UKIP has a secret weapon that none of the other political parties can use to their advantage in the forthcoming Council elections, nor indeed in the European and General elections if things continue on their present course. The secret weapon is not Nigel Farage. He is undoubtedly a politician who encourages and inspires support for the headline policies of UKIP, and his natural generosity of spirit certainly make him an attractive leader of the party. But political parties and movements must be more than a matter of attractive personalities.
In 1997 a great many people were deceived by the outwardly attractive person of Tony Blair. Indeed his entire period of office was built around the pseudo character he played so well and for so long. There were many people who believed in Tony Blair and believed that ‘things can only get better’ because he said so.
Nigel Farage is absolutely necessary to the understanding and growth of UKIP, but if he were all there was to UKIP then we would necessarily be disappointed. No man, however great, is without faults, weaknesses and failings. Indeed the Parliamentary system exists to moderate the faults of those in authority, especially the absolutist claims of monarchs, by requiring the shared exercise of power. One of the dangers of the New Labour period was that for a while Tony Blair, or at least the political character he played, became so popular that it seemed he could do anything, to the great harm of the British people.
Nigel Farage is not Tony Blair, thank goodness. Nor is he a Messiah. He is perhaps a John the Baptist, calling the British people to arise from their slumber. But he will have faults and should not be expected to do more than he can. He is, after all, only a politician, though perhaps more inspiring and truthful than most.
The secret weapon is not the manifesto of policies which have been announced and which will be announced in due course. Indeed it will probably be discovered that with a greater degree of specificity in policy commitments there will also be greater and well publicised disagreements between supporters of UKIP. These disagreements will certainly be manipulated and taken advantage of by those who have an anti-UKIP agenda. But to a great extent the detailed policy proposals do not matter and are certainly not what attracts supporters of UKIP or the main parties. UKIP will continue to enunciate certain broad principles – British sovereignty, immigration, a smaller state outside the baleful influence of European political institutions. And these will be more than enough to attract those who believe in the general policy positions that flow from them. Indeed it is possible to reject many of the detailed policies that UKIP may put forward and yet still support UKIP in the various elections which will take place over the next years. This is because neither Nigel Farage nor the UKIP manifesto are the secret weapon.
It may be possible for either Labour or the Conservatives to put forward a Boris Johnson, man of the people, type of leader, and to propose all manner of policies. This is not why UKIP is gaining ground. Indeed as the Coalition introduces more and more changes of policy, or at least announces them in the Press, it is clear that people are no longer listening. And as Ed Milliband stands on a pallet preaching in various UK towns to his own party officers, it is clear people are no longer watching.
The secret weapon UKIP wields is the hope in the hearts and minds of the thinking electorate (and it still exists) that there is another way for the nation. For the first time in a long time people feel free to say what they feel about the state of the country, and what they want for the future of the country. And they have discovered that there is a party which says many of the same things, and that there is a growing movement of people who are willing to use this party, UKIP, to express their support for these shared principles.
The Conservatives, Lib Dems and Labour are not vehicles for a hopeful movement of change. As they have grown almost indistinguishable from each other we know all to well that each party stands for more of the same, as we slide inexorably into a future too close to the experience of East Germany. There is tribalism, narrow sectarian interest and a dull stupidity in voting for these parties.
But for the first time in a long time a hopeful opportunity for real change has presented itself. It is not entirely bound up in Nigel Farage. It is certainly not comprehended by the semi-formed UKIP manifesto. Nevertheless, almost despite itself, UKIP is a vehicle for our hopes that the major threats to our nation can be overcome. Since these hopes are not rooted in Farage we are willing to cut him lots of slack. We don’t mind very much if some of UKIP’s candidates turn out to be unsuitable. We don’t even care if the policy details proposed are not properly costed or thought through. That is why we are willing to give UKIP a chance.
