Most hostile article I have ever seen on UKIP

mkpdavies · 03-04-2007, 08:50 AM

http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=510952007

Quote:

Horse whisperer brings the UKIP circus to town
ROBERT MCNEIL

THE UK Independence Party is often described in the press as eccentric. The word "loopy" has been invoked. Yesterday, it was said that seldom can Our Dynamic Earth, an exhibition on evolution, have played host to a more comical collection of clots.

I cannot comment on these ascriptions, though I feared, on meeting its representatives, that a sudden stream of water might spout from their rosettes and hit me in the eye. Certainly, it's fair to say that, after their electoral launch, satirists staggered from the building, struggling under the weight of material in their notebooks.

Where to begin? Firstly, a man with a blazer and moustache explained that Nigel Farage, the party leader, couldn't be present as he was "unable to get up today". Lazy sod. But, no, he was fighting a court case involving a donor's £360,000.

Present, but not in any meaningful sense, was the party's Scottish chairman, Peter Neilson, sometimes known as White Horse of the Cherokee Nation. Pin back your lugholes, for Peter is a horse whisperer.

He also communicates with elephants, one of whom (according to a book he wrote) told him: "There are cycles within cycles. All is in balance." Yes, I'm sure we've all felt that at times.

Peter used to be joint master of the Duke of Buccleuch's fox-manglers. Now he's a spokesman for UKIP in Scotland. See: cycles, spokes, all is in balance. Yesterday, most of the spoking was left to David Campbell Bannerman, the deputy leader. His position may be set out fairly as follows: the Chinese could be watching us from above. He said they owned 20 per cent of the Galileo satellite system, planned by the European Union. Did we want them seeing where we were driving in Scotland? Altogether now: "Not really bothered."

David planned enhancing democracy by abolishing our MSPs. England would have a parliament, Wales an assembly, and Scotland a monthly meeting of MPs. David's a good democratic chap, but I was reminded of PG Wodehouse's putative dictator, Roderick Spode, who wanted Gloucestershire given over entirely to the production of turnips, Wiltshire to beans, and so forth.

Mr Campbell Bannerman feared Britain's - England's? - legal system could be facing its Waterloo, "lost entirely to the Napoleonic code". Other policies poured forth like balls from a cannonade: "Let us build some prisons"; "Environment: light bulbs"; "Defence, briefly: totally overstretched and undermanned".

Mist lifted from nearby Arthur's Seat as we sat fogged by this bizarre adumbration of bilge. "An independent Scotland would be queuing behind Alabania and Turkey for funds," he hooted. "That would be taking us back to the black ages." The black ages?

An aged man in baseball cap, tracksuit bottoms and trainers, introduced himself as a list candidate in Greenock. Well, we all have our crosses to bear. He said: "I would like to point out I am a reborn Christian, OK?" Fine. Stare at someone else.

"People have been tearing the leaflets out of my hands," he added. Yes, one could imagine. Later, he gave out leaflets advertising a cancer cure based on aloe leaves and honey.

Another chap said UKIP was much more democratic "than what the other parties seem".

A genteel, elderly lady with failing eyesight disliked these new light bulbs. Throughout all this, the horse whisperer said nothing. Well, not that we could hear anyway.

Non stop abuse, based on not much as far as I can see.

gawain · 03-04-2007, 08:54 AM

http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cf...#comment498581

Quote:

It's deja vu all over again. This article, sly and snide as it is has the same tone and attitude about the UK Independence Party that the English press had about 5 years ago. Don't forget that in 2004 they increased their Scottish vote share to 6.7% from 1.3% in the pevious election.
So mock away, but don't be suprised that a party that believes in low simple taxation, support for families, independence from the EU, rather than within the EU - (so where are the fish?), a serious crime policy, that tackles criminals rather than their victims, opposes the control freakery of smoking bans and satellite tracking of cars and yes, calls for the abolition of the expensive and incompetant Scottish Parliament, may well grow in support in Scotland.
After all the major parties in Scotland can hardly claim to have been doing a good job can they?

Clippo · 03-04-2007, 07:42 PM

I think you can look at this article in 2 ways - & I suggest there's a bit of both in UKIP in reality.

First way - if the cap fits wear it. By this I mean that if UKIP only target Tory ex-pats, they will get attract more than a fair share of the colonel blimps & blue-rinse fluffy bunnies.

Second way - By resorting to sarcasm, the article whiffs of a bit of fear. Fear that UKIP is saying the right things & is being seen as a threat.
I suppose UKIP have to worry when their meetings aren't reported in any depth.

