Paul Nuttall – not what they expected

After watching Paul Nuttall’s debut appearance on BBC Question Time, my appetite for politics has been restored.  Whilst Nigel Farage is undoubtedly one of the greatest speakers in UK politics, for so long now the media have used him to attempt to portray UKIP as a one man band and a single issue party – they get him on only to talk about the EU and nothing else.  On the other hand, on Thursday night Paul Nuttall was able to talk passionately (and with a great deal of common sense) about youth unemployment without mentioning those two letters which everyone has come to associate with UKIP.  There were those on Twitter asking if Paul knew which party he belonged to, “Why isn’t he blaming the EU, that’s what UKIP do” said some, but as we all know the problem of youth unemployment won’t disappear when (not if, it is only a matter of time) we leave the EU.

As they were unable to portray UKIP as a single issue party, those of the socialist persuasion, perhaps worried about UKIP’s appeal to the same working class who the left have abandoned, attempted to spin Paul’s comments about the Congolese and Latvian (I think that was the nationalities) hotel workers as an attempt at bashing Jonny foreigner (has anyone met a foreigner called Jonny?), but this couldn’t be further from the truth.  As Paul pointed out, UK businesses are taking on foreign nationals because they are prepared to do the work, are reliable, and have the skills, and Paul wanted British youth to be as employable as these immigrants.   Racist?  Not in the slightest.

Then the media’s favourite rent-a-quote young socialist (not quite sure he has developed a taste for champagne yet, but I’m sure it will come in time should the TV appearances keep coming) declared that Paul’s comment that we’d rather have young people learning skills than sat at home playing on the X-Box was shocking, as so many young people are applying for every job vacancy.  In what world this bien-pensant lives I do not know, but when I was stuck at home applying for every job vacancy I could, I would have much rather been learning more skills to make me more employable, than sat at home playing on the X-Box – this is what many young people are reduced to, as they have to do something during the day other than send off job applications and receive rejection letters.

The sad fact of the matter is there are so many people out there who are only applying for jobs because they want to keep their JSA.  I worked at a supermarket for seven years and the attitude towards work of some of the people who worked there were shocking.  The most shocking example I remember was of the teenage girl who had been forced to find a job after 2 years of being a “NEET” by her mother -this girl could not tell the time and declared that she’d rather have a baby if it meant avoiding having to work.  Unfortunately there are too many people out there who believe that all our social malaises are caused by Thatcher/capitalism/Tories/bankers etc and aren’t willing to actually try to make a real difference to young people’s lives.  Paul Nuttall has worked in education, he’s worked with unemployed youths, and most importantly, he’s not a member of the Islington set or Bulliingdon boy, he’s risen from a council estate in Merseyside to become the Deputy Leader of the UK’s fourth largest party and an MEP representing millions of people in the North West.

Although he may have got off to a slightly nervous start, Paul’s performance Thursday night was a breath of fresh air and I’m sure this isn’t the last we’ll see of a young politician who has changed people’s perceptions of the party.  Many in the media have in the past portrayed UKIP as nutty middle class pensioners from the Home Counties, wanting to take Britain back to the 50s, but here was a young Scouse working class former lecturer who wants a better future for Britain – just look at his policy proposal regarding a federal UK.  The sooner Paul is sitting in Westminster, the better.

Young Independence South West Co-ordinator, UKIP Tewkesbury, right-wing liberal

Chris

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