Sadly, Bob, many local sites can be horrendously out of date for news - ukipiow.org.uk for example. Branches start a site, with high hopes, then find they have nothing recent to update it with. I took over and revamped IOW last year, on the understanding a relaunch of branch, with content, would happen Jan/Feb, since then, nothing.

At some point, I'll start discussing UKIP's worst local sites - after they've had a fair chance to join in with the new template for branch sites being worked on...
[Rep]

Much improved - cleaner-looking, more up-to-date with admirable links to current news stories. Manic Monday's dreary site and lacklustre maintenance has been binned and this was necessary to improve things. Looks decent.
[Rep]

I prefer the new site. On Spons point I run a UKIP website which has not been updated for ages. This is because I have been awaiting the new branch template , which as Spon may remember we discussed at the Troxy almost a year ago!
It is not always the branches fault:-)
[Rep]

Did you receive the branch website style guide from your chairman, Cookie?

UKIP Branch Website Committee - UKIPBWC?
[Rep]

Nope afraid not, and I am the Chairman of our branch. I was actually waiting for the Template as my design skills are sadly lacking. The only reason I had a go at ours was because of the superb template sent to me by Rod Trelease, which I could adapt. I would doubt my abilities to redesign according to the great guide you have sent a link to.
I have not yet read it fully but on a brief shufti I found one immediate problem. I have just renewed our .com name for a further two years:-)

Lets hope twmedia get a wiggle on with the new template! On a personal note, I do hope you will find yourself able to reconsider your decision to leave the party.
[Rep]

John Whittaker arranged for chairmen of all branches to receive this a few months back... I despair!
[Rep]

Oh dear I didn't get one either.
[Rep]

It was a letter, from me, in my former capacity as branch website coordinator. It went out with a load of other stuff from JW, and his cover letter for the bundle explicitly stated it was party approved...
[Rep]

This is what was sent out, on UKIP letterhead...

Originally Posted by :
UK Independence Party

from Robert McWhirter: Branch Website Coordinator

Tel: ***** ****** branch-websites@ukip.org

March 2008


Dear Branch Chairman

Branch websites: Style Guide


This letter is addressed to all branches that run their own websites or are considering doing so. If you have a UKIP webmaster or a commercial provider, then please pass this letter on. For branches that do not have a website, the facility to include branch pages on the main Party site UK Independence Party is currently being considered.

To an increasing degree, websites are the public face of our Party. A branch website coordination committee has therefore been established with the remit to produce a clearer in-house style and to make suggestions about all the party's web activities. The committee currently comprises myself, Alex McKee and Sean Tilbury, with regular input from David Sinclair (national website) and Tim Pearson.

The broad plan is to give guidance on our branding which will proceed in two stages:

Stage 1: Production of an internet standards, style and content guide, which will apply to all party websites.
Stage 2: Development of a standard UKIP template, which will be used for all websites, and where there will be the ability to make changes (if necessary), at regional level.

Stage 1 is now complete and the approved guide is UKIP Branch Website Committee - UKIPBWC

It has been designed to create minimum effort: If your website is smart, complies with basic internet standards and has up-to-date content, then there should be little need for change. Websites designed by Manic Monday should prove guide compliant if the instruction manual has been followed.

If your website does not comply with the guide, then my committee is offering as much help as required. If this means a complete rework (at no cost to the branch) then so be it.

Stage 2 is commencing in parallel, and all contributions/ ideas are welcome at this point. Trial schemes will be starting soon in London region and the county of Surrey.

The planned timescales are that all party websites should comply with the style guide by the end of April, and that we are looking to move to stage 2 in full by the end of the year.

Lastly, it has been agreed that ALL UKIP general election candidates, once approved, would be allocated a domain name (e.g. www.ukip-farage.info) pointing to a dedicated page for each candidate on our main site, UK Independence Party. The domain names have been deliberately chosen to be portable by referring to the individual and not the constituency.

There will be an article in the April Independence News with more information. [lack of space at last minute prevented this] If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

R. A. McWhirter

UKIP Branch Website Coordinator.

[Rep]

Nope certainly never got that. It does seem however that a head of steam is starting to rise. Seems there are many who are not happy at the lack of prominence of the £ sign.
[Rep]