This is why the hopes of a growing number of British people are caught up for the time being with a party that lacks so much compared with the Labour and Conservative organisations. This is the secret weapon that the main parties, no longer trusted, cannot marshall in their support. We have hope in ourselves and in the principles we believe should be at the basis of our national life. UKIP is a means to express those principles and an opportunity to be counted in their behalf.
Expecting no more from UKIP than it can offer, an opportunity to be heard at last, the British people are making the most of it. The smears and the spin won’t work. The secret weapon is that we are not voting for UKIP but for ourselves. And we will be heard.
In the late 60’s, the greatest speedway rider at Brandon Bees was Nigel Boocock. As he slithered around the track spraying cinders over all and sundry and heading for the front, the roar from the terraces was “Take ’em Nige”
May that call herald the 2nd of May.
Good piece and well worth the read. Well done for being honest.
Excellent exposition which should be delivered through every letter-box in the U.K.
A post which astutely captures the spirit of UKIP and it’s supporters.
I have widely circulated the link.
Nice call to arms, Peter. Looks like we’re mostly on-side from this platform. Shame that Well-wisher and Nicholas are no longer around to comment. I’d like hear a cogent argument for sticking with the Tories; so far I haven’t. The line that avers ‘a vote for UKIP means that the Milibrat will prevail’, no longer seems a serious proposition. And even if it is , maybe the Labour party should be FORCED to pick up the debris it left behind and, in failing to cope with the job if elected back in, consign ITSELF to the garbage heap for ever. What is obvious is that Cameron and his cronies have been a disaster and despite their bullshit about a referendum, which is completely and transparently disingenuous, are treating the the British electorate, the English segment of it anyway, as idiots. They intend that Britain should be submerged by a European superstate in accordance with the wishes of the shadowy figures of the New World Order. It is time for that project to hit the buffers. You are right, UKIP is by no means a complete deal yet, but is a spearhead in the right direction. And I mean Right in both interpretations. It is time for the sinistral shit to be flushed away, before more totalitarian horrors are heaped upon us. If it takes another electoral cycle before it can happen, so be it; I, for one cannot endorse another session of Cameroonian PR schmoozing. I’m truly sorry for the local Tory party workers who by and large do a good job; but they should have put more pressure on Conservative Central Office and brought the Bullingdon bullshitters into line with the wishes of the rank and file. UKIP certainly can’t be worse than what we have witnessed in the UK since Thatcher was stabbed in the back. And the LibDumps must be routed this time around. Parasites all.
I’m in touch with Wellwisher. I’ll see if I can urge him to write something.
Well done Peter , sums up exactly how I feel.
1. I do not have a UKIP candidate. just a limp dem and a tory. The tory has shown himself to be a complete buffoon. So I will make my protest and spoil my ballot, so they know it wasnt because I couldn’t be bothered, it was I thought them all unworthy of my vote. I call on coffeehousers in a similar situation to do the same.
2. I wonder if UKIP will metamorphose into a right of centre party over the next few years sweeping up tories and some labour, and slowly the tory party will wither and die. Or will the tories see the error of sitting on the centre ground pleasing no-one and get some balls and do some serious tory policies again. I am not betting on either outcome. Lets see the results on Friday.
Here’s an interesting clip circulating in the US of A of Farage in sanguine flow:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZap5n3zGZ8
From a discontented voter having been totally disillusioned with local liberal and labour councillors and Labour MP and MSP, as well as the inept Labour and Conservative/Libdem governments. I will certainly be voting UKIP should a candidate be standing for my constituency.
The three main parties are completely delusional. Their joint support for the EU and the single currency from 1990 onwards is just one symptom of their collective insanity. UKIP offers sanity, no more or less. People join UKIP because they have noticed that Britain is hopelessly misgoverned, and they have set out to base UKIP’s policies on what happens in the real world.
Frank P 15:16
Thoroughly enjoyed that clip; what’s not to like, in my opinion.
PfM
Really enjoyed your post, thank you.
