Another councillor joins UKIP

Britannist · 24-07-2007, 03:13 PM

A Councillor in North Norfolk has joined UKIP it has been announced:

http://www.ukip.org/ukip_news/gen12.php?t=1&id=3116

Anthony Butcher · 24-07-2007, 03:16 PM

Full text:

Quote:

North Norfolk District Councillor joins UKIP

24-07-2007

Cllr Michael Baker, who has represented the community of Holt on the North Norfolk District Council for more than 15 years is proud to announce that he has joined the UK Independence Party (UKIP).
Cllr Baker is the Managing Director of CT Baker Ltd, the long standing local family business and was re-elected again in May 2007 as an independent. “I am proud to be entrusted by the community of Holt to represent them with a clear mandate of holding the old parties to account.
“As an Englishman and a patriot I have found it increasingly difficult to support a Conservative Party, which will not commit itself to withdrawing from Europe, should it ever gain power. Indeed, our Conservative MEP’s even sit with the European People’s Party in Brussels, a Parliamentary group which is committed to further EU integration.
“I am and have always been a firm believer that Britain should govern itself and maintain its own borders. Progressively more and more of our laws originate in Brussels and are just rubber stamped at Westminster, although they are debated to give the British people the impression that they are our own laws. Every day we are losing more control of our destiny. There was even an amendment, thankfully withdrawn, ordering the flying of the EU flag at Champions League and European Championship football matches, the same amendment also demanded that the EU anthem be played at these matches (you will become good Europeans!)
“It is for these reasons and to support our sovereignty and our Queen as Head of State that I have joined UKIP, the United Kingdom Independence Party. Many people I speak to hold similar views and I hope my actions will act as a catalyst to encourage these closet UKIP supporters to come into the open. A really good result at the next European elections will surely send a strong message.”
Peter Reeve, Regional Organiser for UKIP in the Eastern Counties said: “We are very proud to have such a pillar of the community and such an experienced District Councillor on board in our fight to regain our freedoms and our country. I believe that Cllr Baker is the first of many District Councillors who will come over to UKIP because it is the only Party telling the truth and which believes in giving real independence to local councils so that they can get on with serving the needs of local people. “

tito · 24-07-2007, 09:07 PM

Strange party to defect from.

Edit: No it isn't, why did I think I read "The communist party"! I need some sleep.

BASILDON BOY · 25-07-2007, 09:46 PM

http://216.239.59.104/search?q=cache...gl=uk&ie=UTF-8

...such a pillar of the community!

Independent UKIP · 25-07-2007, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BASILDON BOY

http://216.239.59.104/search?q=cache...gl=uk&ie=UTF-8

...such a pillar of the community!

He certainly is. He retained his seat on North Norfolk District Council well ahead of one Lib Dem and his tory & Green opponents. The good people of Holt have had their say on the matter by supporting someone condemned by the utterly discredited and contemptible Prescott Standards Board. Presumably you believe that Independent minded persons such as him should be banned from standing for office regardless of the considered views of the electorate?

g hall · 26-07-2007, 10:55 AM

As long as he declared his interest then everyone knows

Better then some pillars of the community in certain other parties I could name

Independent UKIP · 02-08-2007, 03:31 PM

http://www.northnorfolknews.co.uk/co...A08%3A08%3A800

"Holt councillor joins UKIP

02 August 2007

A controversial north Norfolk councillor has joined the United Kingdom Independence Party because he says it matches his patriotic views.

Holt businessman Michael Baker has been an independent member for more than 15 years, but has previously sidled up to the Conservative-Independent alliance, and is still a card-carrying Tory.

However he says the Tory party's switch to the centre ground of politics had led him to make his change of allegiance.

“As an Englishman and a patriot I have found it increasingly difficult to support a Conservative Party which will not commit itself to withdrawing from Europe,” he explained.

“Indeed, our Conservative MEPs even sit with the European People's Party in Brussels, a Parliamentary group which is committed to further EU integration.”

“I support Great Britain and having the Queen as our head of state,” he added. “I have no desire to be a European.”

UKIP is committed to withdrawing Britain from the European Union, which it feels is bad for the nation's economy and prosperity.

Mr Baker, a former chartered chemical engineer, took over the family retail business in 1974 and is managing director of C T Baker, which incorporates Holt's famous Bakers and Larners department store as well as a string of builders merchants' depots.

