The UKIP threat is not about Europe - Lord Ashcroft Polls. By Lord Ashcroft Last month the UK Independence Party came second in two parliamentary by-elections, in Rotherham and Middlesbrough.
This prompted its leader, Nigel Farage, to claim his party was the new third force in British politics. UKIP now regularly pips the Liberal Democrats to third place in national voting intention polls. The rise of UKIP causes a good deal of angst among the bigger parties, particularly the Conservatives. It is not hard to see why: my research finds that 12% of those who voted Tory in 2010 now say they would vote UKIP in an election tomorrow. UKIP candidate wins town council by-election. Breaking news UKIP candidate voted onto Keighley Town Council 2:10pm Friday 18th April 2014 in Keighley UKIP candidate wins town council by-election A UK Independence Party candidate has won a by-election seat on Keighley Town Council.
George Firth, 48, won the poll for the vacancy on Fell Lane and Westburn ward by a big margin, picking up 366 votes. The sole rival candidate, Mohammed Ansar Ali, 35, gained 104 votes. The poll was held to fill a seat left vacant by the death of town councillor Brian Hudson, in January. Mr Firth, of Whin Knoll Avenue, said: “I’m humbled by all the votes cast for me - I didn’t expect that amount of support. “I’d like to offer my condolences to the family of Councillor Hudson. Mr Ali, an independent candidate from Victoria Road, said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the residents who came out to vote.”
Ukip's anti-EU campaign posters are direct but not racist. Apparently it’s now racist to point out that we no longer have control of our borders, and to argue that it might be worth considering leaving the EU.
It’s difficult to know whether to laugh or scream. The posters are certainly direct. That’s typical Ukip – one of its main strengths. Instead of the carefully calibrated marketing- speak that’s now the stock in trade of the three main parties, Nigel Farage says it as he finds it. As the polls show, that goes down brilliantly with voters who are fed up with the same old same old. One of the posters has a picture of a construction worker begging, with the caption: “EU policy at work. Who are the Times journalists trying so desperately to undermine UKIP? - UKIP. Who are the Times journalists behind the constant attacks on Nigel Farage and UKIP?
Perhaps it will not surprise you to know that most have family or personal connections to the Conservative Party and that the majority are from immensely privileged backgrounds that have enabled them to prosper as part of the “chumocracy” run by David Cameron. Here is our rundown of the main players: Baron Daniel Finkelstein: Privately educated former senior official at Conservative Central Office. A key columnist on the paper known for his particular closeness to Chancellor George Osborne.
Recently made a Lord by Osborne and Cameron. According to the Spectator in September 2013, “what Danny writes today George thinks tomorrow”. Alice Thomson: Privately educated close friend of David Cameron. The fact that he put a bill for manure on his taxpayer-funded expenses may have had more to do with him losing his seat. Whoops they got it wrong again. Blundering Times journalists fail to smear UKIP - UKIP. Times story falls apart as key source reveals his responses were distorted by the paper - UKIP.
David Samuel- Camps who was quoted in The Times smear piece today has written to the paper making clear that the story has distorted his responses to the questions he was posed.
We publish his full unabridged letter below: “Mr Kenber and Mr Mostrous, Re: Nigel Farage and office costs "I am extremely concerned that in your report you have distorted my responses to your questions regarding the Lyminster office costs. "On the front page you quote me as stating that the costs were £3000 per year. "At no time did I say that “electricity, heating, and business rates at the office totalled less than £250 a month”.
"Later, you then contradict yourselves by quoting me as saying that the costs were £700 per month - which is correct. "To the best of knowledge and belief I was completely honest in my answers and resent the fact that those answers have been completely distorted. "I expect you to publish corrections as outlined above. David Samuel-Camps BA (Hons) Dip. Tories face coming third behind Ukip in Euro poll. Senior figures fear the Prime Minister’s handling of the furore over Mrs Miller’s expenses, which led her to resign as culture secretary last week, has been “damaging” the party.
They believe the controversy will make the task for next month’s election even harder. “Miller should have gone straight away,” one figure close to Number 10 said. While Ukip is almost certain to beat the Tories in the European elections, Conservatives fear the gravest threat the party poses is to their hopes of winning a Westminster majority at next year’s General Election. Tory strategists regard Ukip as the biggest hurdle to winning a Commons majority in 2015 and are attempting to win back voters with a series of hardline policies on EU reform and immigration.
The Times launches new attack on UKIP as the party surges further upwards in the polls, threatening the grip of the political establishment - UKIP. The newspaper known as the mouthpiece of the political establishment is about to launch yet another attack on UKIP following new polls showing that the party is on course to win the European elections next month.
The Times is set to make more allegations about Nigel Farage’s use of European parliamentary allowances, many of which rely on claims made by convicted fraudster Jasna Badzak who is currently serving a suspended prison sentence. The latest attack comes after opinion polls published at the weekend showed Mr Farage’s approval ratings soaring and UKIP easily ahead of the Conservative Party and neck and neck with Labour in voting intentions for the European elections.
Set out below is UKIP’s detailed response to new smears being peddled by the Times, which has run wave after wave of attacks in recent months: “Nigel Farage is confident that he has abided by European parliamentary rules at all times when spending allowances. “Mr Martin Haslam never had any responsibility for EU money. Don't confuse 'daft' Ukip jokes with sexism. Special Report: What voters should know about Ukip. If Ukip had a name that truly reflected its priorities, it might be called the UK Immigrationphobe Party.
