Why Shouldn't Ukip Be Allowed To Lay A Wreath At The Cenotaph?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/617332/UKIP-cenotaph-Remembrance-Sunday-Nigel-Farage-wreath-row

[janbee]

Anyone wishing to lay a wreath should be allowed. If the anti British Cor Byn Laden is allowed to then so should all others.

[jackthehat]

///But Ukip will not do so because rules dating back to the 1980s involve only parties with at least six MPs laying wreaths.///

That would be why.....it says so in the article.

[Gromit]

The can lay a wreath anytime they like, but not during the official service.
I am sure the problem is time. The main parties represent the majority of the nation. But if all the periferal minor parties got in on the act, they woyld be there all day.

But I am not sure any political parties should be involved. This should not be a political event and no political party should be allowed to hijack it.

[anotheoldgit]

Agree janbee, and if our Nigel can't be seen by the side of our other political leaders, he should arrange a mass parade of UKIP supporters, and to join the 'lesser' dignities and march past the Cenotaph and still lay a wreath.

[sunny-dave]

I represent the AB liberal motorcyclist party - we have only one less MP than UKIP - I would like to lay a wreath as part of the official ceremony too ...

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

/// But I am not sure any political parties should be involved. This should not be a political event and no political party should be allowed to hijack it. ///

As I suggested the other day, it is hypocritical for those who create wars, to remember those who were sent out to do their 'dirty' work.

[Svejk]

Agree with old Grommers. Politicians shouldn't hi-jack these events. If they want to lay a wreath, they should be towards the end of the 'pecking order', as it were.

[Gromit]

Worth noting though that none of the other political parties barred from laying a wreath are whinging about it - Only UKIP.

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

Perhaps they wouldn't lay one if they were given the chance.

[sunny-dave]

It should be the head of state (currently The Queen) and then representatives of the people who fought and died - no-one else should have a place there.

My skin still crawls at the memory of Tony Blair and his supercilious, phony piety at these events.

[Svejk]

You were doing so well, as well gromit ;-(

[jackthehat]

Well, it was certainly introduced whilst the Conservatives were in power......and certainly *not* altered whilst Labour were.....

[jackthehat]

I have no idea as to the background behind it......nor any reason why Blair or Brown did not change it...

[youngmafbog]

It's back to the old proportional representation issue again.

And Sunny Dave, you didn't poll a few million votes did you?

[Hypognosis]

@AOG

I am of the opinion that the Cenotaph ceremony is a solemn service of commemoration and shpuld not be allowed to degenerate into cheap advertising for insignificant political parties which are unable to gain sufficient seats in parliament to even reach third place. The party of government and the opposition party (or alliance, in either position), should suffice.

[Hypognosis]

@youngmafbog

Imagine you're staging an event with 700 guests.
38 of them of them want have an important aspect of your event dedicated to the glorification of them.

Whadda ya gonna say?

[anotheoldgit]

Hypognosis

/// insignificant political parties ???????????? ///

They gained nearly four million votes at the last general Election that is some 2.45 million more than the SNP and 3.5 million more than the DUP.

/// The party of government and the opposition party (or alliance, in either position), should suffice. ///

And what about the religious representation, how many votes did they get?

[mikey4444]

Because the present rules don't allow then to do so.

If there is a good enough to change that rule, then perhaps it should be changed. Until then perhaps UKIP should concentrate on winning more seats, starting with Farage himself.