Like most on Peter’s site, I am really hoping for a resounding result for UKIP tomorrow. However, the natural pessimist in me does have a sense of foreboding. My main concerns are as follows:
1. Suspect there will be a blanket, anti-UKIP vote by large blocs of our “newer Britons”, including the paedophile gangs, of whom there seem to be millions.
2. As always, the same groups’ “access” to postal voting will be a factor.
3. I fear, talking to friends & colleagues, that there are still a huge number of our own brethren so indoctrinated that the merest smidgen of “right-wing leaning” invokes such a powerful, Pavlovian synaptic response: “Nazi!”, that they can’t bring themselves to support UKIP. Pathetic isn’t it? However, does confirm my fears that academic indoctrination has been inordinately successful.
I will be devastated should UKIP “fail” tomorrow: to me it’d represent a horrific barometer indication that my country is beyond repair.
Quite profound and well written.
Redneck May 1st, 2013 – 18:15
“Suspect there will be a blanket, anti-UKIP vote by large blocs of our “newer Britons”, including the paedophile gangs, of whom there seem to be millions.”
Have no fear as none of these will be voting, these elections are in the shires not in the cities, and we all know these as you put it ‘newer Britons’ all congregate in the large urban conurbations.
Good assessment,And yes we are being heard,otherwise they would not be trying to shut us up.
“The secret weapon is that we are not voting for UKIP but for ourselves. And we will be heard.” That really sums it up, doesn’t it? Thank goodness UKIP is giving us a voice.
Very well put no such article ever seen in the press, you are too good to be a journalist!!
I shall be having a few words about this with the goons outside the polling station this morning!
http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/s/2133380_council_defends_100k_chief_executive_bonus
h/t @Autonomous_Mind
David Ossitt
May 1st, 2013 – 19:14
Redneck May 1st, 2013 – 18:15
“Suspect there will be a blanket, anti-UKIP vote by large blocs of our “newer Britons”, including the paedophile gangs, of whom there seem to be millions.”
Have no fear as none of these will be voting, these elections are in the shires not in the cities, and we all know these as you put it ‘newer Britons’ all congregate in the large urban conurbations.
===========================
David, we must avoid complacency. Friends of mine have moved from their Buckinghamshire home after forty years. They wanted to build a swimming pool in their large garden, but a mosque has been built next door to them, and they objected that women in swimsuits would be visible. The local council accepted the concerns of the ragheads! They are making inroads everywhere.
Excellent article – I’d also like to see this circulated nationwide! Join the UKIP Revolution!
UKIP is giving us matters and topics to vote for – the Conliblab party is emphasizing only why we should vote against UKIP as they see no further than tactical voting and don’t seem to have realized that there is only a whisker between their policies.
Anne Wotana Kaye 1
May 2nd, 2013 – 09:20
Anne let them keep a potbellied pig as a pet!
David Ossitt
May 2nd, 2013 – 16:02
Anne let them keep a potbellied pig as a pet!
Only one problem, how will they know who is the wife (wives) and who the pet?
Unfortunately, there is no chance to vote here in London. Just worried that the three major parties (all really the same) will be shipping in ragheads and issuing postal votes to stem the tide against them.
Ye Gods and little fishes, you do drip on. Today will be the winning day for “The Fruitcakes”
We need people with spirit, backbone, get up and do, not witter on. Cameron is so the day before yesterday!
J A Jones May 2nd, 2013 – 17:44
“Ye Gods and little fishes, you do drip on. Today will be the winning day for “The Fruitcakes”
Hello J A what is meant by ‘drip on’ and who is it that is dripping on?
Also who are the Fruitcakes?
Good morning my time, David Ossitt. I don’t understand your complaint about J A Jones’s comment. It is clear, from his using quote around “The Fruitcakes” that he is referring to the slings and arrows and name-calling of the Tories and Labourites who truly have the wind up.
It is fun to see them driven to such emotional and verbal incontinence!