UKIP loses backer

[geni]

UKIP has just lost it's main backer. Paul Sykes has withdrawn his support. No link yet

[geni]

a link

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3715446.stm

[richardm]

It's a pity that just at the point where they seem likely to be able to humiliate and / or eliminate the Tory party once and for all, the wheels are falling off ukip. First there's Kilroy-Silk apparently destabilising from the top, now they lose a bunch of funding.

BTW I've got no love for the ukip, I just despise the Tories, so anyone who gives them a hard time is at least partially redeemed in my view ;)

[Ian Osborne]

From the article...

But Paul Sykes, who has donated £1.4m, thinks UKIP will achieve little more than unseat Eurosceptic Tory MPs.

So true. Anyone who feels strongly enough to vote for an upstart single-issue party with no hope of being elected would almost inevitably have otherwise supported the candidate closest to that position, so by fielding candidates in almost every constituency, they're helping create a parliament that's less in tune with their platform. It was the same story with Sir James Goldsmith and his Referendum Party a few years back.

[Jim Bowen]

I'm not too keen on UKIP, or Kilroy-Silk (dozens of unpleasant racial comments in the Express - see Private Eye for details), but what they did to the Tories in Hartlepool last week was great. It seems that the people in Hartlepool might vote for a bloke in a Monkey suit to be mayor, but they still won't vote for the Tories:D .

I've just seen this shadow something or other secretary on Channel 4 news talking about UKIP and how they are on the run (or something similar to that). Very odd universe in which he doth live.

It'll certainly be interesting to see how UKIP perfom in the general election. The way I see around here (Mansfield) is that Blair is deeply unpopular, but no one likes the Tories, either. I guess the Lib-Dems will do very well. And all for the throw of a dart.

Jim Bowen

[Ian Osborne]

Originally posted by Jim Bowen
And all for the throw of a dart.

Or to put it another way, "Keep out of the blue and vote for the red, You get nothing in this game for two [Eurosceptic parties] in a bed"...

[Jon_in_london]

Originally posted by Ian Osborne
Or to put it another way, "Keep out of the blue and vote for the red, You get nothing in this game for two [Eurosceptic parties] in a bed"...

Kilroy was always a bad idea for UKIP. This leaves me a bit of trouble though as I will NOT vote for labour so long as Bliar is at the helm and the Tories dont seem to have a clue- just keep banging on about tax cuts and no mention of legislative changes to fix pensions, compo culture, transport etc etc.... LibDems seem bent on their Grab-A-Granny opportunistic rubbish and so if not UKIP then who?

BTW- Tory MEPs have signed up to a Federalist voting bloc in the EU parliament. So much for euroskeptic tories!

[Jim Bowen]

Originally posted by Ian Osborne
Or to put it another way, "Keep out of the blue and vote for the red, You get nothing in this game for two [Eurosceptic parties] in a bed"...

Ian - respect!:D

The next election does pose a problem for a number of people. Mansfield, where I live, is pretty much solid Labour territory. Following the pit closures programme, the Tories are generally as unpopular as a bloke who farts in a lift and then skips out to let you take the blame. On the other hand, Blair has done Labour a huge disservice. I just hope that the racist parties don't benefit from it all.

Jim Bowen

[geni]

I would appear they have a replacement

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3715446.stm

Darn

[Jim Bowen]

The plot thickens - isn't following politics far more entertaining than watching the soaps:)

Jim Bowen

[richardm]

Originally posted by Jim Bowen
Following the pit closures programme, the Tories are generally as unpopular as a bloke who farts in a lift and then skips out to let you take the blame. On the other hand, Blair has done Labour a huge disservice.

I see that the Tories are planning to use the slogan "Vote Blair - Get Brown" at the election. Given the above opinion of Blair - and it does seem to be a very widely held view - I wonder why they think it's a good thing to be advertising?

[Jon_in_london]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3715446.stm

Jolly good. Forward to freedom! :D