Moving Leftwards?

Anthony Butcher · 15-07-2008, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Hunter has just been browsing the latest Early Day Motions (EDMs) in Parliament. One motion, EDM1948, heaps praise on the merger of two unions and on Derek Simpson and Tony Woodley, the left-wing leaders of the Unite union. Who wrote is? George Galloway? John McDonnell? Diane Abbot? Jeremy Corbyn? No, step forward Bob Spink, the Conservative-to-UKIP member for Castle Point. Hunter wonders if Spink is another Alan Amos in the making...

Westcountryman · 15-07-2008, 11:36 PM

I'm starting to wonder if UKIP getting its first MP is doing more harm than good.

chikrodah · 16-07-2008, 07:50 AM

UKIP getting this MP certainly seems to be.

michael mcgough · 16-07-2008, 08:44 AM

We'll need the help of the unions to get out of the EU....Yersterday's demon may be tomorrow's hero.
Other battles will then be fought later ,on home soil with a sovereign government.

gc · 16-07-2008, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michael mcgough

We'll need the help of the unions to get out of the EU.

I tend to agree with Mick on this one. I feel physically sick every time I look at a Sinn Feiner in the Parliament, but UKIP took their side on the Lisbon referendum.

A leftist I ain't, but the Unions could be very useful allies.

mrabody · 16-07-2008, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gc

I tend to agree with Mick on this one. I feel physically sick every time I look at a Sinn Feiner in the Parliament, but UKIP took their side on the Lisbon referendum.

A leftist I ain't, but the Unions could be very useful allies.

I agree with GC and Mick. Given that we often do very well in former Labour areas we would be cutting off our nose to spite our face if we ignored the unions. Unions come in all shapes and sizes, some are near full-on Marxists, other not. I think we should engage with them and try to recruit them to our cause. We need allies in our battle against the EU.

Michael Heaver · 16-07-2008, 10:04 AM

I know some Union members who are starting to detest Labour, see the LibDems as a bunch of middle class nitwits and would rather internally combust than give a penny to the Tories.

As Nigel has said, UKIP aren't left or right necessarily, but we are certainly at the centre-ground of British public opinion...

harryaldridge · 16-07-2008, 10:46 AM

Bob Spink is Bob Spink. He was not the COnservative Party when he stood under their banner, and he is not UKIP. He has his own mind, which is quite an admirable quality, albeit i disagree with him on many issues. He agrees with UKIP on the fundamental issue of self governance, and we are lucky to have him. He is a very hard working MP.

For some reason UKIP members seem to think internal politics is unique to UKIP, and equally think all MPs should slavishly follow the whips, execpt on issues like the EU when our members start saying how shameful it is they didn't defy the whip! Get real people. MPs are representatives, not delegates.

UKIPSW · 16-07-2008, 05:32 PM

Quote:

11/07/2008

Labour raised almost £700,000 from a celebrity auction where wealthy supporters bid to play tennis with Tony Blair or have lunch with Sir Alex Ferguson.

Hundreds of people attended the event at Wembley Stadium where other lots included an original work of art from Turner Prize-winner Antony Gormley.

The work, Feeling Material Again IV, is believed to have sold for more than £70,000 - the biggest single sum of the night.

Reports named Tony Woodley, the head of trade union Unite, as the mystery bidder for the work. It is likely to anger the union's two million members - many of whom are among the country's lowest-paid workers - if trade union money was used to buy the art.

Labour raises £700,000 with celebrity auction - Telegraph

Quote:

£25,000 Cuba Commie junket

LEFTIE union chiefs will blow £25,000 of their members’ money on a trip to celebrate 50 years of Communism in Cuba.

Unite leaders Derek Simpson and Tony Woodley will lead a 12-strong delegation to salute retiring dictator Fidel Castro, 81.

But last night the junket sparked outrage among the union’s two million members – among the country’s lowest paid workers. One said: “It’s a disgrace. There is nothing to celebrate.

“If they love the place so much they should go and live there.”

Another said: “There must be more important things for them to spend our money on than toasting Communism.”

The expenses-paid jaunt comes after the ailing despot handed power to brother Raul, 76.

Union bigwigs will fly out business class in May, spending three nights in a luxury hotel in capital Havana.

Mr Simpson had planned to take the entire 60-strong union executive, but backed down after protests.

Cuba | Fidel Castro | £25k Cuba Communism junket | The Sun |HomePage|News

If Spink feels the need to submit an EDM, then why not praise Nurses or the Armed Forces, not these Commie Ba$tards.

Nigel needs to give him a warning. Either he tows the UKIP line or he ships out.

15-07-2008, 11:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
Westcountryman Uber Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: The Westcountry. Posts: 5,922 Party: None	I'm starting to wonder if UKIP getting its first MP is doing more harm than good. __________________ Manus haec inimica tyrannis ense petit placidam sub libertate quietam - "This hand of mine, which is hostile to tyrants, seeks by the sword quiet peace under liberty."

16-07-2008, 10:46 AM	#8 (permalink)
harryaldridge Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: West Sussex Posts: 1,912	Bob Spink is Bob Spink. He was not the COnservative Party when he stood under their banner, and he is not UKIP. He has his own mind, which is quite an admirable quality, albeit i disagree with him on many issues. He agrees with UKIP on the fundamental issue of self governance, and we are lucky to have him. He is a very hard working MP. For some reason UKIP members seem to think internal politics is unique to UKIP, and equally think all MPs should slavishly follow the whips, execpt on issues like the EU when our members start saying how shameful it is they didn't defy the whip! Get real people. MPs are representatives, not delegates. __________________ http://vindicovindico.blogspot.com

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16-07-2008, 07:50 AM	#3 (permalink)
chikrodah Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Midlands Posts: 1,872	UKIP getting this MP certainly seems to be.

16-07-2008, 08:44 AM	#4 (permalink)
michael mcgough Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Essex Posts: 1,249	We'll need the help of the unions to get out of the EU....Yersterday's demon may be tomorrow's hero. Other battles will then be fought later ,on home soil with a sovereign government.

16-07-2008, 10:04 AM	#7 (permalink)
Michael Heaver Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 394 Party: UKIP	I know some Union members who are starting to detest Labour, see the LibDems as a bunch of middle class nitwits and would rather internally combust than give a penny to the Tories. As Nigel has said, UKIP aren't left or right necessarily, but we are certainly at the centre-ground of British public opinion...