UKIP In Turmoil

Calne isn’t a particularly well known town outside of North Wiltshire and to outsiders is probably seen as a fairly sleepy market town. It does, however, have its fair share of political upset. Today I learned that the local UKIP organisation is in turmoil as Mercy Baggs, who holds a seat on the Town Council has resigned from the party to become an Independent. Apparently she has done so in disgust at being verbally abused by a member of her own party. Mrs Baggs (yes, my Aunt), has been a Town Councillor for many years and was responsible for starting and running the towns successful drop-in centre for school-age children and consequently is well respected in the town as a councillor who is prepared to actually do something about the problems in the town rather than just talk about them, so I am sure UKIP will be devastated with her decision.

I have never really understood what UKIP are all about and feel that despite having a fair few MEPs, elected in 2004, they have made no impact in bringing the failures of the EU into the public arena, in the same way that the BNP have, for example, brought the immigration issue to the forefront of political debate, with all parties now actively making noises about their concerns, but actually doing nothing about the situation. I am sure everyone is now aware of the allegations regarding the illegal donations accepted by the Labour party but who is aware of the problems UKIP are having?

If ever I have had any control over finances I have always ensured transparency where it is required so find it extraordinary that UKIP apparently refuses to publish details of their MEP’s EU expenses and allowance claims, sums that can potentially be in the order of £100,000 to £200,000! It seems they are no different from Labour, the Lib-Dems and the Conservatives and perhaps worse as I seem to recall they used to make quite a thing about “openness” and “accountability” in public life. I understand there to be a growing demand from the party’s grassroots members, not only to know how much money has been claimed since 2004, but also to know how it has been spent. Additionally members want to know the connection, if any, between the claiming of EU allowances and expenses, said to amount to several million pounds, and the threat of an OLAF, (no I’d never heard of that either, but see here) investigation into UKIP’s financial affairs that the media claimed earlier this year was hanging over the party here. It is also alleged that UKIP are using their allowances to pay the salaries of UKIP officials and organisers which is apparently illegal. Perhaps that is why the MEPs are having no effect, as they are aware OLAF is watching them and they are frightened to upset the EU applecart for fear of OLAF pouncing. We shall see and if true oh shall we laugh!