Quote:
Originally Posted by progcon.org
Should an anti-eu party's existence depend on EU funding?
|
In the long term, no, in the short term, yes.
Quote:
|
I have found it very uncomfortable reading here recently as various MEP wannabes detail how they will spend their time promoting the ukip cause in the uk etc if elected when all that means is that they are seeking the EU, the very body they detest to fund their mission.
|
I am not going to be too cynical and say they are simply seeking to get their snouts in a nice 5-year trough, but even with the best of intentions, they are dependent on that trough to survive.[/quote]
As I have previously stated, I will only serve a single term so if you are feeling cynical you at least know that the trough has a limit in my case. My reasons for doing so are twofold. First of all, it will give me sufficient resources including time, money, and legitimacy to be able to campaign much more effectively as PPC for Lewes. Those resources will also be used to assist other UKIP PPCs in getting elected. Secondly I will want to assist branches in recruiting new members to UKIP and in improving their ability to campaign.
I would rather that UKIP did not have to rely upon MEPs for money. In fact it may be the case that because we have relied upon MEPs for money we have failed to find other means of raising money rather like someone who becomes dependant on benefits and loses the will or capacity to work. However, with 16,000 members there is is a very definite limit to our fundraising and campaigning capabilities. I happen to believe, based on my prior political experience, that UKIP has a potential membership limit of not less than 130,000. If we had those sorts of membership numbers then fundraising amongst our membership would be sufficient to
I think what the party lacks at the moment is "focus". Unfortunately Nigel is stretched to thin, particularly in regards to the SE region in which he is the sole representative, and which is the largest region in the country. Quite frankly I'm not convinced that many others of our current crop of MEPs have any coherent vision about how they intend to take UKIP to the next step. Like it or not a lot of UKIPers look to our MEPs for guidance and direction and at present I don't think we are getting a lot of either
As an MEP I would be able to devote a great deal more of my time to providing guidance and focus to branches, PPCs and other activists so that we are all pulling in the same direction. I would love to be able to doing this sort of thing right now but due to work constraints I cannot. Being an MEP would give me the freedom to be able to assist others within the party and to build the party into a more effective force in domestic politics.
Quote:
UKIP having MEP's was always going to be a difficult tightrope, and I believe it has failed.
Nigel is a star. He makes cracking speeches, makes the the euphiles feel uncomfortable, but what real impact has it made in terms of slowing down or preventing the ultimate U.S.E. aim?
|
I do think that we are beginning to make a difference. Witness the repeated illicit actions of the EU Parliament in relation to UKIP and other Eurosceptic MEPs. Whether it means unilaterally ignoring or changing parliamentary rules summary punishment of Eurosceptic MEPs, or ignoring committee votes, the EU parliament when faced with opposition from within has begun acting in an increasingly autocratic manner. By acting in this way, the EU betrays its true nature and exposes itself to further contempt from the public. It may be that at some point the EU will get so annoyed with UKIP and other Eurosceptics that they will simply ban us from parliament, or refuse to pay us or something else equally stupid and oppressive. I'm quite happy to work towards such a goal.
Quote:
|
Why does UKIP need more MEP's to continue the mission of exposing the EU? Why is so much passion displayed in the contest to become an MEP but little to become an MP?
|
I happen to be very passionate about becoming a UKIP MP for Lewes. In fact my wife and I will be moving down to the constituency. I'm sure there are many other PPCs who are equally passionate. However they no doubt feel daunted by the lack of resources available to them and the long odds. When you know that it is going to be hard work just to save your deposit it can take some of the passion away. As I've stated elsewhere, I will consider my single term as an MEP a roaring success if when I step down in 2014 (assuming I'm not elected to Westminster in 2010 and that I don't carelessly step out in front of a bus), our average branch strength in the Southeast Region is 300+ members, we have a couple of dozen local and county councillors elected throughout the region, and we have good prospects of winning a good portion of our 15 top target constituencies in the region.
As for your question about whether we need MEPs to "expose" the machinations of the EU, we don't, at least not more than one or two. All it requires is researchers.
Quote:
|
Clearly, UKIP has more chance of getting MEP's elected, but is that in any way a reason to do so? I really do not even buy the idea that it is better to have eusceptic MEP's elected if it reduces the number of euphiles, as we have already established that we want to leave, and we don't need MEP's to gain full info of what is going on there.
|
Quote:
|
If UKIP cannot survive without EU funding, does it have any right to survive at all?
|
Your last question begs other questions. If you are opposed to EU funding for UKIP, how do you propose that we raise sufficient funding from other sources to replace that source of funding? Would you really prefer that UKIP die than accept EU funds, even if it meant that withdrawl from the EU was pushed back beyond the forseeable future?