If the situation is handled properly, everyone could still come out of this smelling of roses. I am not holding my breath though.
[Rep]

Mr Gardener, I'm sad and very disappointed. I was just about to email you for some info - I suppose that's out of the question, now.

I, too, recognise that things need ironing out within this party, but I've never been a quitter!

One branch of my family fought in the English Civil Wars for Parliament. If he'd given up as easily as you, I think I would have hung my head in shame. But no, he was there from beginning to end, and I'm proud of that. He obviously passed on his determination to me - the thought of going down on my knees is anathema to me. I'd fight in the streets for this nation if I had to. :shock: :-)
[Rep]

Here Here!
[Rep]

Anthony,

You state "If the situation is handled properly, everyone could still come out of this smelling of roses"

What in your opinion is 'properly'? Who needs to do this handling and what do you believe that we the engine of this organisation can do to achieve the sweet smell of roses?

You have been closer than any of us, you have stared INTO phpbb_that abyss of the EU, You know the fight we face. We need people like you to speak openly on this forum of the pitfalls and dirty games we should expect. Everyone can serve and if enough raw gut ache is motivated, surely we stand a chance!

Derek Smith
[Rep]

My definition of "properly", which may be different to everyone else's, is that Roger Knapman should take control of the situation, and leave no one in doubt that he is the best person to lead us INTO phpbb_a general election.

He should form a shadow cabinet with RKS as shadow Home Secretary (or whatever they choose to call it). He should then organise a massive media campaign, right now, sending out his spokesmen to preach the UKIP message on any and every topic. The spokesmen should be pointing out all of the EU interference in everything from buying organic vegetables to car insurance. We need to make sure that people can see how the EU intervenes in their every-day lives.

But he also needs to send out a positive message, providing an optimistic, hope-filled alternative vision for Britain's future. One way of doing this might be to call a special party conference to lay out all of his plans for the general election and beyond. Or he could issue a special edition of the Independence News to fire up the membership. Either way, I think that he needs to put some fire back INTO phpbb_the party and take us beyond the leadership challenge. There was a huge amount of optimism at the conference that I am just not feeling at the moment, and we need to get that back.

But this is just my opinion, and I am sure that the leadership have their own plan of action for the election.
[Rep]

Here here Anthony.

I totally agree with your thoughts on a way forward, I am sure it would work if Roger K et al set RKS INTO phpbb_overdrive to take the campaign onto the road.

The problem is, they are things that RK et al should/need to do. They are not things that we can do. Unfortunately, we cannot influence 'them', as 'they' totally ignore communication, and 'they' seem hell bent on levering RKS out of this organisation.

Do you have any thoughts as to how we could motivate HQ to consider your idea. I put an almost carbon copy suggestion to Derek Clarke almost a month ago (to Derek C because he is the only person at HQ that has ever replied to an email from me). Far from using the idea, HQ have in fact just gone the other way and pushed RKS further out.

So, what ideas do you have of things that we can do ie things that are within our power to achieve.

I particularly like your references to organic veg and car insurance. This sort of information is invaluable at Branch level.

Could you start to compile a list of these sorts of EU impacts on our lives in a post on the forum?

Lets assume that HQ will not be providing this basic ammunition, so can we collect it ourselves? Anthony, do you know anybody who could help you and would you be prepared to do this? You have knowledge that many of us are simply unaware of - please bring us up to speed.

Could I suggest that we all just ignore HQ, they may continue to make a mess of things but we will have no control or influence over that. Let us concentrate on that which is within our control and do what is necessary with the tools we have between us. The power to win elections is within the branches with or without the 'help' from HQ. Worrying about what HQ should/not do is just diverting our energies.

Derek Smith
[Rep]

I did look at putting together some fact sheets, but it is incredibly difficult to gather the necessary information and to verify it. We would have to properly source every piece of data, to ensure its accuracy. I don't want to do a Corbett and produce a dodgy dossier of facts that can be refuted.

It may be that some information is already out there, but I am not sure whether it will be in the format that I would like to see.

People will be able to identify much more with UKIP if we can provide concrete examples of how their lives are worse off due to the EU. I think that there are still many people who assume that the EU can't be all that bad because all of the main parties want Britain to remain a member. Others are sceptical, but don't see the EU as a major issue. We need to pull in some real world examples to illustrate the nature of the EU for such people.

I spoke to Peter Lewis some time ago about the inactive UKIP Research and Information Group and he confirmed that Petrina Holdsworth was planning to revitalise the group again. He also said that providing information for PPCs and local parties would be a priority for the group if and when it gets going again.
[Rep]

Re:Tony Gardner. You gave up pretty quick! Thank God most of UKIP members are not like you. If Alfred the Great had had your attitude England would not exist. At one point he was forced to hide in the Somerset fens with a few followers because the Danes had taken by force most of his Kingdom. He refused to give in and after much hardship went on to defeat them and save the English people. He should be an example to us all.
[Rep]

I think that we are being a little harsh on Tony Gardner. He obviously felt strongly about his resignation reasons. People do part company with political parties, and I think that we should keep the partings as amicable as possible.

A number of people feel uncomfortable with the direction (or lack of) that the party is taking, but this is bound to happen to a party growing so rapidly.

We should remember that the number of people leaving is dwarfed by the number of people joining. And we should welcome back those ex-members if and when they realise that UKIP is the only political force that can win the fight against EU membership.
[Rep]