UKIP MAN

Britannist

If UKIP can't put up candidates in all areas then it might be regarded as sensible that it used what resources it did have in putting up candidates agaisnt pro-EU MPs rather than those already voting and campaigning against the EU.

UKIP needs only the total number of candidates required to get a party political broadcast on television/radio.

It should then concentrate its resources in those areas where it does best - the five or six 'top' UKIP seats.

That is how it will increase its chances of winning representation in the Commons.

This-England

If UKIP wants to be a Right Wing Conservative party in waiting it makes sense not to stand against anti-EU Tories however if you remain a broad based anti-EU party it does not.

eublues

I understand Ukipman's view but where UKIP is not contesting against a BOO sitting MP the voter will presumably understand why tactically UKIP has decided to stand aside.

(Will only be a few constituencies where this applies - indeed sitting MPs who have signed up to BOO by the date UKIP has said may well find their party doesn't let them stand again. That sort of running row across the country in the run up to the next election could give UKIP useful publicity.)

euromutiny

UKIP shouldn't stand against any BOO candidates that stand a higher chance of getting elected than a UKIP candidate, whether they are sitting or not. Why split the anti-EU vote and end up with a Eurofanatic? UKIP's main priority is for the UK to leave the EU, and we should do that with anyone in the BOO "coalition". If a candidate from a party which polled higher than UKIP in the area is BOO, we should support them.

UKIP can only target so many seats. You need 50 for a party election broadcast. This is how other minor parties have made progress. The old Liberals contested just a few seats in the 1950s, concentrating efforts on them, as they concentrate efforts now with much success (particularly at by-elections). Target the winnable seats!

UKIP needs representation to be taken seriously and ask tough questions. Having Farage in Parliament, asking tough questions at PMQ's, that's better than winning a few extra votes nationwide but not winning seats. It's seats that count! And to be honest, UKIP could get a higher national vote contesting less seats, because you'd have more momentum and that attracts voters.

The Liberals survived in Westminster during the 50s by doing a deal with the Conservatives over certain seats. The Tories didn't contest a few of the Lab-Lib marginals, so the Liberals won. The Liberals didn't contest a few Lab-Con marginals, so the Tories won. This is what UKIP must do. UKIP won't contest Lab-Con marginals, if the Tories quietly step aside in a few South West seats.

The Liberals also adviced Liberal supporters who they should vote for in seats where there wasn't a Liberal candidate, generally the candidate who was closest to Liberal views. This resulted in a far more Liberal parliament than had they contested all seats.

EDIT: And people aren't stupid. The slogan "A Liberal Vote Is A Wasted Vote" was very powerful. People know a Ukip vote is wasted. That's why a focussed campaign, in a few seats that aren't nationally important (i.e. LibDem seats), is the way to get representation.

Britannist

I agree. I keep writing this on the forum in the hope that someone up at the top of UKIP will listen and act.

UKIP must do two things:

1. Put up just enough candidates to qualify the party for a party election broadcast on television and radio.

2. Put its main resources into battles in its five or six best-performing Commons parliamentary constituencies (half of which are in the south-west of England in seats presently held by europhile Liberal Dim party MPs). It might take years to build up constituency organisations in target seats (ward branches) and to get local councillors elected - so the sooner UKIP starts, the better for the party.

Winston's Black Dog

A sensible strategy from the UKIP leadership at last!

Much more of this and I might have to rejoin the Party.

In Kent the (mostly Labour) majority in many constituencies at the last General Election was less than the votes garnered by the UKIP candidate. It is possible that this position also prevailed in other areas of the country.

I hope that, as well as not standing against BOO candidates, UKIP will also not stand against BDI (British Declaration Of Independence) candidates who in my view are making an even more powerful statement against the EU than the BOO boys (and girls).

In case readers are unaware of the BDI here is a link to the website:

http://www.bdicampaign.org/index.asp

UKIP MAN

mkpdavies

The offer runs out in June, so it will be a fraction of seats and UKIP won't have the resource to run in them all anway.

Until UKIP is strong enough, popular enough and able enough, I think it's about the best thing the party can do.

If UKIP knocked out one the the tiny minority of MPs who IGNORE their leadership, burning their careers when there were other seats with utter traitors in that it could have fought instead, then I would be disgusted.

We have to be realistic here.

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And the publicity is priceless.