tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6112651969466158066.post9121938752843642538..comments2023-11-02T04:40:21.698-07:00Comments on Dr. Eric Edmond's Blog: Post Democracy Chiefs and IndiansEric Edmondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11661176160109187800noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6112651969466158066.post-36490345877667400482012-10-29T11:49:45.029-07:002012-10-29T11:49:45.029-07:00I agree. Its the working class that lose most from...I agree. Its the working class that lose most from us being in the EU. Poles, Slovaks and soon Romas and Bugars over here competing for unskilled jobs, social housing, health care etc.<br /><br />Bob Crow set up an anti-EU party in 2009 called something like No2EU. It would have been a great fit with UKIP. He is a terrific debater. He demolished Nuttall the last time I saw/heard them together on the Beeb. That's why Farage cant contemplate joining up with someone like Crow. It would be obvious Crow would be a superior leader for such a joint party.<br /><br />Farage's strategy condemns UKIP to be a fringe party of a minority party. That is an eternal no win positionEric Edmondhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11661176160109187800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6112651969466158066.post-72654664794155503052012-10-29T03:00:21.115-07:002012-10-29T03:00:21.115-07:00The story of UKIP is told in Dr. Peter Gardner'...The story of UKIP is told in Dr. Peter Gardner's excellent book following the 2005 General Election, HARD POUNDING:THE STORY OF THE UK INDEPENDENCE PARTY.<br />There was success at European Elections in 2009 thanks to the grass-roots members. <br />The story since 2009 has been one of disaster as the leadership and the MEP's have (with certain exceptions) been a liability in PR terms through their indiscretions.<br />Worse has been the failure of the leadership and the MEP's to use their income to develop a powerful grass-roots organisation like other parties. <br />The anti-EU movement has its roots in the rebels of the Conservative Party and some of the Labour Party<br />like the indomitable Lord Stoddart.<br />The mistake of Farage has been to ignore the growing discontent of the traditional Labour voter, allowing the BNP to gain "market share" of the anti-EU vote. There was an opportunity in 2010, actually supported by Lord Pearson with my encouragement, to bring together other minor parties like the English Democrats. Farage squashed this idea.<br />It is possible that the EU will self-destruct through its austerity measures, as did the Weimar era in Germany which spawned Hitler.<br />This should be a golden period for UKIP to recruit both Labour and Conservative activists but I fear that Farage stands in the way of progress.<br />ALAN WOODnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6112651969466158066.post-58252679879140580042012-10-28T15:44:21.004-07:002012-10-28T15:44:21.004-07:00Agreed Trevor worked very hard before the MEP sele...Agreed Trevor worked very hard before the MEP selection but so did Alan Wood. Had he stood against Pearson as an MEP it might have been different.Eric Edmondhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11661176160109187800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6112651969466158066.post-76090892351443011692012-10-28T11:53:50.340-07:002012-10-28T11:53:50.340-07:00You make reference to Alan Wood and the SW donkeys...You make reference to Alan Wood and the SW donkeys in relation to the election of SW MEPs. I hope my memory serves me correctly and I agree that he knew how to run a campaign, but I don't think he left the party as a result of the MEP selection process. Indeed I think he was delighted that Trevor Colman was first past the post. Trevor wasn't elected by donkeys but by people who had seen him at work.<br />I think he left Ukip because of the Ukip donkeys nationwide.<br />Let me take you back to the leadership campaign when Mr. Farage had resigned. He said that he would not influence the election of a new leader and promptly stated that there was only one credible candidate, namely Lord Pearson. If that didn't effect the outcome nothing did, and, of course Alan Wood was a candidate in that election. If my memory serves me correctly Trevor Colman was his proposer, which reinforces my point above.<br />We all know what happened to Lord Pearson who stood down as his leadership was not going as well as had been hoped. I recall that, during the run up to the election Alan Wood made the point on the Ukip forum that Lord Pearson "would lead us into the wilderness", or words to that effect, and was berated for it.<br />I ask who was right?<br />Alan Wood brought up the rear in that election and left Ukip almost immediately. Parts of Ukip have never recovered.Oxonoreply@blogger.com