Crosswords2 mins ago
Bloom Again
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Mr Bloom has just had an interview with The Times. In it, he observes "Some people think I am very clever, you know" in contrast to Mr Farage, who merely has charisma, in his view. He blames the hierarchy of UKIP for his recent trouble and says that they are metropolitan types, who read Polly Toynbee, and are out of touch with the grassroots of the party " who have a picture of the Queen in the parlour and common sense down to their fingertips"
Is that your perception of UKIP's grassroots? Or of Farage? Do you sense that UKIP is being ruled by metropolitan types ?
Is that your perception of UKIP's grassroots? Or of Farage? Do you sense that UKIP is being ruled by metropolitan types ?
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Well the message given out about UKip is that they are a party of the people and of the people. Which is one of the reasons why they have had more than their fair share of candidates which have gone on to embarass the party in one way or another.
So no, I do not think UKip exude an air of metropolitan sophistication, but there is undoubtedly a recognition that they need to be more professional in their approach to the electorate. They are something of a one man band though, almost entirely reliant on Farage's undeniable charisma for their public persona, and I think that is something of an achilles heel.
They have also belatedly recognised that they have to put together a coherent manifesto beyond issues of immigration and membership of the EU if they are ever to succeed as a political party. Issues like this have dogged smaller parties for years, like the Greens, for instance.
As for Bloom, I certainly have no trouble believing that he thinks he is smarter than Farage. Strikes me as a shameless self-publicist and I think he is actually quite deliberate with his choice of phrases and the oh so innocent "explanations" for his remarks.
So no, I do not think UKip exude an air of metropolitan sophistication, but there is undoubtedly a recognition that they need to be more professional in their approach to the electorate. They are something of a one man band though, almost entirely reliant on Farage's undeniable charisma for their public persona, and I think that is something of an achilles heel.
They have also belatedly recognised that they have to put together a coherent manifesto beyond issues of immigration and membership of the EU if they are ever to succeed as a political party. Issues like this have dogged smaller parties for years, like the Greens, for instance.
As for Bloom, I certainly have no trouble believing that he thinks he is smarter than Farage. Strikes me as a shameless self-publicist and I think he is actually quite deliberate with his choice of phrases and the oh so innocent "explanations" for his remarks.
Bloom has made a correct observation, but come to the wrong conclusion.
To succeed, UKiP needs to be media savvy and work the Westminster Village. They need to come out of their comfort zone and not just talk to Daily Mail readers. They need to be on QuestionTime and in the Guardian to get new voters They need a more sophisticated approach and Farage is doing that.
Blooms conclusion of that is completely wrong. It is not the Party getting out of touch with its potential voters. It is the Party getting in touch with potential new voters.
Such a misreading indicates that he is not the clever one, and Farage is.
(Never thought I would be writing that).
To succeed, UKiP needs to be media savvy and work the Westminster Village. They need to come out of their comfort zone and not just talk to Daily Mail readers. They need to be on QuestionTime and in the Guardian to get new voters They need a more sophisticated approach and Farage is doing that.
Blooms conclusion of that is completely wrong. It is not the Party getting out of touch with its potential voters. It is the Party getting in touch with potential new voters.
Such a misreading indicates that he is not the clever one, and Farage is.
(Never thought I would be writing that).
The reference to Polly Toynbee was intended, I think, as the ultimate insult, rather like a Yorkshire miner talking of Islington socialists; these are media, London, types whose wives and children wear Boden and who are not true 'real' people whereas he, a bluff Yorkshireman, is genuine. The fact that he arranged the interview in the East India Club , St James's, does not alter this fact !. Private Eye's "Dear Bill" (Denis Thatcher) was a member. That fits! I can see him as being a UKIP member in diferent times
To give you an idea of the East India, when I was a member (it took over my club), it admitted women guests of members, who were allowed to dine with them in the ladies' dining room at the back; there was another dining room for members. The ladies' provision had its own entrance in a side street. When I arrived with a senior barrister and Ann Goddard QC, I thought to use the main, members, entrance to get to it. I was promptly stopped by the porter ("You know the rules, Sir") and the poor woman had to go round to her entrance while I walked through mine.
Now that's the attitude ! Don't know whether Ann Goddard QC cleaned behind her 'frig. She may have had staff to do that, but she was still a mere woman.
Now that's the attitude ! Don't know whether Ann Goddard QC cleaned behind her 'frig. She may have had staff to do that, but she was still a mere woman.
Actually I agree with the accompanying leader in the Times.
From the point of view of UKIP it's Mr Bloom who is right to criticise Mr Farage. UKIP is either a party of Bloomites or it's just a pointless extension of the Tories. It can't win as either, so it might as well stick to its niche appeal, forget Polly Toynbee, and hope for the best.
From the point of view of UKIP it's Mr Bloom who is right to criticise Mr Farage. UKIP is either a party of Bloomites or it's just a pointless extension of the Tories. It can't win as either, so it might as well stick to its niche appeal, forget Polly Toynbee, and hope for the best.
LG // Its that kind of information that makes the results of a survey both more relevant and informative // It was not meant to be !
It was only a bit of fun, I did say it was a club and therefore obviously it can not have any meaningful relevance. However for your info. it is a retired mens' club largely white collar , of 110 members and 12 of them had voted UKIP last time. Three of them Labour party members , one of whom was their chairman.
It was only a bit of fun, I did say it was a club and therefore obviously it can not have any meaningful relevance. However for your info. it is a retired mens' club largely white collar , of 110 members and 12 of them had voted UKIP last time. Three of them Labour party members , one of whom was their chairman.
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