However minor their support, Mikey, they are entitled to be heard in the same way as everybody else. They are also entitled to be heard without being shouted down.
Yes I did watch it, AOG.
As usual the anti-UKIP antics displayed by the other politicians was up to their usual standards. Interruptions, denial of facts with no foundation, shouting down. Worst of all was the last question where Nigel attempted to explain that (almost quite certainly in my opinion) that the Pfizer/Astrazenica affair would be settled neither by shareholders nor politicians but by the EU who will allow or disallow the deal under EU competition rules. All the other delegates had had their say and Nigel was left to last, with time running out. As soon as he began to suggest that the EU would be the ultimate arbiters the shouting down began and he was accused of always distilling all questions down to our EU membership. (There’s a simple reason for that - most issues are determined as a result of our EU membership).
It’s hard to say whether the stooge in the back row (the subject of the Youtube clip) was a plant. He certainly demonstrated more of the “swivel-eyed-loon” characteristics than does Mr Farage.
Since Mr Farage last appeared (on 7th November last year), sp, UKIP members Roger Helmer (27/3/14)and Paul Nuttall (9/1/14) have appeared (there may be more UKIP members that I have missed, but certainly not Mr Farage). Interestingly, and since we’re examining the frequency of party members’ appearances on QT, since last November and prior to last night both Chuka Umunna (9/1/14) and Grant Shapps (16/1/14) have put in appearances. So it could be argued that the Labour and Conservative parties, with a far larger membership, are restricting their choice of QT delegates more than UKIP.
Lastly, it is often said that the UK’s relationship with the EU is of little importance to the UK electorate. Last night’s edition devoted 45 minutes to the issue and the debate would have gone on longer if allowed by the chairman, so it clearly is of interest. Apart from the edition which was devoted entirely to Scottish Independence, this was the longest I have seen devoted to a single question. That could be because the programme came from Southampton which has see a huge influx of immigrants from the EU, but who knows?