'UKIP told that it cannot change its name'

Britannist · 24-02-2007, 02:53 AM

Today's Telegraph claims that:

"The UK Independence Party's plight deepened yesterday when election watchdogs signalled that they would veto its plans to rebrand itself" :!: :x .

Find out more at:
:arrow:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main...24/nukip24.xml

:evil:

Anthony Butcher · 24-02-2007, 03:05 AM

Quote:

The UK Independence Party's plight deepened yesterday when election watchdogs signalled that they would veto its plans to rebrand itself.

In a further blow, Lord Kalms, a former Tory treasurer who had been sympathetic to Ukip, turned his back on the party, which now faces financial ruin.

The Electoral Commission confirmed that it was going to court to force the party to forfeit £360,000 of donations. It says 68 separate sums from Alan Bown, a retired bookmaker, were "impermissible" as he was not on the electoral register when he gave the money. It is also fining Ukip £1,500 for filing accounts late and is to review its financial management.

The forfeit action — the first mounted under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 — would leave the party penniless.

The commission played down speculation that it was tipped off by a disaffected Ukip member about the contributions, insisting that it ran "compliance checks" when "practically all" new donations to any party were registered.

Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader, said the commission was acting disproportionately, adding that the "Establishment" was out to kill off the little anti-Brussels party.

Ukip has shown signs of revival in recent months, apparently fuelled by David Cameron's effort to drive the Tories to the centre ground.

Only last month, Lord Kalms fuelled that revival by suggesting that he would consider voting for them. But yesterday he told the Financial Times that he thought Ukip "a bit of a red herring. I'm not going to give them money".

Last month The Daily Telegraph revealed that Ukip was hoping to change its campaigning name to the Independence Party in an effort to broaden its appeal.

But the commission said yesterday that it had already informally warned Ukip that such a change was "very unlikely" to be accepted.

Er... what authority does the EC have to accept or decline a rebranding?

If UKIP want to campaign under the name Independence, then I don't see what that has to do with the EC. If they mean that they would deny UKIP the right to change its registered name... again on what basis can they do so? There are certain rules about names:
http://www.electoralcommission.gov.u..._N__S__W__.pdf

Quote:

A party can register a party name and up to 12 descriptions, each of which is
protected for the party’s own use for electoral purposes in the parts of the UK in
which it is registered. The Commission can refuse to register a name or description
if, in its opinion, it:
• is the same as the registered name or any registered description of another
party in the same part of the register
• is likely to result in electors confusing the name or description with that of
another party in the same part of the register
• is more than six words long
• is obscene or offensive
• includes words which, if published, would be likely to result in the commission
of an offence
• is not wholly in Roman script
• includes any prohibited word or expression
• could mislead a voter about the effect of their vote
• could contradict or hinder a voter’s understanding of any instructions about
the voting process

I fail to see how the name change would come under any of those.

Anthony Butcher · 24-02-2007, 03:07 AM

Another question is - why are they announcing it he day after they have been accused of a conspiracy to shut UKIP down by the party leader? Is this a punishment? One would have thought that they would wish to calm the situation down a little, rather than enflaming it.

BASILDON BOY · 24-02-2007, 10:06 AM

http://www.votenigel.org/10_asknigel.shtml

Quote:

Q Does Nigel not think that it is time for the UKIP to change its name to appeal to the greater number of voters and not be perceived as a one issue party? Tim Cross

A No. It has taken us a long time to get the name UKIP established in the public mind, and it would set us back years if we had to start establishing a new name. Remember that the Scottish National Party is the second biggest party in Scotland, even though they are only known for one issue - greater independence for Scotland - and despite the fact that they too have a full manifesto.

Besoeker · 24-02-2007, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BASILDON BOY

http://www.votenigel.org/10_asknigel.shtml

Quote:

Q Does Nigel not think that it is time for the UKIP to change its name to appeal to the greater number of voters and not be perceived as a one issue party? Tim Cross

This is what the UKIP constitution gives as its aims:

Quote:

2 AIMS
2.1 The principal aim of the Party is that the United Kingdom ("UK") shall again be governed by laws made to suit its own needs by its own Parliament, which must be directly and solely accountable to the electorate of the UK. The second aim is to preserve the integrity of the UK. To this intent the Party's objects are to withdraw the UK from the European Union and to resist membership of any other international organisation, or grouping, the membership of which is incompatible with the above aims and to oppose any form of government within the UK, which may undermine its integrity.
2.2 On withdrawal from the EU, the Party will seek free trade agreements with the EU and other countries (and /or trade blocs.)

