UKIP Standards (or lack of)

Apparently the great and good amongst UKIP will be converging in Exeter tomorrow for a party rally. It still confuses me as to the level of press coverage this lot get considering they actually do nothing about anything despite having elected MEPS who could make a difference if they tried. Anyway, expect a big turnout of their top brass as there are apparently problems with the leadership in the south-west region, the region that I thought was their strongest.

Not only have they problems with the leadership but it seems that on a local level the party have problems too.

Local readers may recall the news in 2006 when a Swindon Conservative councillor, Dr Owen Lister, a former GP, suggested "It would be preferable to guillotine looked-after children with severe emotional and behavioural difficulties than to provide expensive out-of-borough placements for them". He also suggested it was a waste of money to provide school places to educate disabled children. For this he was given just a one-month suspension from the council for bringing them into disrepute.

Now I have been a member of and worked within the BNP on and off for around ten years and I do not recall hearing anyone speak in such a disgraceful manner despite what the media might suggest.

What is particularly interesting about this gentleman is that he is no longer a Conservative councillor, not because of what he said, but it has recently been revealed that he is a member of UKIP! Apparently membership of the Conservative Party and of UKIP is not compatible.

UKIP, however seem quite happy to take him on board. This shouldn't be a great surprise as in the North Wiltshire area we are also blessed with another ex-Conservative councillor (in Calne actually) who became a UKIP candidate after the Conservatives sacked her for sending a racist email and also I am given to understand yet another UKIP member who has been reported to the authorities for using racist language.

In a previous blog I have mentioned that I have heard more racist language from local politicians than I ever have from BNP members!

What is also interesting, particularly in the aftermath of the disgraceful vote in the Houses of Parliament this week not to allow a referendum to be held on the European Union's Lisbon Treaty, is the amount of squabbling and in-fighting amongst those who are supposedly there to set an example and rule us. However, this isn't restricted to national government, but also to local government as well.

What makes it such a disgrace is that these people are elected by a minority turn-out of those who are concerned enough to make the effort, in the hope these national and local politicians actually care about the people and will act in their best interests.

It is quite apparent to me and also evidenced by all of the recent financial irregularities we have heard about in the news, that almost all of them do not care about the people and are only in the politics game for themselves and what they can get out of it.

When will Britain wake up and realise that enough is enough and it is time for change at the top.