Britannist

As I wrote earlier, there are whole big parts of London where voters in those areas have had no leaflet from UKIP through the door since the May 2005 General Election.

I think I wrote in another thread that voters in Bromley (in last year's Parliamentary By-Election there) may not have heard from UKIP for a while before the By-Election and more may have been persuaded to vote UKIP had the party kept in touch with them in the period before the By-Election.

However, shortage of funds, volunteers and leaflet deliverers make it difficult for a small party such as UKIP to leaflet tens of millions of voters very regularly. The Liberal Dims are pretty thin on the ground in a good 500 constituencies (despite their deceitful tactic of trying to present themselves as a national party fully operational in all seats) - so it is not a problem exclusive to UKIP.

I agree that a strong internet presence is something UKIP should build up. There is also the option of cinema advertising. The "I want a referendum" advertisements shown to cinema audiences recently reached a million people.

Britannist

Yes - UKIP pushing Labour into fourth place at Bromley-Chislehurst (last Summer) shows the potential UKIP has to replace the Labour Party as the 'third' party in seats where Labour is currenty third.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - UKIP is still taking votes from Labour in the London area (there were huge swings to UKIP from Labour in the capital in the 2004 EU and London Assembly elections).

Anthony Butcher

It wasn't a failure - UKIP achieved a good percentage of the vote. My point is that the huge sum of money spent there could have bought a lot more good publicity elsewhere.

On the other hand, every party needs some good results to cheer its supporters so perhaps it was worth it. I don't know; it just seems short term thinking to spend large quantities of cash on elections rather than building support.

That's the first I have heard of that. I assumed that it was legal - I must have watched too many episodes of The West Wing

I am not quite sure what your point is there. However, education of party officials should be a priority, you are correct. As it is there is nothing in UKIP; you just turn up with what you know. We didn't even get a brief on the state of the party and had to request every piece of information.

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Anthony Butcher

Will that continue though as UKIP becomes more and more associated with the Tories and more associated with "right wing" politics? It is something of a stigma with Labour voters.

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Britannist

It (party political advertising) is legal within the context of a party political/election broadcast, of course.

It is also legal in cinemas (certainly for things like the "I want a referendum" campaign and probably for party political advertising).

Britannist

I think that the UKIP immigration policy (stop all immmigration for five years) will appeal to Labour voters - many of whom live in areas which have experienced a large influx.

For instance, in the UKIP target number one seat - Boston/Skegness (featured in the Dispatches programme on Channel Four about immigration earlier this week) there are about 15, 000 people (mostly) from Portugal/Poland living in the constituency (which has a population of about 60, 000).

UKIP performed better in Boston/Skegness than in any other constituency in the country at the last General Election - and I am sure the massive EU influx into the Boston/Skegness area was very much one of the reasons why people voted UKIP there in large numbers.

There is no doubt at all that many Labour voters switched to UKIP in in Boston/Skegness (a marginal seat where the Conservatives and Labour are the two main parties) at the last General Election and I am sure such electors will agree with the UKIP policy on immigration (to stop it completely for five years).

I would also expect the UKIP immigration policy to appeal to many Labour voters in London - which has taken the majority of the eastern european influx into the UK.

As I wrote in another thread, UKIP could have a greater influence on the result of the next General Election than on the last - even if it got fewer votes. The important factor is where it gets the votes from and in what seats. Taking 2000 votes from the Conservatives in a 'safe' Conservative seat would be less useful to UKIP than it gaining 500 votes from Labour supporters in a constituency with a very pro-EU Labour MP who had a majority last time of under 500 (i.e. Harlow - where pro-EU Minister 'Bill' Rammell is the MP with a majority of under 100 votes - is a good example).