Petrina

Recently received report for everyone`s interest

Conference provisional report

A full report, with photographs, of the Stop the Treaty conference held on Saturday, April 5, will appear on this website during the next few days.

The principal speakers were the Earl of Dartmouth, Delroy Young, Trevor Colman, Tim Congdon, Sir George Earle, George Hargreaves and Roger Knapman. Piers Merchant gave an objective and illuminating PowerPoint presentation of the electoral challenge which the UK Independence Party faces. There was a panel discussion chaired by Piers Merchant, the panel consisting of Bruce Lawson (former party treasurer), Dr David Abbott (NEC member), John Pratt (chairman, UKIP Wales) and Eric Edmond (NEC member). A telephone message was received live from Dick Morris, and his words were communicated to the audience. A DVD from Australia, made by Philip Benwell, and explaining the difficulties which would be posed, by the passage of the consitutional treaty (the so-called Lisbon treaty), to the status of the monarchy in Australia and other countries of which Elizabeth II is queen, was shown. In response to demand the organising group will try to make copies of these available to UKIP branches. There was a final free discussion period chaired by Geoffrey Kingscott.

It was generally agreed that the conference was a success, provided that the ideas generated could be turned into action.

Two suggestions which emerged from the conference, and which – within 24 hours – had people telephoning members of the organising committee, were the Battle of Britain March, and the Coronation Oath demonstration.

The Battle of Britain March was suggested in the free discussion period by David Howells, of Newcastle-under-Lyme branch. He and his colleagues had the idea during a pub discussion. Nearby Stoke-on-Trent was the birthplace of R.J. Mitchell, designer of the Spitfire. The idea is to start a march in Stoke-on-Trent, and, like the Jarrow marchers of the 1930s, march to London, gathering up support on the way. David Howells admitted that they had not yet looked at just how feasible the idea might be, but was sure it was worth exploring. The Stop the Treaty organising group will be passing on expressions of interest, and liaising with David Howells to explore if and how the idea can be taken further.

It was in reply to a question posed during the panel discussion that Dr David Abbott suggested that, while HM the Queen, by normal constitutional practice,has to assent to any bill passed by Parliament, the passage into law of the constitutional treaty was something unique. The Queen could be violating her Coronation Oath by assenting to it. He suggested that perhaps we ought to demonstrate outside Buckingham Palace with placards exhorting Her Majesty to remember that Oath. Here again the Stop the Treaty organising group will be examining the feasibility.

Because both of these ideas came up during discussion sessions, it is clearer than ever that some form of democratic structure and organisation needs to be introduced into the UK Independence Party so that the ideas of members can continue to come forward, investigated, and, where feasible, implemented. This structural gap was mentioned both by Delroy Young and by Geoffrey Kingscott, and here again arrangements need to be put into place. The initial result will certainly be the organisation of further events in different areas of the country. In 2005-2006 the ‘Lechlade Group’ did provide a ferment of ideas for the Party, and it is evident that something of that nature is needed again.

The low spot of the conference was the slowness with which the buffet lunch was served, which caused considerable irritation and played havoc with the programme timetable. The Organising Group had left the arrangements for the buffet entirely with the hotel, but with hindsight should have enquired more closely into the detailed planning. Here, as in other matters, problems were caused to the organisers by a late rush of applications; planning was for a conference of 200 but late interest brought the numbers to more than 300.

One of the high spots of the conference, on the other hand, was the decision of former leadership candidate Richard Suchorzewski, to announce that in view of this new spirit of renewal and revival in UKIP demonstrated by the conference he felt he should rejoin our struggle. He received a standing ovation, and his application to rejoin was endorsed by Roger Knapman.

This chimed in with one of the points made by Delroy Young in his address earlier, when he envisaged how the UK Independence Party could once again attract the many talented activists who had felt constrained to leave the Party. Geoffrey Kingscott read a message from former chairman Petrina Holdsworth wishing the conference well: it could mean, she had written, that UKIP would be moving out of its siding and back on to the main line.

