Alternatives to UKIP?

[Stranger in a Strange ...]

I am struggling with the idea of voting for UKIP.  I agree that Iain Wright must not succeed in the next election - for all of the reasons discussed at length previously on this site.  However, UKIP are a more right wing party than the Tories.  I have looked on their website to read their policies but it is all quite vague.  Reading interview transcriptions with their members and donors is very worrying.     What I see are a bunch of comfortably off  white middle aged men sat in the pub and putting the world to rights whilst referencing a perceived golden age of Britain in the 1950's.  Their policies reflect their own interests - smokers, houses in London that will attract inheritance tax, women should be in the kichen or bedroom  but not in the workplace and no foreigners.  Their vote winning idea is to leave the EU so you would think that they had put a lot of work into this.  On a debating programme last week the UKIP representative avoided answering the question as to what would happen to all the UK pensioners living in Spain if we withdrew from the EU and closed borders.  No doubt the rest of Europe would reciprocate and kick out UK citzens.  It appears that little or no thought have been given to the issue - which is just one of many that would arise.
Is there any alternative to voting UKIP?

[one direction]

what would happen to all the UK pensioners living in Spain if we withdrew from the EU and closed borders.

My parents live in Spain and the last thing the Spanish want is the British pensioners leaving the country. My parents pay Spanish council tax, Spanish property taxes, pay for utilities and services and spend their pensions in local shops and on local enterainment. You might as well say that if the UK left the EU then Spain would refuse to let British people go there for their holidays!

[seaton]

UKIP will maybe have a few MP'p but never enough to have a majority so know need worry in Spain. We just need to get shot of our MP but can't see that happening either. My Nana voted Labour so am I ! That's why Labour are not interested about Hartlepool, they could put a monkey up and he would win and for the Toiies its a lost cause.

[steveL]

You can get more of an idea from the link below which is a summary of their 2010 Manifesto.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8617187.stm

. . . and a Panorama Programme on Nigel Farage

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b04lxvrd/panorama-the-farage-factor

[beanzontoast]

Stanger in a strange, alternatives to UKIP why do you need an alternative, there are 2 separate elections in May 1 general election in which you can indeed vote UKIP in an attempt to get rid of Ian Wright, and 2 local elections, where a vote for UKIP depending on your Ward remove another Labour councillor as it is there are 19 Labour and by sheer numbers they win every vote, I say vote UKIP as they are a political party with a manifesto, any party without a manifesto isn't a political party its a group and will have no influence whatsoever of changing anything, also it gives you what the party stand for and where they are going, you may not like their manifesto but at least you have that choice and a vote, the Labour party for instance are socialists I don't have a problem with that  but socialism is just one step removed from communism and they would like to take you there not for me I'm afraid.

[one direction]

the Labour party for instance are socialists

Now that is the best laugh I've had for a long time! I dont think you'll find many socialists in the Labour Party these days! Wel, l definitely not in any upper levels of the party anyway!  Seat in the house of lords anyone? Labour is full of privately, educated, oxbridge graduates who have never had a real job (public sector or working for a think tamk, public relations company or political party researcher have never been real jobs in my opinion). The Tories look after old money, Labour look after new money and both look after themselves. The attraction of UKIP in northern constituencies is, in my opinion, summed uo by the description "left behind labour voters" those people who want a party to represent them and realise Labour no longer does! Labour dumped its "socialist" pretensions when it dumoed clause 4 and moved to the centre ground. Calling labour socialists is so far from the truth that yoh might as well say Hartlepool council chamber is filled with honorable,  decent people, dedicated to public service without anybthought to how they can personaly benefit from the role they are elected to!

[mk1]

I don't have a problem with that  but socialism is just one step removed from communism and they would like to take you there not for me I'm afraid.

As soon as I see anything that starts ranting about socialism=communisim=stalinism I switch straight off. I strongly advise you stay away from any such outbursts in the future because it just reminds me why I should not vote UKIP.

