Dear All
In politics, you can expect to be a 'target' if you are seen
as a threat or if people just hate you.
Ukip's star is on the rise, they have surged into the lead
in the European election contest; political parties haven't made much of the
European elections with most starting their campaigns very late.
In Scotland ,
it is all about Scottish referendum, the only election leaflet I have had is
the one for Ukip so far, others will no doubt pop up.
Ukip's is a little booklet with the dual use of being a
small election poster.
Their central theme is immigration with a rather catchy
slogan of:
"Enough's enough!"
Ukip has identified that we have lost control of own
borders, I recognise many good things about the EU, but the lack of reform is
disappointing. That is why I proposed the internal EU immigration policy, the
purpose is to have a framework to adjust the problems created by politicians in
the UK
who mismanaged immigration. Labour's social engineering experience dressed up
as economic development has one a tremendous amount of damage. Something which
they have admitted, immigration is a good thing, uncontrolled immigration
creates social unrest. Speaking out tends to see people branded as 'racists' by
the left mostly.
On the back of their leaflet, they say:
"In the EU we can't control our borders"
"Unlimited cheap Labour costs British jobs".
"Cheap Labour pushes down British wages".
"Schools, health and welfare are under pressure".
With an internal EU immigration policy, all of the above could
be fixed in one fell swoop.
Although things are on the up, Ukip has had it share of
blunders and bad PR such as Nigel Farages' expenses, the "racist"
posters, coupled with criticism on misleading campaign literature, and as
always the old standby in politics dubious comments from activists and
candidates.
However, despite that bruising things seem to be move still
upward.
Nigel Farage's party recorded 31% support in YouGov research
for the Sunday Times.
This puts Ukip ahead of Labour by three points, and the Tories
languishing in third on 19%.
It is surprising how the Euro election his year have been
treated as a forgotten event by the main parties.
The good news of the polling mirrors the results of a ComRes
poll for the Sunday Mirror and Independent on Sunday last month.
Ukip on 30%
Labour on 28%
Conservatives on 21%
Also Farage is lucky that he has former Tory donor Paul
Sykes who is helping bankroll Ukip's attempt by funding one poster campaign.
He is worth £650 million.
Skyes told the press that there would be "at least
another two waves" of adverts before the European elections.
He added:
"I'm not giving up. That will warn the Conservatives
what is going to happen. We will get more democracy in Britain if it skints me."
So, whether you are rich or poor, the Ukip brand is
certainly making a mark down south, whether that translates north of the border
remains to be seen, for the most part,
Ukip's candidates having been getting much exposure in the press, except
when it is bad.
Nothing like bad news to sell a newspaper!
The Liberal Democrats are seeing their election chances go
straight down the crapper as they sit on a miserable 9%.
Equally stagnate are the Greens on 8%.
One of them less than able to put his foot in his mouth is William
Henwood, who is standing in a council election.
He had a go at actor and comedian Lenny Henry, who he said
should go live in a "black country".
Lenny Henry was making the point that ethnic minorities were
under-represented on British television which is a valid point to express, you
could add, not just in front of the camera but also behind it.
The two most discriminated groups in Britain are
black people and white working class.
On Twitter, Henwood said in response to Henry's remark:
"He should emigrate to a black country. He does not
have to live with whites."
Rather than apologising, Henwood decided to add:
"I think if black people come to this country and don't
like mixing with white people why are they here? If he (Henry) wants a lot of
blacks around go and live in a black country."
Henry was asking for special treatment rather than equal
treatment, a point that appears to have flown right over Henwood's head.
Interestingly, the Tories jumped in, in the form of Health
Secretary Jeremy Hunt, he told Pienaar's Politics on BBC Radio 5 Live the
comments on Lenny Henry were racist.
He said:
"I do think those comments about Lenny Henry were
absolutely disgusting and I do think it's for Nigel Farage to make absolutely
clear that it's not Ukip's official view, but also to explain why so many
people with those kinds of view seem to be attracted to becoming candidates for
Ukip."
I think that Hunt knows that isn't Ukip's official view, a
poor attempt at spin by Hunt.
But this is the threat that Ukip represents, if the Tories
thought they were corralling the vote by using this tactic; that will won't
work.
Ukip deputy chairman Neil Hamilton, a former Tory MP, said
the comments on Lenny Henry were a "complete distraction" from the
European election campaign, adding Mr Henwood's case would be investigated.
Standard practice when bad news pops up.
"This is a council candidate whom you would have never
have heard but for all the social media archaeologists that are employed by
Labour, the Liberal party and the Tories to try and track down any unknown Ukip
member or activist who may have said something unpleasant on social media".
I found myself in the same position being researched
recently as an SNP member who previously worked for SNP Minister Derek MacKay
was digging into my background on linkedin.
Anyway, Hamilton
added on the 'digger's:
"Every party has got them. We have strict rules on
racism. We don't allow it. We're the only party that doesn't allow ex-BNP or National
Front members to be candidates and we have strict rules on social media. I know
because I helped to devise them. This man's case will be investigated."
Whether Ukip make a breakthrough in Scotland is hard to say, their vote hasn't been
established as a major player, Scotland
is different from England
because of the Nationalist aspect of politics and then there is the similarity
that all the key players are pro EU. That being said the Ukip leaflet appears
to be the only one making a direct appeal to working class people, the EU
hasn't reached a tipping point yet, but Ukip is expected to do very well, much
better than their current position which certainly will create a new dynamic.
One thing that Jeremy Hunt is right on, Lenny Henry is as
British as you and I are.
Something that William Henwood needs to address if he wishes
to be considered a serious politician rather than just a party hack with
delusions of grandeur.
Although I haven't made my mind up who I will vote for on
22nd May, one party I won't be voting for is the Scottish National Party, no
matter what their offer is.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
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