rhetoric as usual.

Britannist

The poll at the top of the page asks why UKIP is failing. I would just point out that a party which has 12 MEPs and which tonight got publicity on the BBC 1 Television news worth hundreds of thousands of Pounds (Nigel Farage in Romania report) cannot be called a failure.

Of all the 'small' parties on the UK mainland, UKIP is the most successful. How the other 'small' parties would like to be in UKIP's position.

I would, however, like to see the party change its name. Apart from the reasons I have given before when this matter has been aired on the forum - the name United Kingdom Independence Party is just too long. And some voters do not know what the shorter version - UKIP - means.

It's time for UKIP to have a new name, logo and website etc.

Alex McKee

I partially agree ... UKIP presently has three distinct styles of branding - UKIP, UK Independence Party and United Kingdom Independence Party, shown with various logos of various size and various colour.

Over the last few years I have assembled what I think it the most common form of this brand - the colours #936 (hex short) and #ff0 (hex short), the consistent use of UK Independence Party as the long name, and UKIP as the short.

If the party made an official, comprehensive style guide available we would be in a much better position.

Long term, I'd like to see the party move to the "Independence" brand.

Johnny Hates Jazz

Southend Times - 19 December 2006

RESIGNATIONS PUT LOCAL UKIP IN TURMOIL

Two of the leading members of the South Essex Branch of UKIP have resigned from the Party.

Members were rocked by the decisions of Chairman Brian Lee and Treasurer Ken Bennett to leave the party and join up with the English Democrats.

The departure of Mr Lee in particular is a major setback, because he set up the branch 12 years ago and his organisational skills have ensure that UKIP was a major force to contend with in both local and national elections.

In fact, his organisations of Jon Croft's campaign in Prittlewell ward in May led to him gaining aorund 20 per cent of the vote and was a factor in the defeat of the then Council lead Anna Waite.

Mr Lee explained this week "Basically, we have had enough. We have some superb members in our branch, and it has been a pleasure to work with them, but we have not had the support from higher up."

"It's not to do with policy, I still believe we shold come out of the EU."

"The big problem is that the party has not built up a proper organisation. I have been fighting with different managments for this to be done"

"It came to a head when rules were passsed down to regions, on how they should operate, but one of our MEP's. Tom Wise, decided to ignore them and set up a commitee which did not compley with the rules."

"both, he and our local MEP, Geoffrey Titford, seem to want to control everything"

"Mr Lee also traces back problems to the recent leadership election in which the victor was Nigel Farage, who defeated a candidate from Wales"

"Had Nigel offerred him a position we felt we could go somewhere"

"Unfortunately, the party does not know how to organise itself. It is very sad. We have made a tremendous effort in Essex and have made an impact"

"We have passed over all the books in a civilised manner and is is now up to others to take the party and the branch forward"

It is understood that Ron Hurrell has been elected as acting Chairman.

Under Mr Lee's leadership UKIP have fielded candidates in Southend West and Castle Point in recent general elections and in wards in Southend in local elections.

His new party, English Democrats whose aim is to have an English Parliament, fielded a candidate in the last General Election in Southend West.

There isn't a branch currently in this area.

One prominent member who lives in Wickford is Kim Gandy. She stood for the English Democrats in Basildon at the last General Election and it is believed that she and her partner intend to stand for their local council next May.

==============================
Welcome on board

English Democrats - a Euro-sceptic party without the infighting !

(Matt Davies - the man on the floating turd!)

__________________
English Democrats SAY NO To European Union

ENGLISH NOT british not EUropean
- It's time to decide at the 2009 European Elections

Britannist

Hello English Democrat 8) . I noticed the other day that you had not posted to the forum much in the last week or so. Obviously, like many of us, you're busy with preparations for Christmas.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Britannist

Thank you for agreeing on some of my suggestions Alex.

I quite agree that 'Independence' is a good name. I think I read somewhere that the Electoral Commission won't let UKIP register as the Independence Party because it claims voters might get confused between UKIP (under the name of 'Independence Party') and actual independent candidates not aligned to any political party. I do not know how accurate this is (i.e. if the Electoral Commission really did object).