[steveL]

Stanger in a strange, alternatives to UKIP why do you need an alternative, there are 2 separate elections in May 1 general election in which you can indeed vote UKIP in an attempt to get rid of Ian Wright, and 2 local elections, where a vote for UKIP depending on your Ward remove another Labour councillor as it is there are 19 Labour and by sheer numbers they win every vote, I say vote UKIP as they are a political party with a manifesto, any party without a manifesto isn't a political party its a group and will have no influence whatsoever of changing anything, also it gives you what the party stand for and where they are going, you may not like their manifesto but at least you have that choice and a vote, the Labour party for instance are socialists I don't have a problem with that  but socialism is just one step removed from communism and they would like to take you there not for me I'm afraid.

That post is wrong on so many levels. Labour in the council chamber are not socialists but they are a party and being a party ensured that 19 hands went up last Monday night even though half of those people would not have been unduly disappointed if Stephen Akers-Belcher had left the Civic Centre afterwards and promptly been run over by a bus.

So far UKIP have been a bit of a disappointment in the council chamber. They've waited patiently since May for the EU or immigration to come up for discussion and surprise, surprise it never has. Consequently, they haven't had a whole lot to say and have pretty much sat out the decision making process abstaining on nearly every issue other than those were PHF or Independents have taken the initiative.

[mk1]

even though half of those people would not have been unduly disappointed if Stephen Akers-Belcher had left the Civic Centre afterwards and promptly been run over by a bus.

I suspect the bus would be the one who came off worst in any such encounter.

[Inspector Knacker]

Looks like the first shots being fired in the let's split the vote campaign...all in the nicest possible way of  course...rest easy Wrighty.

[steveL]

I don't have a problem with that  but socialism is just one step removed from communism and they would like to take you there not for me I'm afraid.

As soon as I see anything that starts ranting about socialism=communisim=stalinism I switch straight off. I strongly advise you stay away from any such outbursts in the future because it just reminds me why I should not vote UKIP.

You'd have to go back to the 50s to find any socialists in the Labour Party. There were a few remnants in the 60s but the brand was hijacked soon afterwards by Oxbridge, Claret drinking 'intellectuals' offering everyone their opinions on 'the plight of the working class' from a very safe distance. Even the unions gave up their socialist credentials and dedicated themselves instead to self-interest and extortionist tactics that had little regard for anyone outside of their own membership -  working class or not. Of course trade union leaders now see themselves as Chief Executives and pay themselves the equivalent salaries and pensions that go with it. 

[one direction]

You'd have to go back to the 50s to find any socialists in the Labour Party. There were a few remnants in the 60s but the brand was hijacked soon afterwards by Oxbridge, Claret drinking 'intellectuals' offering everyone their opinions on 'the plight of the working class' from a very safe distance. Even the unions gave up their socialist credentials and dedicated themselves instead to self-interest and extortionist tactics that had little regard for anyone outside of their own membership -  working class or not. Of course trade union leaders now see themselves as Chief Executives and pay themselves the equivalent salaries and pensions that go with it.

Nailed it!
100% agree.

[Ryehill]

  Steve L there is something wrong with your argument. A lot has changed since 2010 and I expect the U.K.I.P. manifesto  for 2015 will be a lot different . Every political  parties manifesto will be written to fight the 2015 GE. not the 2010 G.E. Why not wait until the U.K.I.P.. manifesto is published before making a judgement.Regarding the Panorama programme the B.B.C. ,which incidentally receives subsidies from the E.U., is not going to do Nigel Farage or U.K.I.P. any favours.

[mk1]

Looks like the first shots being fired in the let's split the vote campaign...all in the nicest possible way of  course...rest easy Wrighty.

It would seem so. It looks as if UKIP want a free run and are not prepared to be realistic. I bet they will put  candidates up against all  the PHF ones.
UKIP refused to come to an accomadation with PHF in the last elections.

[mk1]

   the B.B.C. ,which incidentally receives subsidies from the E.U.,  is not going to do Nigel Farage or U.K.I.P. any favours.

Your paranoi does not do you any favours.
UKIP also  get a EU subsidy and the Farage Family are wholly financed by the EU