In retrospect how could UKIP have done better in Henley? What was holding them back? How can we improve campaigns in the future (esp. the 2009 European Elections)?
[Rep]

Having an established branch not dominated by the terminally bereft would have helped.

Fighting local elections in previous years so that a voter base could be built up would have also contributed.

Putting in as much effort and money as Bromley might have got a credible third place.

Fighting on local issues like the Greens and Lib Dems.

Selecting a local candidate.

All MEPs spending a day or 2 door knocking.

All paid staff of UKIP diverting their efforts into the constituency.

Having a local committee rooms with posters displayed in windows.

Use the skills and expertise that UKIP has even if they are currently hidden under a metric bushel!

It's expensive and time consuming, but getting the deposit back and coming a good third (10%+ in this seat at this time) would have got the publicity that the Greens and BNP are now enjoying. It's worth the money.
[Rep]

Did Farage do any ground work or did he just speak at public meetings boosting his own ego?
[Rep]

Originally Posted by Aardvark:
Having an established branch not dominated by the terminally bereft would have helped.

Fighting local elections in previous years so that a voter base could be built up would have also contributed.

Putting in as much effort and money as Bromley might have got a credible third place.

Fighting on local issues like the Greens and Lib Dems.

Selecting a local candidate.

All MEPs spending a day or 2 door knocking.

All paid staff of UKIP diverting their efforts into the constituency.

Having a local committee rooms with posters displayed in windows.

Use the skills and expertise that UKIP has even if they are currently hidden under a metric bushel!

It's expensive and time consuming, but getting the deposit back and coming a good third (10%+ in this seat at this time) would have got the publicity that the Greens and BNP are now enjoying. It's worth the money.

So how much money have you contributed in the very recent past then?The same question is directed to your "friend" as well,how much?
[Rep]

I contributed a 4 figure sum at the last GE in lost wages etc. I've not contributed much recently as I don't have any money at all. I am currently owed thousands of pounds and am overdrawn as a result. When I have money I will contribute.

My 'friend' makes her own arrangments and I have no idea what she does with her money.

The question was what could UKIP have done better? If there is a reason we couldn't achieve a better performance then it needs to be addressed. One person's contribution is irrelevant. UKIP's MEPs are, in real terms, very well off and fund many staff. It is not unreasonable in a small party to expect those who are paid as a result of their membership to give freely of their time.
[Rep]

Thats good,I hope your fortune improves swiftly in the near future.
And your friend?
[Rep]

Originally Posted by Aardvark:
Having an established branch not dominated by the terminally bereft would have helped.

This should be an absolute requirement before even considering fighting a by-election

Originally Posted by Aardvark:
Fighting local elections in previous years so that a voter base could be built up would have also contributed.

As should this. No local campaign should mean no by-election campaign.

Originally Posted by Aardvark:
Putting in as much effort and money as Bromley might have got a credible third place.

Bromley was a totaly different situation. It was a very long campaign and we had time to build momentum. Unfortunately so did the Lib-Dems which was why they came so close to taking the seat. The Cons and Labour are now sufficiently scared of the Lib-Dems that they pusdh for very short campaigns to stop any other party getting into any sort of stride before polling day comes round.

Originally Posted by Aardvark:
Fighting on local issues like the Greens and Lib Dems.

Need a strong local branch and local campaigners to identify local issues and start campaigns. In a three week by-election campaign there isn't time to do in depth analysis of constituency issues. Well not unless you have a big team doing it!

Originally Posted by Aardvark:
Selecting a local candidate.

Absolutely! This also allows the branch to build on a legacy left behind by a big nationally funded campaign.

Originally Posted by Aardvark:
All MEPs spending a day or 2 door knocking.

Not just MEPs. All UKIP Members should be doing this.

Originally Posted by Aardvark:
All paid staff of UKIP diverting their efforts into the constituency.

Agreed. Its what the other parties do so why not UKIP. 10 Regional Organisers there every day would be a good start.

Originally Posted by Aardvark:
Having a local committee rooms with posters displayed in windows.

Agreed but not always possible. Committee Rooms need to be found, rented and staffed. In a by-election this is not always easy unless you have big money to spend on premises or friendly local business contacts that can help you out. Any good site in Henley was almost certainly controlled by Tory Owners who would never let UKIP have them

Originally Posted by Aardvark:
Use the skills and expertise that UKIP has even if they are currently hidden under a metric bushel!

So why don't these people come to the campaign office and get stuck in?

In actual fact the real requirement for a sucessful by-election is having an established branch, already experienced in fighting local elections in previous years on local issues with experienced and known local candidates who have contacts to enable a campaign HQ to be quickly established with posters displayed in windows.
[Rep]

[quote=Aardvark;517511] I am currently owed thousands of pounds and am overdrawn as a result. When I have money I will contribute.

QUOTE]

If you're boracic Aardvark then you should join the BNP!:-)
[Rep]

Originally Posted by Aardvark:
Having an established branch not dominated by the terminally bereft would have helped.

Fighting local elections in previous years so that a voter base could be built up would have also contributed.

Putting in as much effort and money as Bromley might have got a credible third place.

Fighting on local issues like the Greens and Lib Dems.

Selecting a local candidate.

All MEPs spending a day or 2 door knocking.

All paid staff of UKIP diverting their efforts into the constituency.

Having a local committee rooms with posters displayed in windows.

Use the skills and expertise that UKIP has even if they are currently hidden under a metric bushel!

It's expensive and time consuming, but getting the deposit back and coming a good third (10%+ in this seat at this time) would have got the publicity that the Greens and BNP are now enjoying. It's worth the money.

To which I would add, targeting our campaign. The BNP and Greens target those areas within a constituency where they can get the most support - ie where they have stood candidates before, or where the demographics are favourable. We try to run a campaign across the entire constituency which at present is really beyond our capabilities.


We really need to start doing a better job of these campaigns. Contrary to what all the BNPers claim it these sorts of results are not proof that UKIP is in decline, but that we are not performing to our potential. What these results do in the long term though is damage party morale. I probably spent £75 in petrol travelling up to the village I was asked to leaflet over the course of the campaign and to what end? I probably could have achieved just as much by spending that money at my local. :-)

If we want to start doing better, the leadership of the party needs to make very clear to branches the absolute importance of contesting local elections. They also need to start taking steps to make sure that branches are fit for purpose.
[Rep]

UKIP are deluding themselves that this is all about hard graft. You have had massive media coverage of late. The EU wind was blowing heavily in your favour, yet you got beaten soundly by the most vilified party in politics.

You are backing a corpse. Realise this and then cut your loses. All real patriots will be welcome in my party.
[Rep]