The call by several speakers, for UKIP MEPs to withdraw from the Ind-Dem Group (Sir George Earle in particular made a closely reasoned case for this), and Roger Knapman’s announcement that he would consult the membership in his South-west region before making his final decision on whether he personally would withdraw, appeared to receive the general approval of the meeting. Obviously this is an issue with two sides to the argument, which needs to be discussed at every level of the Party. It will no doubt be an issue at candidate hustings, as will the even more controversial argument, advanced by one or two speakers though the general feeling of the meeting was not tested, that MEPs should be restricted to a single term to prevent them “going native”.

A full statement of the financial receipts and expenditure for the conference will be drawn up when all payments have been completed, and made available on request to anyone who attended.

douglas denny

Interesting development. (!?)

DED.

Anthony Butcher

Very. Also highly unexpected. He is going to have to do a lot of PR work to win acceptance from certain quarters I expect.

I am not sure which 'spirit of renewal and revival' he is referring to, especially given that the conference was organised by the ex-leader apparently against the wishes of Farage, at a time when Knapman appear to be at war with Farage. Even the theme of the conference is a criticism of Farage's inaction over the Lisbon Treaty.

With Knapman (and presumably one or two others) talking about leaving the Ind Dem group (and thus killing the group I believe), are we witnessing the beginnings of something much more serious?

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douglas denny

So you are not aware we have a democratic constitution already; and an infrastructure of branches and chairmen who can take members suggestions and make representation "upwards" ?

DED.
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douglas denny

Potential split. Very serious. Why would Roger Knapman want to do something so dangerous to the cause and hence the country?

I had very great respect for the man. He tried very hard in UKIP, (and had a hard time of it through no fault of his own) - and was one of the first of the really effective rebels to put his career on the line in the Conservatives.
I'm not so sure now.

DED.

chikrodah

With all due respect, the provisional report is an interesting take on events.

In no particular order:

The DVD from Philip Benwell was mind-numbingly boring. The audience were told before lunch that "it went on a bit". North Germans would have described the delivery as Bavarian.

The Battle of Britain March is an interesting idea but I fail to see how it benefits UKIP's professed objectives.

If Buck House is within a mile of Parliament (and I think it is) all demonstrations outside it will be covered by the legislation stopping demonstrations unless previously sanctioned. I'm not sure this is the best use of UKIP's limited resources.

Ski's "standing ovation" was no greater than that received by either the Earl of Dartmouth or Roger Knapman. Both Rev. George Hargreaves and Piers Merchant received similar ovations. Why was this not mentioned? Standing ovations by no more than 30-50 attendees don't really qualify as such, surely? I've participated in real standing ovations where you'd be lucky to spot the one or two still seated, arms folded.

If the call to remove from the Ind/Dem Group received the general approbation of the attendees, either I was in another meeting entirely or else perhaps I missed the standing ovation that went with it?

This report just confirms my initial reaction to the 'conference'. Congratulations, UKIP SW.

douglas denny

If he wishes to rise to the dizzy heights of a leadership contest again I should think he would have serious trouble convincing the vast majority of the membership that he is a serious person fit for UKIP leadership, having left before in a hissy-fit.

DED.

chikrodah

Far be it from me to agree with you, Douglas, but it has to be said that there was some scepticism amongst a number of attendees as to Ski's motivation.

douglas denny

You are quite allowed to agree with me Chikadee. Don't forget - everyone is entitled to my opinion ..... !

DED.

Aardvark

Ski doesn't want to be leader. Ski doesn't want to be a rank and file member. IMHO Ski wants to be MEP and UKIP SW is one of only 2 regions where we will retain at least one seat. Ski wants, IMHO, Roger's seat. When I walked past, and said hello, Ski was filling in an application form for UKIP SW.

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"I do not wish to form my opinions by thoughtlessly quoting others; I wish others to support their opinions by sensibly quoting me." Paul Wesson (Aardvark) 13th April 2008