Monday 17 November 2014

UKIP MEPs Falling Out With Farage?

When UKIP celebrated their "European Election win" back in May of this year, those with a more experienced eye instead wondered how many of the 24 MEPs would be left in 2019 by the time of the next elections, and with good reason. Farage, as Dr Eric Edmond observes, historically; "has a long track record of losing MEPs rather quickly as he rounds up the EU Euros".

Of the original intake in 2009 UKIP lost nearly half of its MEPs with a small consolation of only one defector to the party - Roger Helmer from the Tories. The reason is obvious and has been well documented - Farage sees off anyone he perceives as a threat;
“He cannot tolerate anyone in the party who he feels is or might be in a position to challenge him. He prefers to surround himself with incompetents and deadbeats. Anyone who emerges who might show an independent streak, he ruthlessly eliminates, to ensure that they cannot be seen as competition.” 
As Bloom warned UKIP MP Carswell last month "watch your back". UKIP is a one-man party by design not by accident.

O'Flynn of course has not covered himself with glory not only with his so-called "Wag Tax", which was dismissed within 24 hours by Farage himself but with his stupidity over the 1st November nonsense. Another example of UKIP bringing in someone and promoting them to roles where they are completely unsuited, in this case to the role of "economic spokesman". It's worth noting though in view of O'Flynn's comments on VAT that UKIP has this on its website under "Policies for People":
Houses on brownfield sites will be exempt from Stamp Duty on first sale and VAT relaxed for redevelopment of brownfield sites.
Thus confirming that official UKIP policy is to retain an EU tax (or remain EU members). But O'Flynn's biggest problem was always that he had a high profile, particularly as a former journalist with contacts - thus he's a threat to Farage. He came top of those who had a list of MEPs mostly likely to fallout with Farage. And so it's coming to pass, the briefings have begun:
"Senior members of UKIP are campaigning behind the scenes to have Patrick O'Flynn MEP removed as economic spokesman after his appearance on the BBC's Newsnight programme last Monday night. In the interview O'Flynn called for higher taxes on business, having previously called for a tax on the turnover of companies so they would pay even if they did not make a profit."
Deja Vu all over again and it's completely of no surprise. We've seen it all before and then some... With no coherent polices and a leader desperate at all costs to shore up his bank account by virtue of being leader, this is no way to run what desires to be taken seriously as a political party.

And certainly it is not going to win an EU referendum, in fact quite the opposite - it will only help the side which wish us to remain in.

14 comments:

  1. Any party that higher taxes as a part of its manifesto will not get my vote. It's probably best to vote for an independant candidate, if there is one or spoil one's ballot paper.

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    1. Yes...certainly O'Flynn's policy has no economic coherence with supposed UKIP mentality. Which sadly brings us back to the point, who to vote for as you suggest. Not easy.

      A spoiled ballot is an option, or if we take a punt on wanting an EU referendum (bearing in mind that it's risk) the Tories. Never thought I would have said that when I began my blog...

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    2. Absolutely my preferred option - independent first, spoiled paper second. At this stage of the electoral cycle it's pretty nearly too late for a serious independent candidate to introduce himself to the electorate so a spoiled paper is my second option. However, I live in a C&UP, 'monkey with a blue rosette' sinecure, represented by a 'parachuted in' Scot who, it has been alleged (earlier this year, in the national press), has engaged in what cannot but have been criminal practices that I consider highly undesirable in an MP so I shall be voting for UKIP, purely because a spoiled ballot paper cannot give Cameron and his pretty boy and ugly girl friends the fright I think they deserve.

      I am in no sense a UKIP supporter but in the absence of any local alternative they will get my reluctant vote.

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  2. I have no sympathy with O'Flynn as higher taxes on business will surely not aid our economic recovery.

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    1. I have no sympathy with O'Flynn either, he should have been aware of the vipers nest he was getting into.

      Regardless of his views, they are being used against him to belittle him in order to shore up Farage's position.

      The same has been done to Helmer recently, I wonder who briefed the papers

      http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/5988139/Ukip-MEP-visits-massage-parlour-after-Clacton-victory.html

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  3. I notice that Douglas Carswel'ls last two blog posts have been about public finances and business. It could just be that he is making a play for Patrick O'Flynn's job.

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  4. Thanks for the link!

    The Poll results were that between 1 and 3 MEPs would quit. One year later, they haven't had a single defection, so fair enough, by UKIP standards that's pretty good going.

    It'll be fun seeing how the whole Carswell vs Farage thing plays out.

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  5. And yet he renounced the leadership in favour of Lord Pearson and gave in to his colleagues over NHS funding. The actions of a despot?

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  6. I've not been able to get Richard's site up for nearly a day now at time of writing, anyone else not being able to raise the EU Ref. Blog?

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  7. Yes Anonymous, I'm having the same trouble.
    Perhaps TBF could check whether Richard's having problems.

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  8. ....as a follow-on I found today's posting on the old site but no access to comments or anything.

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  9. Richard's blog has suffered a DDOS spam attack which has exploited a 'hole' in the code. It's being looked at by his son, Pete.

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    1. Thank you, hopefully Pete will sort it out.

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  10. Someone must be very worried. Security services? or pond life associated with a certain Party that maybe fighting a by election. These things don't happen by accident and the deeper that Pete has to dig to resolve it, puts the culprit further up the resources ladder, narrowing the answer.

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