Petrina

No ,he'd be far too nice to the Commission.

However it could be time to think out of the box.
Politicians and ex -politicans are not likely to inspire the sort of following that it needed to drag us out of the EU.

Is there a charismatic ,good looking ,efficient ,upright eurosceptic with good fighting credentials out there ?

ex-member

I understand that just to make sure the leadership are stirring up trouble for Gerard Batten in London and running other candidates against him. The hustings are this weekend.
Why? Not because Batten wants to be leader-he does not- but because he is seen as honest and principled and a man available when the leadership finally self destructs.

Millennium3

It is this type of activity which ensures NF remains leader however badly the party does - if anyone within the party starts showing leadership qualities they are soon undermined - or if that doesn't do it - forced out.

__________________
If we are in pursuit of game and want to get a shot at a quarry, we must set about it in the right way. A man who persists in stalking game where there is none may wait forever without finding any. Persistence in search is not enough. What is not sought in the right way is not found. Line 4 - I Ching Hexagram 32 - Duration.

a swansong 4 europe

What do you mean "if" Nigel gave up? Has he ever really been successful in what he has done for UKIP except that for his own personal benefit? He has not turned the party around and put it back on a fast track to increasing its share of the vote from 2004 upwards, and has presided over a spate of truly awful local election results including the losing of London Assembly members (UKIP should have at least MAINTAINED its level of representation), never mind the abysmal failures of Scotland and Wales, though I can't remember at this point whether-or-not he was leader at the time of the Scot/Welsh elections?

I have heard Nigel speak publically and no doubt he comes across as a capable politician, but with initially 12 elected UKIP members of the EU parliament, there should have been the creation of various speakers and representatives for a host of shadow cabinet type positions in the months following June 04 (as I understand is something RKS wanted?), allowing each person the ability over the years to get themselves established in the public's eye as another public figure for UKIP. UKIP can't be just a one trick pony.

Unfortunately, all that seems to have happened is that they have virtually either vanished from public grace, or have become best known for their stupid remarks or fraudlent activities.

If Nigel has played a major part in that, and I suspect he has been pulling the strings for years since 1999, then the quicker UKIP re-defines itself and gets shut of the dinosaurs that are ruining the party, it will eventually dissapear up the blackhole of electoral rejection.

Millennium3

I would have thought that if the party was rested from the cabal, in the way I have suggested, a steering group of trusted party and ex members would be required for at least 6 months to let the dust settle. It would be foolish to rush into appointing a new leader until the various candidates could show their worth in more 'ordinary' conditions. A leader would not be desperately needed immediately, but speakers would be required in various areas - this would be one way in which potential leaders could show their worth.

__________________
If we are in pursuit of game and want to get a shot at a quarry, we must set about it in the right way. A man who persists in stalking game where there is none may wait forever without finding any. Persistence in search is not enough. What is not sought in the right way is not found. Line 4 - I Ching Hexagram 32 - Duration.

Hartlepool

Are you lot Spinking what I'm Spinking?

I actually Spink you are......so,with Farage removed by democratic and popular vote......we can expect someone who is an experienced party leader like Knapman to hold the fort for perhaps a year,or longer,until the new Messiah comes along,then,leave or stand with others for a four year term as leader.

YES?

NO?

DUNNO.

C_steam

Any furry quadraped would be an improvement.

__________________
--------------------------------------------------

Users on ignore list: None. I've got to have people to laugh at.
Cowardly Posters* list: BobFM, Bellatrix.*People who post personal insults then refuse to reply

.

Millennium3

I am not certain a new Messiah is what is needed. If someone like that is found, the party is likely to become some kind of personality cult again and it also makes it too fragile. If a strong leader does take over - if they make a serious error the parties reputation slumps to the floor, whereas if there are half a dozen or so good speakers - if one does mess up - the party's position is, more or less, retained because of the other good speakers.

__________________
If we are in pursuit of game and want to get a shot at a quarry, we must set about it in the right way. A man who persists in stalking game where there is none may wait forever without finding any. Persistence in search is not enough. What is not sought in the right way is not found. Line 4 - I Ching Hexagram 32 - Duration.

chikrodah

Of course there is. It's Aardvark (but somebody's got to do it....)

chikrodah

Agreed, M3.

A new Messiah is the last thing the eurosceptic movement needs. What's needed is a decent board of directors, with multiple spokesmen.

Spink's damaged goods in some ways - ex-Tory, still voting for the mainstream on things like 42 days detention and John Lewis lists. I'm not convinced any of the eurosceptic Lords would want this poisoned chalice.

Let's not have any ex-Selsdon Group/Monday Clubbers either, unless UKIP wants to lose the non-rightwing Tory vote completely.