He is a colourful bow-tie wearing character, known for speaking his mind at council meetings. As well as spell on the town council, he is also a member of Rotary, a former Round Tabler and has chaired the local chamber of trade.

He hit the headlines in January 2006 when he was banned from the district council for a year after breaching a councillors' code of conduct on declaring interests, when he took part in a debate about a planning application by his own company.

But in May he was re-elected, as an independent again, polling 835 votes, the second highest tally in the town, to gain its second seat behind Lib Dem former town council chairman Philip High.

Last night Mr Baker stressed: “I do not feel I have contravened any electoral promises I have given.” He was “still very much independent” but his views, now, and over the past 20-30 years, were now more aligned to UKIP than the Tories.

“Many people I speak to hold similar views and I hope my actions will act as a catalyst to encourage these closet UKIP supporters to come into the open. A really good result at the next European elections will surely send a strong message,” he said - but denied his move was paving the way for him to stand for the party at the next general election.

UKIP's regional organiser Peter Reeve said: “We are very proud to have such a pillar of the community and such an experienced district councillor on board in our fight to regain our freedoms and our country.”"

24-07-2007, 03:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
Britannist Uber Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: London Posts: 22,896	Another councillor joins UKIP A Councillor in North Norfolk has joined UKIP it has been announced: http://www.ukip.org/ukip_news/gen12.php?t=1&id=3116

25-07-2007, 09:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
BASILDON BOY Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: N'Djamena, Chad Posts: 1,756	http://216.239.59.104/search?q=cache...gl=uk&ie=UTF-8 ...such a pillar of the community! __________________ Mike Nattrass MEP is HOT HOT HOT!!!

26-07-2007, 10:55 AM	#6 (permalink)
g hall Uber Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: erehwon Posts: 5,233	As long as he declared his interest then everyone knows Better then some pillars of the community in certain other parties I could name __________________ "That government is best which governs least." "This is a sharp Medicine, but it is a Physician for all diseases and miseries". "To be "matter of fact" about the world is to blunder into fantasy --and dull fantasy at that, as the real world is strange and wonderful."

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02-08-2007, 03:31 PM	#7 (permalink)
Independent UKIP Uber Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: London Posts: 2,310	http://www.northnorfolknews.co.uk/co...A08%3A08%3A800 "Holt councillor joins UKIP 02 August 2007 A controversial north Norfolk councillor has joined the United Kingdom Independence Party because he says it matches his patriotic views. Holt businessman Michael Baker has been an independent member for more than 15 years, but has previously sidled up to the Conservative-Independent alliance, and is still a card-carrying Tory. However he says the Tory party's switch to the centre ground of politics had led him to make his change of allegiance. “As an Englishman and a patriot I have found it increasingly difficult to support a Conservative Party which will not commit itself to withdrawing from Europe,” he explained. “Indeed, our Conservative MEPs even sit with the European People's Party in Brussels, a Parliamentary group which is committed to further EU integration.” “I support Great Britain and having the Queen as our head of state,” he added. “I have no desire to be a European.” UKIP is committed to withdrawing Britain from the European Union, which it feels is bad for the nation's economy and prosperity. Mr Baker, a former chartered chemical engineer, took over the family retail business in 1974 and is managing director of C T Baker, which incorporates Holt's famous Bakers and Larners department store as well as a string of builders merchants' depots. He is a colourful bow-tie wearing character, known for speaking his mind at council meetings. As well as spell on the town council, he is also a member of Rotary, a former Round Tabler and has chaired the local chamber of trade. He hit the headlines in January 2006 when he was banned from the district council for a year after breaching a councillors' code of conduct on declaring interests, when he took part in a debate about a planning application by his own company. But in May he was re-elected, as an independent again, polling 835 votes, the second highest tally in the town, to gain its second seat behind Lib Dem former town council chairman Philip High. Last night Mr Baker stressed: “I do not feel I have contravened any electoral promises I have given.” He was “still very much independent” but his views, now, and over the past 20-30 years, were now more aligned to UKIP than the Tories. “Many people I speak to hold similar views and I hope my actions will act as a catalyst to encourage these closet UKIP supporters to come into the open. A really good result at the next European elections will surely send a strong message,” he said - but denied his move was paving the way for him to stand for the party at the next general election. UKIP's regional organiser Peter Reeve said: “We are very proud to have such a pillar of the community and such an experienced district councillor on board in our fight to regain our freedoms and our country.”"