Should Ukip Be Represented At The Cenotaph?

[sp1814]

Two questions...

1. Despite having less than the required number of MPs in Parliament to qualify (which is six), should the organisers change the rules so that UKIP can lay a wreath at the Cenotaph during Remembrance Sunday?

Should there now be a ceasefire on publishing unflattering pictures of Nigel Farage? Note how in this shot, he seems to be morphing into one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nigel-farage-claims-government-snub-ukip-from-remembrance-sunday-event-9848538.html

[Gromit]

ChillDoubt

The rule is clearly tied to Westminster Elections. UKIP did well in the Elections to the European Parliament. As they only really have one policy and that is about Europe, then that was expected. They might find Westminster Elections somewhat more difficult when the rest of their policies (when they reveal them) are given some scrutiny.

[ChillDoubt]

As they only really have one policy and that is about Europe,
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Really? Just the one? Seriously?

If so, that same accusation could be levelled at Labour and Tory alike as it'll probably be the biggest single issue/factor between now and next May.

[mikey4444]

Chili.....Farage has stated publicly, many times, that he only has the one policy and the clue to the nature of that policy is contained in the name of his Party. He has gone on to say that if he is successful and Britain leaves the EU, "his task will be done"...by by UKIP. Couldn't be clearer.

[Gromit]

Chill,

I honestly do not know one other UKIP policy other than Europe and Immigration.

Farage publicly rubbished the 2010 UKIP Manifesto, which he did not write. As for what will be the 2015, haven't a clue.

[ChillDoubt]

At the risk of repetition, read 'em again boys:

http://www.ukip.org/policies_for_people

Leaving Europe isn't his one policy mikey, it's an aim more than anything else.
As for 'by by UKIP', it'll be bye bye Ed way before that!

[mikey4444]

If Farage is now saying something different from what he has always said in the past, live to camera and microphone, then he has an uphill task of being taken seriously. He could just about manage it when he said that he wanted to leave Europe but I am not sure if him and his party are up to taking on the complete role of the Governance of Great Britain.

Here is the famous "car crash" live interview he did with LBC a few months ago....does this sound like the next Prime Minister of Britain to anybody ?

http://www.newstatesman.com/staggers/2014/05/what-racism-nigel-farage-s-disastrous-interview-lbc

[sp1814]

Chilldoubt

Actually, there's nothing to have prevented Nigel attending the Cenotaph today, but not as the leader of his party, as he isn't even an MP.

He is on record as saying that if not him, then "someone else from UKIP" - but that would be a major breach of protocol. Imagine it - some random person being given the chance to lay a wreath, even though every other political party in the whole of the UK has to abide by the 'minimum of six MPs' rule.

It would not sit well with the millions who do not support UKIP.

[ChillDoubt]

mikey,
I'll leave the electorate to read the comments below in the link you gave in the totally unbiased New Statesman, which describes itself ' a left-of-centre political position'.

Call Farage all you like, he has more charisma, personality and political gravitas than Red Ed, which is why Ed has always dodged him when offered a one-to-one debate in any political or media sphere.

[ChillDoubt]

Actually, there's nothing to have prevented Nigel attending the Cenotaph today, but not as the leader of his party, as he isn't even an MP.
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Doubtless he attended a ceremony local to himself as he would have had the common decency not to attend the Cenotaph in a private capacity and upstage his political opponents.

[mikey4444]

I have just watched that interview on LBC again, just to refresh myself how badly Farage performed. So I ask the question again....is there anybody who has also watched the clip, that thinks this is Prime Ministerial quality ?

[mikey4444]

Chili...I respectfully suggest you watch the LBC interview and then make a comment.

[mikey4444]

"Charisma, personality and political gravitas" are not words that come to mind, if you watch the interview.

[ChillDoubt]

mikey,
Ditto.
Furthermore, Farage (currently) has no delusions of grandeur, he knows he will not be Prime Minister(well, not just yet) so your argument is a tad moot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7KJKzxAeOA

[mikey4444]

Nobody knows who will be PM after next May for , but its either going to be Ed or dave. It mostly certainly will not be Farage !.

Have you watched the LBC clip yet ? ..I doubt even his best friends could say that it was his finest hour.

[ChillDoubt]

Can't wait for the public debates. It'll be the biggest mis-match since the lad with the sling took on a gentleman of large stature and won.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfTMRCaH0Mc

[ChillDoubt]

Have you watched the LBC clip yet ?
-------------------
Yip. I thought he stood up to the character assassination/hatchet job pretty well. His explanation of the train scenario has been resonated several times on AB and it's something I hear on a weekly basis in work i.e. how a colleague went to the supermarket and didn't hear a conversation in English the whole time they were there. It's reality in 2014 UK.

[sp1814]

Just to break off for a moment - thank you for the link to the New Stateman mikey4444. I've never read the magazine before, and had no idea of the content. Just been browsing through and am pleasantly surprised by it. Some really interesting articles, but more importantly - very intelligent responses from readers to posted articles. I've been looking for a 'left of centre' publication to balance The Spectator as a source of news analysis.

I think I now have a winner.

Anyway - back to UKIP...

[ChillDoubt]

C'mon sp, we all know you've been a fully paid up subscriber to Socialist Worker for years.....

[THECORBYLOON]

MIKEY that was no car-crash that was a multi-car pile-up. Considering the interview was at short-notice, the host-whom I've not heard of before-did a demolition job on Farrage.

[sp1814]

ChillDoubt

"he has more charisma, personality and political gravitas than Red Ed"

I would agree with you on points one and two, but not point three. But with all three traits - we're talking about personal perception, rather than absolutes.

David Cameron has done more than any Conservative leader to persuade me to their cause. I had to think long and hard at the last local elections about who to vote for, and that has never happened before.

If there was a mass defection of the Tory right wing (both the MPs and the 'middle Englanders') to UKIP, I for one would applaud them.

It would leave the Conservative Party as a much more attractive proposition to people like me, who are attracted to a number of Tory initiatives, but don't want to be 'tainted by association'.

That last bit is in quotes because I don't think UKIP voters are bad people in any way...I just wouldn't want anyone I know to think I share their beliefs (same would be true of the Greens, Communists etc).