The Boiling Frog: Details...

Sunday, 4 November 2012

Details...

Nigel Farage appeared on today's Sunday Politics show, questioned by the formidable Andrew Neil...He appears circa 12:20 in...

As Ukip improve in polls ratings the scrutiny will intensify...power will protect its own. Farage made some good points about trade, but he has to up his game when it comes to details on Ukip policies.

4 comments:

Anonymous5 November 2012 at 07:23
Well it depends on what you call UKIP policies TBF...

Neill opened up the policy discussion, and then immediately filled it with loads of drivel about expense declarations on the UKIP website.

However, although some UKIP policies would appeal to Labour voters, it is clear what sort of voter they are aimed at is the good old fashioned Tory which is no longer catered for by the old parties. You could almost grab one of Margaret Thatcher's manifesto's and scratch out Conservative party, and scribble UKIP over the top, so similar are they.
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TheBoilingFrog5 November 2012 at 10:48
The question of expenses are another result of more scrutiny that Ukip will get as it becomes more of a threat.

Given the historical unequal treatment Ukip has had then they have to be whiter than white in this area (particularly as they often attack other parties on this issue) and they're not. I'm not suggesting Farage has done anything untoward but 'I didn't have time' doesn't wash if you want to make the step up to another level as a party.

AN's question over Ukip's policy the simplification of the tax system is a question that I've long been expecting. While the aim is desirable its implications open a whole can of worms and then some.

Farage clearly floundered over the £50bn cost but there are more questions over abolishing NI which I have never (as yet) heard Ukip answer - and will be asked by AN and others should Ukip move closer to 3rd party status.

NI is the bedrock of many state benefits, by paying stamps we can work out who qualifies for what...abolishing it means what happens to unemployment benefit, statutory sick pay, state pensions (where you need 30 years of stamps to qualify for the full amount iirc)?

What about retirement savings which are currently taxed (around 20%)? Obviously if you retire you don't pay NI but under UKip's policy in effect you will again. The questions are endless.

So while Ukip's policies are superficially appealing, they are in danger of coming unstuck over detail which they must get a grasp on if they are to progress further
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Jim5 November 2012 at 17:06
I hear he is going to go on HIGNFY this Friday. That's an accident waiting to happen really.

Hislop will rip him to bits about his expenses, and then the tax shortfall. He really has to be prepared.

I saw him on Sunday politics and agree, he made some good points, but, on everything else fell short.

Even giving "school boy" excuses on his expense reports, or lack of.
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TheBoilingFrog5 November 2012 at 17:28
@Jim Many thanks, I wasn't aware of that:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006mkw3

...Farage had a hard time previously on the show, I can understand the 'all publicity is good publicity' argument but surely it's counter-productive especially given HIGNFY's eagerness recently to blame every 'right-wing' person going for the Savile scandal.
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EU quotes

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(Wikipedia)

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(Jean Monnet, 'Father of Europe')

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Euro quotes

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(Nick Clegg, 2002)

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(Tony Blair 1998)

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(Adam Boulton Sunday Times, 2001)

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(Peter Mandelson, 2003)

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(Andrew Duff Lib Dem MEP 2011)

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The single currency is the greatest abandonment of sovereignty since the foundation of the European Community: the decision is of an essentially political nature".
(Felipe Gonzalez, a Spanish former PM, 1998)

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(European Council conclusions, 2001)

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businesses means more employment".
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(Lib Dem leader, Nick Clegg, 2009)

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(Then UK Europe Minister, Denis MacShane, 2003)

"The euro, despite gloomy predictions from anti-Europeans, has proved to be a success".
(Former Lib Dem leader, Charles Kennedy, 2002)

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(Then German Finance Minister, Hans Eichel, 2002)

"There are no real benefits and some real costs to the UK of monetary independence... it makes sense from a financial stability perspective for the UK to contract out monetary policy to the ECB".
(Citigroup Chief Economist, Willem Buiter, 2007)

"Taking part in EMU would improve policy and performance enough to eliminate many of the strains that sceptics predict would emerge without the safety valve of devaluation".
(BBC Trust Vice Chairman, Diane Coyle OBE, 1997)

"The euro is like a breastplate that will become more and more resistant. The stability of the currencies within its area is without question".
(Then EU Monetary Affairs Commissioner, Yves Thibault de Silguy, 1998)

"The strict rules attached to the euro could emerge as one of the best ways to persuade the markets that we will put Humpty Dumpty back together again, put the public finances in order".
(Lib Dem leader, Nick Clegg, 2009)

"The question of entering the euro is worth a lot more to Britain than the wild anti-federalist fantasies peddled by those who think Britain should have nothing to do with Europe. Nobody of any consequence in Europe wants to create a federal super-state".
(Former Business Secretary, Lord Peter Mandelson, 2003)

The British Government Knew The Consequences In 1971

Foreign and Commonwealth Office 30/1048 - 1971

...the transfer of major executive responsibilities to the bureaucratic Commission in Brussels will exacerbate popular feeling of alienation from government. To counter this feeling, strengthened local and regional democratic processes within the member states and effective Community regional economic and social policies will be essential.

Parliamentary sovereignty will be affected as we have seen. But the need for Parliament to play an increasing (if perhaps more specialised) role may develop. Firstly, although a European Parliament might in the longest term become an effective, directly elected democratic check upon the bureaucracy, this will not be for a long time, and certainly not in the decade to come. In the interval, to minimise the loss of democratic control it will be important that the British Parliamentarians should play an effective role both through the British membership in the European Parliament and through the processes of the British Parliament itself.

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Sunday, 4 November 2012

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