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progcon.org · 03-08-2008, 10:55 AM

"Progcon - please don't be offended, but it appears that you are looking for a magic bullet that will get us out of the EU quickly."

Not offended at all. Straight talking is always welcome.

However what I am trying to get you guys doing is not saying what you would like to happen, but ways of measuring if actual progress is being made towards the goal of EU withdrawal.

Questions:
#1 If every single British MEP belonged to UKIP would it make the slighest difference to the parties in Westminster considering that Britain's membership of the EU will be decided there?

I suggest it will not make any difference at all. I agree that having elected officials in some capacity offers some degree of respectability, but does it get us any closer to getting out? No.

"I'm sorry, but there is only way out at this time. UKIP needs to become strong enough to win seats on local and county councils, and in Westminister. Only when it starts costing the three establishment parties seats and threatens to cost them the opportunity to form government may we see a change in attitude."

No need to apologise as I 100% agree with you. It is the *only* way to achieve the goal of EU withdrawal. We are in agreement.

Unfortunately, UKIP is going backwards not forwards in terms of getting people elected into the HoC (Bob Spink was a welcome but one-off bonus). For me, every single penny spent on getting people elected as an MEP, is another penny wasted.

We both agree on the place UKIP needs to get elected to make a difference, and UKIP does not have the funds to fight on two fronts, and no progress has been made in finding new members or new donors to change this.

With just 15,000 members and no new big donors since Nigel took office almost 2 years ago, UKIP is currently incapable of getting people elected into the establishments we both agree are the only place it can achieve its goals.

UKIP has ceased to exist as a vehicle to get MP's elected and has no solution to turn this around. You can have all the policies in the world, but just who is listening?

If next year's euro elections do not turn out as the party hopes, and even the number of MEP's falls, what will UKIP have left to give?

Remember that UKIP failure will be used by the euphiles as a proxy for failure of the desire to leave the EU. A failing UKIP will damage the cause, which is why I am suggesting looking at different strategies instead of waiting for what now, imho, is going to be a ukip car-crash next year.

03-08-2008, 10:55 AM	#40 (permalink)
progcon.org Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 934	"Progcon - please don't be offended, but it appears that you are looking for a magic bullet that will get us out of the EU quickly." Not offended at all. Straight talking is always welcome. However what I am trying to get you guys doing is not saying what you would like to happen, but ways of measuring if actual progress is being made towards the goal of EU withdrawal. Questions: #1 If every single British MEP belonged to UKIP would it make the slighest difference to the parties in Westminster considering that Britain's membership of the EU will be decided there? I suggest it will not make any difference at all. I agree that having elected officials in some capacity offers some degree of respectability, but does it get us any closer to getting out? No. "I'm sorry, but there is only way out at this time. UKIP needs to become strong enough to win seats on local and county councils, and in Westminister. Only when it starts costing the three establishment parties seats and threatens to cost them the opportunity to form government may we see a change in attitude." No need to apologise as I 100% agree with you. It is the only way to achieve the goal of EU withdrawal. We are in agreement. Unfortunately, UKIP is going backwards not forwards in terms of getting people elected into the HoC (Bob Spink was a welcome but one-off bonus). For me, every single penny spent on getting people elected as an MEP, is another penny wasted. We both agree on the place UKIP needs to get elected to make a difference, and UKIP does not have the funds to fight on two fronts, and no progress has been made in finding new members or new donors to change this. With just 15,000 members and no new big donors since Nigel took office almost 2 years ago, UKIP is currently incapable of getting people elected into the establishments we both agree are the only place it can achieve its goals. UKIP has ceased to exist as a vehicle to get MP's elected and has no solution to turn this around. You can have all the policies in the world, but just who is listening? If next year's euro elections do not turn out as the party hopes, and even the number of MEP's falls, what will UKIP have left to give? Remember that UKIP failure will be used by the euphiles as a proxy for failure of the desire to leave the EU. A failing UKIP will damage the cause, which is why I am suggesting looking at different strategies instead of waiting for what now, imho, is going to be a ukip car-crash next year. Last edited by progcon.org; 03-08-2008 at 11:00 AM.