UKIP Spring Rally
I’ve just returned home after the UK Independependence Party spring rally in Exeter. A fantastic day all round, and it always great to get together with other members and share news and gossip! The morning session kicked off at 11am and we were treated to notable speeches by Stuart Wheeler, Deva Kumarasiri, Godfrey Bloom and Nigel Farage.
Stuart Wheeler
Tim Aker of the Taxpayers Alliance kicked off the speakers, talking about the waste of money by the government. He spoke about the TPA campaign in these European Elections, which will focus on the scandal of waste in and by the EU. They calculate the cost is the equivalent of £2,000 per British family, per year. Can we afford it? The audience applause was the only answer needed!
We heard from Graham Danton, a former BBC radio presenter, who spoke of his experience with the BBC. His account was a terrifying expose of the politicisation of the BBC, its left-wing bias, and all round disgraceful behaviour of our public broadcaster. Stories of editorial interference stunned the audience and left me, if not everyone, feeling unsettled.
Stuart Wheeler, a major Tory donor, was expelled from the party for supporting UKIP and urging others to do so and for donating £100,000 to the UKIP campaign. He attacked the Conservative’s “weasel words” over Europe…
And what was the straw that broke the camel’s back – that turned us from our natural party? Two words: Ken and Clarke. But it is two words of another Tory politician that I want to examine this morning: William and Hague.
Last Saturday, the Daily Telegraph carried an interview with William Hague. Nothing, nothing could have illustrated better why I shall vote UKIP in the Euro-elections. There was in his interview no commitment to anything.
…The Conservatives should make it absolutely clear that, if elected, they will immediately call a referendum on Lisbon. But what do we find?
…William Hague indicates that the Conservatives are likely to attempt to scrap the Treaty – possibly by calling a retrospective referendum. Heavens above! The Pope has indicated that he is likely to possibly be a Catholic!
…By the way it is only the leadership that is so timid. A back bencher Tory MP came up to me and begged me to go on doing what I was doing. “80% of our MPs are behind you”, he said.
He finished off with a humourous attack on William hague…
I cannot resist one final point about William Hague’s interview. He asks for a protest vote in the Euro elections. Well, which party would a protest vote be for?
Obviously not the party easily leading in the polls, the Tories – that could not be a protest vote. It can only mean voting UKIP! I look forward to him joining me in expulsion from the Party!
Touché! You can watch Stuart’s speech here
Deva Kumarsiri
Deva Kumarasiri, the postmaster who was sacked recently because he refused to serve customers, who were capable of speaking English but refused to do so, because they were holding up other customers. He is now standing for UKIP in the European Elections on June 4th for the East Midlands region. Video here.
Deva spoke very passionately about his love of Britain and his reasons for standing and received a standing ovation for his courage of conviction. He is a man of principle who I am proud to have in UKIP.
Godfrey Bloom was his usual inimitable self and chose to repulse the audience with some unsavoury visual imagary relating to Jacqui Smith’s husband and his porn DVDs paid for with parliamentary expenses. Godders noted one of the DVD titles was “Anal Booty”, and asked whether it included Peter Mandelson? He thought that it was a sfae assumption, since it was difficult to imagine any DVD featuring arseholes that did not have Peter Mandelson on it!! [IndHome couldn't possibly comment!]
Nigel Farage
Nigel Farage gave a rabble rousing speech, covered by the BBC, pointing out that we go into these elections knowing that for the first time the UKIP position is the majority view in the UK. Successive opinion polls this year have shown that between 55% and 64% of voters want a relationship based on trade and cooperation but not political union. He said UKIP has made euroscepticism a respectable mainstream opinion, when in 1993 at UKIPs formation it was very much a minority sport.
Nigel also emphasised that UKIP is a non-racist, non-sectarian party, and that we must not allow voters to be tempted to the extreme – especially the BNP.
Then it was off for some lunch, a pint, and a chance to recover from Nigel’s verbal assault!
The afternoon session was a more stayed affair, focussing on the campaign and UKIPs position in this campaign, where we will be treated as the third party. We heard from Young Independence and the progress that is being made in recruiting young members and establishing University societies.
Then there was the obligatory candidates parade.
All round a thoroughly enjoyable Saturday, though the 3hr travelling either side made for a long day. Let nobody be in doubt that UKIP is here to stay, and that despite some setbacks, we will be fighting a strong camapign in these European elections and in the General election.
