UKIP - Political Party or a marketing master-class?

By Steve Richardson : Administrator
Published 19th May 2014 | Last comment 24th November 2014
Comments

Well the original thread started as "Political Party or marketing master class?". With the events of the last week, it looks like the answer is both!

I see Tony Blair has come out with his anti UKIP and anti EU protest parties guns blazing...

UKIP 'not the answer' to 21st Century issues says Blair - BBC

He said Britain's future lay in being "outward looking and open-minded", not "closed-minded, anti-EU and anti-immigrant", suggesting such views were "reactionary and regressive".

"Attitudes that are closed-minded, anti-immigrant, anti-EU, 'stop the world I want to get off', those attitudes don't result in economic prosperity or power and influence in the world.

Not being a Blair fan, but he does raise a good point, some of the anti immigrant and insular nation comments getting bandied around or quoted by news agencies are starting to sound aggressive, drawing some scary parallels with modern history. The BNP vote got wiped out in the recent elections, which means people either stopped voting, or changed their allegiance, thinking they would do better under the flag of UKIP rather than Nick Griffin.

It will be interesting to see what analysis is made of the new UKIP manifesto when it is launched, as opposed the previous one which Farage himself apparently called "486 pages of drivel". Hopefully it will show some serious thought into some of the key areas of the UK, tax, NHS, business etc.

The reality is though, ignoring some of the idiots who have tried align themselves under the UKIP banner, Farage himself speaks a lot of sense and says things a lot of people are thinking but frightened to say. In this day and age, politics only seems to be about leaders personalities rather than manifestos  Maybe he could run for Tory leader? 


Steve Richardson
Gaffer of My Local Services
My Local Services | Me on LinkedIn

Farage offering 35p income tax down from 40p and after watching that painful speech from Miliband, looks like UKIP could be winning a lot more voters.


Shakester

You kip if you want to; the rest of us are going to fight and win."
 

How can anyone not like Boris when he comes out with stuff like that On one hand he is a bumbling comedy posh stereotype that disarms most of his opponents, on the other he is a very shrewd, sharp and clever political animal.

I could never see him as a party leader, but his popular following and allegiance must be welcome in this UKIP battleground. To me Boris seems as a good counter to Farage, and agree Milliband and even Cameron seem to be uncomfortable trying to compete with Farage's laid back relaxed style, making them come over as stale and old fashioned.

The likes of Boris and Farage are certainly going to make for an interesting Election campaign, which may be the key to undoing some of the entrenched voter apathy shown at previous elections.

We just need a decent Labour character for this punch and judy style of politics. Ed Balls?  


Steve Richardson
Gaffer of My Local Services
My Local Services | Me on LinkedIn

Can't stand Boris ... he seems a waste of space as Mayor of London, very good at self-publicity but too lazy to tackle any of London's real problems (transport, housing, etc).  He's another politician with zero human empathy.

Nigel Farage is his alter ego methinks.

 

 

 


Linda
CareersPartnershipUK

Trying to work out from your posting Colin whisperer if you are pro or anti ukip, fraid you lost me a little. 

I think they have something and seem to have united working and middle classes. More I hear more impressed I get. They are answering the questions I have and itsnt that who you vote for? Mind you Ask me again at the election lol

 


Thanks,
Johno

I think the rise of UKIP is down to Conservative and Labour Governments that has kept the UK on the outskirts of Europe rather than be a major player and working more closer with Germany and France. The EEC needs a big injection of Britisheness. Keeping the UK on the outskirts has given rise to an anti European feeling and for our fellow Europeans to views us with indifference. 


Thanks,
abfabcards

I think the rise of UKIP is down to Conservative and Labour Governments that has kept the UK on the outskirts of Europe rather than be a major player and working more closer with Germany and France. ”
 

That's a pretty fair argument. Like it or not, geographically we are in Europe. We might try and align ourselves to America for exports, or maybe Asia, but I suspect we conduct more trade on our European doorstep.

Personally I'm not a fan of European meddling in local affairs, but why not have a strong voice inside Europe fighting and protecting UK trade, rather than a whinger in the wings


Steve Richardson
Gaffer of My Local Services
My Local Services | Me on LinkedIn

I  sense there's a poet screaming to be let out of you…great alliteration! I like the turn of phrase 
 

You've obviously already forgotten my recent efforts for national poetry day 


Steve Richardson
Gaffer of My Local Services
My Local Services | Me on LinkedIn

In 12 months ive gone from respecting cameron to watching him on telly with disbelief. UKIP will get more and more support while the big parties have weak leaders. we are in danger of ending up with lots of small parties like ukip, greens, libdems who will share the balance of power and make every decsion an argument and media circus.


Shakester

UKIP are a symptom rather than a movement.  I mean they have no coherant detailed policies on spending or any thing else, but have come about because of the political elites total inability to listen to the country or to understand it.  The complete failiure of the government's policy of the big society is a example of this and this is why people are angry.


Thanks,
DEAN WILLIAMS

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