Guardian on UKIP 'hypocrisy' story

eublues · 06-01-2007, 01:04 PM

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/eu/st...983949,00.html

Anthony Butcher · 06-01-2007, 02:18 PM

Quote:

An anti-European boss and donor to the United Kingdom Independence party was yesterday under fire for "hypocrisy" after employing Polish workers at his shopping centres in the west country while denouncing their right to be in Britain.
Bruce Robertson, owner of the Trago Mills shopping complex near Newton Abbot, Devon, has taken on 30 Poles to fill staff vacancies among his 360 employees.

He is the second prominent figure in Ukip to be caught employing migrant labour.

Roger Knapman, the party's leader and MEP, employed Polish labourers to restore his country mansion after warning that open borders in the European Union would lead to a "flood of migrants" that would be "bad for Britain".
Mr Robertson, who donated £13,200 to the party's 2001 general election campaign, said his east European staff were "hard-working, cheerful and friendly".

"Unfortunately I have no alternative to employ foreign workers to keep our business going."

The businessman, who runs three shopping complexes in Devon, blamed EU legislation passed by Britain and Gordon Brown's tax credit scheme for making it difficult to recruit full-time workers locally.

Mr Robertson said: "Increasing legislation by our own parliament and the EU has provided a mass of red tape for employers. It may seem like a degree of hypocrisy on my part but I just cannot recruit enough local staff to keep our business flowing successfully and giving a service to our customers.

"If it wasn't for European legislation it would be a lot easier to recruit UK staff. The EU has been a disaster for this country. I am making the best of a very bad job. I have nothing against Polish or any other European people individually."

He admitted that the Polish workers were popular with local staff and customers and praised their work ethic.

Mr Robertson did not want to comment further yesterday and had instructed staff he was "not to be disturbed".

He was criticised by Susan Kramer, the Liberal Democrat trade and industry spokeswoman.

Ms Kramer said: "This is just another example of the illogicality and inconsistency of the Ukip position.

"It is rather below the belt to complain about immigrant labour and then use it to advantage your business."

A local estate agent, Richard Copus, also attacked his double standards.

Mr Copus said: "It smacks of hypocrisy and Mr Robertson has been hoisted by his own petard.

"Surely it's a bit incongruous to be greeted on entry to the [shopping] complex with a huge placard proclaiming 'the EU is a euphemism for disaster', together with half a dozen further anti-European jibes."

dave grylls · 06-01-2007, 04:04 PM

My reply published in the Western Morning News Tuesday January 2nd, I thought was quite good and to the point. Dave Grylls for anyone who saw it that is? Plain Dave Grylls

dave grylls · 06-01-2007, 04:08 PM

http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk

kernow · 06-01-2007, 04:19 PM

Well said Dave, pity the Guardian hasn't publish it!

UKIP MAN · 06-01-2007, 04:21 PM

dave

does that help

eublues · 06-01-2007, 04:26 PM

Good reply. I particularly like the response that UKIP's critics seem to assume UKIP is racist.

Hartlepool · 06-01-2007, 05:29 PM

Sorry,but my Leader, Nigel, is begining to sound more and more like a load of old ********.

He really does need to say a lot more than he is doing at the moment.

I'm trying very hard to support him, but, find it more than a little embarrassing to hear the same punch line delivered,time after time.

Nigel Farage has done quite well over the last one hundred days or so,unfortunately,this is not good enough for me,therefore,I will stand back and be ultra observant of his and UKIPs progress over the next three weeks before making a move from CONTINUING TO SUPPORT HIM.

Unionist · 06-01-2007, 06:17 PM

I don't think Mr Robertson is being hypocritical unless anyone can show that he has opposed the recruitment of foreign labour, which is unlikely. And if he had implemented a Brits-only recruitment policy he would no doubt be facing bankruptcy and prosecution for racial discrimination.

However, it does highlight the need for UKIP to communicate its policy on immigration more effectively. If people perceive UKIP as simply "anti-immigrant" it will be easy pickings for the Guardian and their ilk.

Unfortunately the impression given all too often is that UKIP opposes all immigration, and certainly UKIP's opposition to the EU has made it more strident than may be wise on the subject of East European workers coming into the UK. It might be better instead to focus on why our 5 million out of work welfare recipients don't want the work, something Mr Robertson has hinted at in the article above.