2.3 The Party will be guided in its activities by the principle of non-discrimination, including non-racism and non-sectarianism, and will be guided by the principle that all people are equal before the law.
2.4 The Party will develop a full range of domestic and foreign policies.

2.5 The Party will develop and promote legislation to protect the British people from any future Parliament giving away its powers of governance.

2.6 The Party will seek to return authority and responsible autonomy to all levels of local government; it rejects the imposition of regional government and other EU-driven regional structures.

Is it any wonder that it is perceived as a one issue party?

SponPlague · 24-02-2007, 10:34 AM

Quote:

UKIP CONSTITUTION, MARCH 2006

1 NAME

The official name of the Party shall be the UK Independence Party, or UKIP, or Independence, legally known as the United Kingdom Independence Party, hereinafter referred to as 'the Party'.

I suspect the EC might be thnking of confusion between Independence and Independent candidates... :?

Tom Wilde · 24-02-2007, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anthony Butcher

Another question is - why are they announcing it he day after they have been accused of a conspiracy to shut UKIP down by the party leader? Is this a punishment? One would have thought that they would wish to calm the situation down a little, rather than enflaming it.

The EC is serious short of credibility just now thanks to its dithering over 'loans for peerages' and the LibDems £2.4 million donation from a foreign-based businessman. It needs to show that it is a tough, no-nonsense regulator which enforces election law to the very letter. However, being too weak and cowardly to take on the big kids in the playground, it has decided instead to pick on one of the smaller kids and beat him to a pulp.

Bluemerle · 24-02-2007, 10:55 AM

I understand that there is an Independent Councillors Organisation. So it would confuse voters if they are presented with
****** Independent, and
****** Independence.

BASILDON BOY · 24-02-2007, 11:44 AM

All this stems from the guy who stood as a 'Literal' Democrat and took votes from the Liberal Democrat. This is also why we now have party emblems on ballot papers.

arden forester · 24-02-2007, 01:40 PM

bluemerleThere is an "Independent Group of Councillors" in Surbition, although I can't find any activity locally.
http://www.electoralcommission.org.u...A35%3A49%27%7D
http://www.kingston.gov.uk/informati.../elections.htm

24-02-2007, 02:53 AM	#1 (permalink)
Britannist Uber Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: London Posts: 23,176	'UKIP told that it cannot change its name' Today's Telegraph claims that: "The UK Independence Party's plight deepened yesterday when election watchdogs signalled that they would veto its plans to rebrand itself" :!: :x . Find out more at: :arrow: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main...24/nukip24.xml :evil:

24-02-2007, 01:40 PM	#10 (permalink)
arden forester Uber Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Solihull, in The Forest of Arden, Warwickshire! Posts: 2,763 Party: None	bluemerleThere is an "Independent Group of Councillors" in Surbition, although I can't find any activity locally. http://www.electoralcommission.org.u...A35%3A49%27%7D http://www.kingston.gov.uk/informati.../elections.htm __________________ www.ardenforester.blogspot.com

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24-02-2007, 03:07 AM	#3 (permalink)
Anthony Butcher Administrator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Long Ashton, Bristol Posts: 10,315 Party: None	Another question is - why are they announcing it he day after they have been accused of a conspiracy to shut UKIP down by the party leader? Is this a punishment? One would have thought that they would wish to calm the situation down a little, rather than enflaming it.

24-02-2007, 10:55 AM	#8 (permalink)
Bluemerle Uber Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dorset. Posts: 3,252	I understand that there is an Independent Councillors Organisation. So it would confuse voters if they are presented with **** Independent, and **** Independence.

24-02-2007, 11:44 AM	#9 (permalink)
BASILDON BOY Uber Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: N'Djamena, Chad Posts: 2,055	All this stems from the guy who stood as a 'Literal' Democrat and took votes from the Liberal Democrat. This is also why we now have party emblems on ballot papers.