Britannist

I think that a problem could be that UKIP is not projecting any of its brand at all to many voters. There are large parts of London, for instance, where no one has had a UKIP leaflet since the last General Election.

As you know, Anthony, UKIP does not have volunteers or campaiging teams in some wards - which means that the only option of getting party leaflets to the voters (in those wards) is when there is a free leaflet drop by post (as at General and EU Elections).

As a small party UKIP has limited resources to get its message across. I suspect it is the same with the Green Party - I haven't had a leaflet from them since the last General Election.

steve fowler

I understand where you are coming from anthony the party does need to use the internet more and im hoping that may change with having more young members involved with us and i intend to use the internet in the best way i can so i do see what you mean when it comes to ukip and the media.

I also agree with what you are saying aswell Britannist.

Britannist

Labour had a bad press in the period up to and including the 1983 General Election. Few in the newspapers backed Labour and many mocked the Labour Party's leader Michael Foot (who wanted out of the EEC/EU but who, sadly, also wanted to get rid of the UK nuclear defence).

But the hostility of the press did not stop Labour from winning over 8 million votes in the 1983 General Election. That was considered a low vote vote Labour - but it gave them over 200 MPs.

Today, of course, 8 million would be regarded as a big vote - indeed, Blair won the last General Election on something close to that number of votes.

The point I make is this: it is possible for an anti-EU party to get a huge vote across the UK despite a negative press.

Britannist

I totally agree - UKIP is not using the internet as much it should.

The UKIP website is still not up to the standard it should be (although, to be fair, the websites of some of the other parties with seats in the Commons and/or EU 'Parliament' are less than impressive).

Britannist

Thank you for your agreement, Steve.

steve fowler

No problem Brit.

Anthony Butcher

The problem is that leafleting at election time makes very little difference. In fact I am somewhat doubtful that leafleting makes any difference at any time.

Let us take two elections where UKIP spent a lot of money for very little back; Bromley and the Welsh Assembly elections. Between them the party spent well in excess of £200,000. That same money could have been used to create a serious web presence with a couple of full time webmasters and some national newspaper adverts. Or it could have paid for some TV advertising (although how much I don't know).

I know that NF says that parties exist to fight elections, but if you save up everything for the elections, it is far too late.

__________________
If you care about what's in your food and where it comes from, then get it labelled!
Label My Food - http://www.labelmyfood.org.uk

steve fowler

I agree with you anthony we do need to use all areas of the media that we can and i think we need to look at elections areas where the public listen to us and to look at areas of the country where we could get some strong votes for us and we should not be throwing money away when it comes to some elections not a very good move.

Britannist

Independent UKIP

I don't necessarily disagree with some of what you say but the fact is that one of the major news stories from Bromley was Labour coming 4th having been beaten by UKIP. Only those obsessed with UKIP as supporters or opponents consider that campaign a failure, in my opinion. My concern about Wales doesn't relate to the money spent there but how the seats were contested. You are mistaken about TV advertising. You don't see liblabcon adverts on tv for a reason - they are illegal. I'd've thought a former UKIP NEC member would know something like that. Perhaps the senior officers and members of the party do not necessarily have to have full knowledge of the law without being denounced. Though I guess that only applies to those who oppose the UKIP leadership!