Thread: Farage's first year as leader

Originally Posted by ModernUKIP

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.

Interesting point. My take on this is that NF has been in charge of the MEPs since at least 2004. If that wasn't enough, he then became leader of the party as well last year. He knows exactly what the MEPs will produce if left to do their own thing; nada.

Hence this must be a choice on his part to leave them doing nothing. Perhaps he thinks that they will just prove an embarrassment, or maybe they would be competition... who knows. Either way it is a major resource being under used.

NF's principle goal in 2009 is to double UKIP's vote in the EU elections, presumably gaining 15-20 MEPs in the process. But to what end? He doesn't seem to have a clue what to do with the ones he already has. What difference would more MEPs make?

UKIP MEPs should be the front runners in drumming up publicity for the party. Every day that they don't make an appearance in the media somewhere is a wasted day (I include the web, local rags etc in that).

The fact that these newsworthy individuals, with the exception of GB, make almost zero impact is entirely due to a lack of management from the party leader. He should have grabbed them by the scruff of the neck and got the best out of them. And if they can't do it themselves, he should have appointed individual press officers or teams to assist them.

You also state that the only national representative that you see is NF. That too is a major failing on his part. Not only does it make UKIP into a one man show, if something happened to him there wouldn't be a media savvy person to step into his shoes and take over. It means that no one else has the opportunity to gain that experience.

And how can UKIP really be taken seriously without spokesmen or a shadow cabinet? Even the green party have them. UKIP doesn't even bother to list any spokesmen any more!

Originally Posted by ModernUKIP

Point taken. I'd just like to add the old adage "You can lead a horse to water...". I definitely agree we should be expanding our base of publicly recognised figures, but I'm not sure if you can attribute sole responsibility - or blame - to NF.

I agree. The MEPs were failing to function in terms of media coverage long before he became party leader. BUT the question is whether as leader he has managed to fix the problem... and the answer is 'no'.

Originally Posted by harryaldridge

By no means perfect but not disasterous i don't think. Christ if we think we have problems just look at the lib-dems, tories etc.

That's hardly a ringing endorsement of his leadership is it? "We aren't doing as badly as some others"!

Originally Posted by harryaldridge

Tim Congdon is economics spokesman

Prove it. Seriously, how would anyone who doesn't follow UKIP news like a hawk know this?

I can find just two efforts from the "Economics Spokesman" since he joined UKIP in January:

http://www.ukip.org/ukip/index.php?o...d=60&Itemid=41

http://www.ukip.org/ukip/index.php?o...=105&Itemid=57

The last one was in June. Here is an article from July:
http://www.ukip.org/ukip/index.php?o...=139&Itemid=57

That says that John Whittaker is the Economics Spokesman

Confusing, isn't it! Who exactly would a journalist contact for comments? Surely these are the absolute basics of running a political party?

Originally Posted by harryaldridge

The racist pasty flinging incident (Hardly NF's fault)

He was a Farage appointee. He was clearly a poor choice. NF has often been criticised about the people he surrounds himself with. Even people caught out in blatant lies and smear campaigns against other members still retain their positions of influence.

Originally Posted by harryaldridge

Tom Wise saga (Not good for UKIP but also not NFs fault)

NF must be partly responsible. He has been in charge of the MEPs for years. He was mysteriously absent from the NEC meeting when Knapman lied to the NEC, telling us that the EU had found no evidence against Tom Wise (they had actually passed it to another body) and told us that we should end the internal investigation into him before it was completed.

Originally Posted by harryaldridge

Ashley Mote (Again not NFs fault)

It has been stated on this forum a few times that NF was highly involved in the campaign to get Ashley Mote to second place on the MEP list (although I have no first hand knowledge of this). Another example of poor character judgment?

Congdon was on Newsnight during the week (about 'green' agenda) - talked sense but no mention of UKIP.

I notice that sometimes one of the local radio stations here fails to mention the name of the party when one of the two former UKIP members who sit on the London Assembly (now in the anti-EU 'One London' party) is interviewed.

I do not know if they deliberately fail to mention parties if those parties are anti-EU.

All UKIP members speaking to the media should make it clear that they want the name of their party mentioned if/when the report they are interviewed for is broadcast or published.

Originally Posted by B.A.Ware

solely down to the hard work of Delroy Young and friends

Perhaps, but if Farage is to be criticised for things that happen under his watch that he is only partially responsible for, then he should also receive some credit for when things go well too.

Originally Posted by Anthony Butcher

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

I've been a member of UKIP since 2003, in that time I've met and listened to a lot UKIP members of both high and low rank. Nigel in my opinion stands out amongst them all as a natural leader, if there is someone better then I've not met them! During the leadership election I stupidly allowed myself to be persuaded to vote for "Ski", (a man I'd never heard of before the leadership election,) then when he threw his toys out of his pram on failing to win the leadership, here on a public forum attempting to do not only as much damage to the new leader as possible but also to the party I deeply regretted voting for him. A lot of people on this forum who claim to be anti EU are obviously batting for the other side! To any other genuine UKIP members other than myself who post on this forum, if they want UKIP to be a success, then stop your caricature assassination of the leader and get behind him.