Britannist · 06-01-2007, 06:50 PM

The report about Poles and Mr. Knapman's property was clearly put in the Times by someone out to damage UKIP.

As for that Kramer woman criticising UKIP (in the quote from the Guardian article earlier in this thread). She is really quite awful. I've seen her pop up in the London media before (she is from the London area I think). The Guardian is a europhile pro-Liberal Dim rag read by metropolitan professional Liberal Dim party activists such as Kramer

She will find it easy to get mentioned in the pro-Dim Liberal Guardian - especially if she is having a go at UKIP.

It would be helpful if UKIP quickly responded to verbal attacks from the vile Liberal Dim party (the political mouthpiece of the EU in the UK) by reminding everyone that the biggest financial donor in recent years to the Dim Liberal party (who helped fund their 2005 General Election campaign) is now in jail and that the Liberal Dims are nothing more than euro-fanatics who seek to make our own parliament powerless.

06-01-2007, 01:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
eublues Uber Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 3,009	Guardian on UKIP 'hypocrisy' story http://politics.guardian.co.uk/eu/st...983949,00.html

06-01-2007, 06:50 PM	#10 (permalink)
Britannist Uber Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: London Posts: 22,896	Europhile Liberal Dims vilify UKIP The report about Poles and Mr. Knapman's property was clearly put in the Times by someone out to damage UKIP. As for that Kramer woman criticising UKIP (in the quote from the Guardian article earlier in this thread). She is really quite awful. I've seen her pop up in the London media before (she is from the London area I think). The Guardian is a europhile pro-Liberal Dim rag read by metropolitan professional Liberal Dim party activists such as Kramer She will find it easy to get mentioned in the pro-Dim Liberal Guardian - especially if she is having a go at UKIP. It would be helpful if UKIP quickly responded to verbal attacks from the vile Liberal Dim party (the political mouthpiece of the EU in the UK) by reminding everyone that the biggest financial donor in recent years to the Dim Liberal party (who helped fund their 2005 General Election campaign) is now in jail and that the Liberal Dims are nothing more than euro-fanatics who seek to make our own parliament powerless.

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06-01-2007, 04:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
dave grylls Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Newton Abbot,Devonshire Posts: 208	My reply published in the Western Morning News Tuesday January 2nd, I thought was quite good and to the point. Dave Grylls for anyone who saw it that is? Plain Dave Grylls

06-01-2007, 04:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
dave grylls Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Newton Abbot,Devonshire Posts: 208	http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk

06-01-2007, 04:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
kernow Uber Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 5,017	Well said Dave, pity the Guardian hasn't publish it!

06-01-2007, 04:21 PM	#6 (permalink)
UKIP MAN Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,897	dave does that help

06-01-2007, 04:26 PM	#7 (permalink)
eublues Uber Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 3,009	Good reply. I particularly like the response that UKIP's critics seem to assume UKIP is racist.

06-01-2007, 05:29 PM	#8 (permalink)
Hartlepool Uber Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: North East England Posts: 6,660 Party: Free England Party	Sorry,but my Leader, Nigel, is begining to sound more and more like a load of old ********. He really does need to say a lot more than he is doing at the moment. I'm trying very hard to support him, but, find it more than a little embarrassing to hear the same punch line delivered,time after time. Nigel Farage has done quite well over the last one hundred days or so,unfortunately,this is not good enough for me,therefore,I will stand back and be ultra observant of his and UKIPs progress over the next three weeks before making a move from CONTINUING TO SUPPORT HIM.

06-01-2007, 06:17 PM	#9 (permalink)
Unionist Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,056	I don't think Mr Robertson is being hypocritical unless anyone can show that he has opposed the recruitment of foreign labour, which is unlikely. And if he had implemented a Brits-only recruitment policy he would no doubt be facing bankruptcy and prosecution for racial discrimination. However, it does highlight the need for UKIP to communicate its policy on immigration more effectively. If people perceive UKIP as simply "anti-immigrant" it will be easy pickings for the Guardian and their ilk. Unfortunately the impression given all too often is that UKIP opposes all immigration, and certainly UKIP's opposition to the EU has made it more strident than may be wise on the subject of East European workers coming into the UK. It might be better instead to focus on why our 5 million out of work welfare recipients don't want the work, something Mr Robertson has hinted at in the article above.