Ostensibly the anti-EU party, an obsession with immigration and exit from Europe as a means to close Britain's doors is its prevailing motive. The word immigration runs through its policy statements like red lettering in seaside rock, and its proposed five-year ban on entries to the UK is the message it rams home on every doorstep. That is far from all. It is deeply sceptical of global warming, wants to abolish inheritance tax, employers' National Insurance contributions, aims to partially reverse the recent hunting and smoking bans, and would increase defence spending by some 40 per cent. RICHARD LITTLEJOHN: How else do we protest if not at the ballot box? By Richard Littlejohn PUBLISHED: 22:18 GMT, 29 April 2013 | UPDATED: 06:58 GMT, 30 April 2013 His own man: Ken Clarke believes Britain should be run by foreigners.
He's in favour of our laws being made in Brussels by people we didn't elect He likes a drink, smokes like a chimney and he’s not afraid to speak his mind. By common consent, he’s the kind of politician you’d most like to share a pint with. No, not Nigel Farage. With his scuffed Hush Puppies and ubiquitous cigars, Clarke stands out from the identikit crowd at Westminster. He’s taken on a few airs and graces along the way, but Ken is his own man. UKIP on the rise: Murdoch hosts dinner with Farage in fresh blow to Cameron's Tories. Rupert Murdoch invited UKIP leader to dinner in LondonUKIP pushed Tories into third place in the Eastleigh by-election By Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor Published: 14:15 GMT, 8 March 2013 | Updated: 14:19 GMT, 8 March 2013 UKIP leader Nigel Farage enjoyed dinner with media boss Rupert Murdoch this week, in a fresh sign of the anti-EU’s emergence as a significant political force.
Ukip will deliver a sting – but not this year. The British political landscape has long seemed an inhospitable place for minor parties. This week's local elections will see the latest attempt, by the UK Independence Party, to challenge the dominance of the main parties. Although Ukip, at 20 years old, is one of the youngest parties in Britain, a string of impressive performances at parliamentary byelections has seemingly convinced many that Nigel Farage and his lieutenants are capable of dismantling the three-party status quo.
Some dismiss the threat, pointing out that Ukip is receiving a level of attention wholly disproportionate to its actual support. We were RIGHT to take foster children away from Ukip couple insists social workers. Joyce Thacker, head of children's services in Rotherham, defends decision to take three children away from Ukip member foster parentsFears over Ukip's views on multiculturalism main reason for decision'Exemplary' foster parents cared for three children from ethnic minoritiesStaff from Rotherham council told couple that Ukip had 'racist' policies and their membership of it made them unsuitable carersCouple left 'bereft' when the children were removed within a weekEducation secretary says social workers at the council made 'the wrong decision in the wrong way for the wrong reasons' By Chris Brooke and Adam Shergold Published: 13:12 GMT, 25 November 2012 | Updated: 14:01 GMT, 25 November 2012.
Ukip might be bullies, but the establishment are a bunch of nerds who deserve a good wedgie. One thing Nigel Farage has going for him is authenticity Mainstream politicians are all nerds. They’re those nerds who take science lessons far too seriously and hang around the lab all day turning Bunsen flames green. Ukip, by contrast, are cool kid bullies. They break into the lab at lunch time and put matches to the gas valves to create streams of fire.
The nerds stand there saying, “Stop it! I know I wouldn’t get an A+ for that tortured metaphor, but the point stands. We’ve all known for a long time that Ukip attracts a few nutters and nasties. But even if it was, the public probably wouldn’t care. No exaggeration: Ukip is now a force to reckon with. Nigel Farage, the leader of Ukip:'This spike in the polls may be coming at the right time in the cycle for Ukip.' Photograph: Stephen Simpson/LNP Though tempting on recent experience, it would be reckless to assume that nothing of any lasting significance will happen at this autumn's three main party conferences, which begin with the Liberal Democrats this weekend. But it may be a pardonable exaggeration to say that the most influential event of the season could be done and dusted before Nick Clegg and his party even get down to business on Saturday.
The annual conference of Britain's fourth party is unlikely to get more than passing attention when it gathers in Birmingham tomorrow for two days. Farage suggests Conservative pact at secret dinner with Murdoch.
UKIP: Nigel Farage videos. UKIP leader reaches out to Tory eurosceptics. By Keith Weir LONDON Fri Nov 4, 2011 8:53pm GMT LONDON (Reuters) - Conservatives who are unhappy with the party line on European Union membership should throw in their lot with the avowedly anti-EU UK Independence Party, its leader Nigel Farage said on Friday. Farage dismissed Prime Minister David Cameron's claim to be a eurosceptic, calling him the most pro-Europe Conservative leader since Edward Heath who led Britain into the then Common Market in 1973.
"The reality is the rebels lost last week. The anti-EU cause within the Conservative party under this leadership is dead," Farage told Reuters in an interview. "My argument to those MPs is 'if this is how you feel...you better come and join us because you are wasting your time where you are,'" he added. Around 80 Conservative MPs defied Cameron last week and backed a call for a referendum on EU membership. As the landscape starts to shift, UKIP can create political havoc. Tory MPs are expecting amazing results for UKIP in 2014. UKIP, the party of England's reticent majority. UKIP on twitter. UK Independence Party (UKIP) website. UKIP MEPs - Official Website. BBC: UKIP stance on Europe 'becoming mainstream'
8 September 2011Last updated at 11:32. UKIP TV – The Independence Channel. Former Tory MP Neil Hamilton elected to top UKIP body. 1 November 2011Last updated at 14:20. Don't expect the BBC to tell you, but UKIP is on the march. ‘Farage has only got one ball.’ Eurosceptics: UKIP's Lord Hesketh and Andrea Leadsom MP on the BBC.