Anthony Butcher

Good, bad or indifferent?

B.A.Ware

Someone voted !!Pretty Good!! (probably Kernow)

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We’re not just about Europe.

kernow

As I read your posting here B.A.Ware, I have not yet voted, but you are spot on that is exactly how I will vote!

kernow

No need to wonder how you voted B.A.Ware! I see you and your band of Nigel haters have been quite busy!

Anthony Butcher

I suppose that it depends upon your expectations. I am sure that most of us had aspirations for the party that were in all likelihood unachievable.

My summary of his watch is as follows.

Pros:
Two members of the House of Lords
Stabilised a declining membership
New website
UKIP Youth up and running
Improved emphasis on British politics

Cons:
The Electoral Commission court case
Lost numerous members of the NEC through resignation
The racist pasty flinging incident
Tom Wise saga
Ashley Mote
No innovative campaigns
No real improvement in the media coverage in the long term
Party just as divided as ever
Declining vote in local elections
Massive (over)spending in Wales for zero returns
Secretly setting up a call centre without informing the NEC
Being forced to close down the secret call centre.
Public argument with the Treasurer who claims he was "misled"
No shadow cabinet appointed
No new spokesmen
With one notable exception the other MEPs have produced almost nothing
No new policies (the tax and education policies were written before)
Agreeing to the principle of subsidiarity in the EU
Still in partnership with pro-EU MEPs in the Ind/Dem group
Yet another unimaginative inflatable stunt wasting thousands of pounds
No rebranding of the party
UKIP is still as amateur as ever
It still only has one major donor
The NEC elections were cocked-up/rigged yet again
Andrew Smith is still on the NEC with Farage's backing
Major public split and argument with Roger Knapman and other MEPs

Having said all of that, what really matters is whether the party is in a better position now than when he came into office.

I voted 'disappointing'. I think that with his significant media skills and the interest he got immediately after the election he has squandered it all. It is just like the 2004 EU elections all over again - fighting really hard to get elected and then doing nothing afterwards.

Millennium3

Some one has voted excellent! Is NF a member of the forum?

B.A.Ware

So predictable

I don't know why you call us Nigel haters do you really believe we want UKIP to fail, the difference between us is you will blindly follow Nigel over a cliff where we will point out the dangers of running towards the cliff.

I don't hate Nigel but get real has he achieved any of the things he promised, 10 months to produce a website which is predominately anti-EU is hardly efficient and showing the public we have a full political programmer for change.

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We’re not just about Europe.

B.A.Ware

Now that must be Kernow

Theres none so blind that cannot see

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We’re not just about Europe.

Anthony Butcher

Do you disagree with my summary? By all means add some more positives (or negatives) if you wish.

I would really like to understand the criteria by which someone would vote positively on the poll.

Westcountryman

I'll admit that it was me who voted 'pretty good'. The reason for doing so is this: I joined in December 2006, and was not really aware of any problems UKIP were having/had before then. My main reason for joining was Camoron, but I had heard of Nigel Farage, and had liked what I'd heard. The only other 'UKIPPER' I had heard of was Roger Knapman (and, admittedly, Kilroy Silk) who were both complete pillocks.

Now, since I joined, the only UKIP representatives I see in the press, are either locals, or NF. As is said above, the other MEPs don't seem to do a lot - can this really be attributed to NF? Maybe, maybe not.

I vote pretty good, because NF seems to have done a good job in building contacts and raising our profile - he has always impressed me on TV and on the radio. He seems to make regular appearances and is a good public speaker - something which may be lacking in previous/alternate candidates.

Yes, he has his failings, like we all do, and he's made some decisions I disagree with, but on the whole, I'm impressed with his hard work and determination - and I know that his message resounds well within the Tories. So in my limited experience of UKIP, I thought, on the whole, that's he's done ok by me so far.

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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."