With the apparent decline in 'right-wing' politics in Scotland, I'm disappointed UKIP could only muster a small high level presence. DCB must have felt very isolated

Should have flown in a few more MEP's.

g hall · 03-04-2007, 08:26 PM

Isn't their logo much like a flag we've all come to love

ex-member · 03-04-2007, 09:15 PM

Well you can hardly blame the media when Ukip are in court on Thursday about to have three years hard earned subscriptions forfeited to the Treasury because of the incompetence and personal insecurity of NIgel Farage in wanting to make all the deciaions himself and messing up the reports to the Electoral Cpommission and then refusing to take their very reasoanble offers for UKIP to settle the matter.
The forfeiture of the Lib Dems £40000 strips away the Farage excuse that it was a vendetta by Labour and the EU against UKIP -a line put about to hook the gullible.
Dont forget that the Electoaral Commissioin is now investigating the UKIPs finances and accounts-want any bets on them finding serious irregularities.

Tom Wilde · 03-04-2007, 09:42 PM

Hey, Exie, you are talking nonsense again. The Electoral Commission's action is deeply unreasonable, and also betrays a complete lack of even-handedness. If they confiscated the £2million+ which the LibDems gained from a foreign-based businessman through a fake company, rather than just huffing and puffing about it, then and only then might I take seriously their claims to being neutral monitors of our electoral laws.

Incidentally, you say you are an ex-member, but I notice you don't state of which party. :wink:

Independent UKIP · 03-04-2007, 11:43 PM

Wasn't Roger Knapman leader through most of the period under discussion?

Regarding the "very reasonable offers" by the Electoral Commission, which presumably would be under the leadership of Farage, I don't recall seeing any statement by them about those offers. I might be mistaken so would welcome seeing evidence of the offers and how reasonable they were. Thanks.

And I also thought the issue was about certain Alan Bown donations not 3 years of subscription income?

03-04-2007, 09:15 PM	#5 (permalink)
ex-member Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 24	most hostile Well you can hardly blame the media when Ukip are in court on Thursday about to have three years hard earned subscriptions forfeited to the Treasury because of the incompetence and personal insecurity of NIgel Farage in wanting to make all the deciaions himself and messing up the reports to the Electoral Cpommission and then refusing to take their very reasoanble offers for UKIP to settle the matter. The forfeiture of the Lib Dems £40000 strips away the Farage excuse that it was a vendetta by Labour and the EU against UKIP -a line put about to hook the gullible. Dont forget that the Electoaral Commissioin is now investigating the UKIPs finances and accounts-want any bets on them finding serious irregularities.

03-04-2007, 09:42 PM	#6 (permalink)
Tom Wilde Moderator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: London. Posts: 2,924	Re: most hostile Hey, Exie, you are talking nonsense again. The Electoral Commission's action is deeply unreasonable, and also betrays a complete lack of even-handedness. If they confiscated the £2million+ which the LibDems gained from a foreign-based businessman through a fake company, rather than just huffing and puffing about it, then and only then might I take seriously their claims to being neutral monitors of our electoral laws. Incidentally, you say you are an ex-member, but I notice you don't state of which party. :wink:

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03-04-2007, 07:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
Clippo Uber Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Cheshire Posts: 2,441	I think you can look at this article in 2 ways - & I suggest there's a bit of both in UKIP in reality. First way - if the cap fits wear it. By this I mean that if UKIP only target Tory ex-pats, they will get attract more than a fair share of the colonel blimps & blue-rinse fluffy bunnies. Second way - By resorting to sarcasm, the article whiffs of a bit of fear. Fear that UKIP is saying the right things & is being seen as a threat. I suppose UKIP have to worry when their meetings aren't reported in any depth. With the apparent decline in 'right-wing' politics in Scotland, I'm disappointed UKIP could only muster a small high level presence. DCB must have felt very isolated Should have flown in a few more MEP's.

03-04-2007, 08:26 PM	#4 (permalink)
g hall Uber Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: erewhon Posts: 5,938	Isn't their logo much like a flag we've all come to love

03-04-2007, 11:43 PM	#7 (permalink)
Independent UKIP Uber Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: London Posts: 2,492	Wasn't Roger Knapman leader through most of the period under discussion? Regarding the "very reasonable offers" by the Electoral Commission, which presumably would be under the leadership of Farage, I don't recall seeing any statement by them about those offers. I might be mistaken so would welcome seeing evidence of the offers and how reasonable they were. Thanks. And I also thought the issue was about certain Alan Bown donations not 3 years of subscription income?