Britannist

Switching sides can mean one of several things - it might mean that people who vote Conservative make a complete switch to UKIP in all elections and may even join the party.

On the other hand it might mean they just decide to vote UKIP in EU Elections and then stick with the Conservatives in local and General Elections.

Or it could mean they vote UKIP in EU and local elections, but not in General Elections (i.e. staying with the Conservatives at General Elections).

Or it could mean the voter deciding to switch from the Conservatives to UKIP at General Elections and EU Elections - but not in local elections (where the voter may have no UKIP candidate standing locally or may choose to continue voting Conservative in local elections if UKIP fields a candidate in their locality).

I take the view that David Cameron's criticism of UKIP on 4th April last year (and the other of the six points I made in an earlier posting to this thread) has/have, at least, probably increased the possibility of eurosceptic and/or anti-EU Conservatives voting UKIP at the next EU Election.

ANGLO-STAFFS

My main concern for UKIP is what appears to be an almost obsessive fixation on EU elections. I have said this before; out of all the different elections held in this country the EU ones are seen by many people as the least important so they may give their vote to any protest or single-issue party. Getting people to vote for you once every 5 years is not my idea of a political master plan for government at parish level or higher.

I might give up meat once a year for Lent but that does not mean I would ever become a vegan.

Britannist

EU Elections offer the best chance for UKIP because they are "on" UKIPs key policy - the EU. EU Elections, as you know, Anglo-Staffs are held using an electoral system which most benefits a party such as UKIP which has its support more evenly spread across the country than most of the parties in the House of Commons.

In other words, the EU Elections offer UKIP its greatest chance of gaining electoral representation and gaining a voice - a platform. Of course, UKIP wants to win seats on local councils and in the House of Commons too - but, at least through winning seats in the EU 'Parliament', UKIP gets the right to be covered more by the europhile BBC and other broadcasters in the UK (and elsewhere for that matter).

ANGLO-STAFFS

But, hand on heart, can you honestly say that the average British voter can see any tangable benefits from having bothered to elect 10 UKIP MEP's last time? Anything that has added to their quality of life? I think you would be pushed to find very many. UKIP must improve their game fast.
The London elections are in just over six months time. Some people are talking about success. UKIP have only stood in 2 out of the last 7 by elections, what is there to tell the voters in those wards that UKIP still exists in London. You can't base a political future on being the 4th largest party for just one day every five years.

Anthony Butcher

12 MEPs. UKIP has lost three of them since.

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Britannist

Voters will eventually be informed by UKIP of the work of the UKIP MEPs in Brussels - when UKIP manages to get leaflets to them.

You correctly point out, Anglo-Staffs, that some voters in certain wards in London haven't heard about UKIP much. I made the same point on the forum some months ago (more than once). However, just because voters have not heard about UKIP very much in recent times does not mean that they will not vote for the party.

UKIP does need to get leaflets and/or newsletters to more voters more regularly. There are some wards in London where electors have received no leaflets from UKIP since the May 2005 General Election.

I just thought I would add that I have (outside election campaign periods) not received a leaflet from the Liberal Dims (or from the Greens who do quite well in this ward) ever (in this ward) and I have had no leaflet from Labour since the local borough elections were held in May of last year.

g hall

UKIP has moved from pressure group toward political party , the speed of this has perhaps caught some people by surprise and has been done in a different manner in that the local level has followed a national breakthrough .
If boy dave continues to alienate traditional tories and the apathetic can be persuaded as well as some labour voters then at the next general election we could have some MP's

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tito

No, the Tories have done that themselves. Anyway, I don't think I would prefer Cameron to Brown.

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Millennium3

It seems the majority would. It does mean having a Prime Minister committed to the EU for a full term who has recently reopened the question of us joining the Euro - Cameron has said he thinks there should be less rather than more union and is fighting for a referendum. Another 5 years of Brown and I think our fate as a member of a United Staes of Europe will be pretty much sealed.

The Scottish domination will also be enhanced and, very likely, England split into regions.

Cameron is likely to give us breathing space.

It depends on what issues are most important to you.

tito

I would rather be force-fed horse manure than give my vote to a europhile, socially authoritarian, tax loving, God fearing, morally driven or discriminatory candidate.
Which is why I would never show my support to Labour, The COnservatives or the lib Dems.

I believe I now understand your agenda.

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