The influence of UKIP

[Suff]

Two words

South Shields.....

Apparently polling is going well for the UKIP. The Tories and Labour are desperate to not lose votes to them, as has been happening in the local council elections. I expect it to be a very bloody campaign. Only the Lib Dems are not impacted that heavily by UKIP as most Lib Dems are pro EU and don't have the radical viewpoint on the EU that the rest of us have.

[KateLMead]

I DONT THINK PEOPLE ARE STUPID, BUT PERHAPS THEY ARE.
I LISTENED TO QUESTION TIME THIS AFTERNOON THE ATTACKS ON UKIP WERE CALCULATED, UKIP WILL GET MY VOTE, THE MORE INSULTS LABOUR AND CONSERVATIVES ALONG WITH CLEGG THROW AT THEM THE STRONGER THEY WILL BECOME "WITH LUCK"

[Workingman]

It looks as though the BNP has excited stage right as the bogeyman party. The bad boys now are the English Democrats and UKIP, with the BBC running at least two stories a day about them, esp UKIP.

Methinks that there are some squeaky bums in the centre right parties in Westminster - inc Labour.

[Suff]

I was out of touch. It seems that UKIP has been making very strong gains in the council elections. Everyone is afraid of the elections on Tuesday. Council elections are often perceived by people as a soft option for protest.

However there is enough time before the general election for the UKIP councillors to do a good job and show good acumen. Two of the "unknowns" for UKIP in any kind of power.

It's no wonder the media attack dogs have been let loose on the outsider who wants to change the status quo.

[Workingman]

However there is enough time before the general election for the UKIP councillors to do a good job and show good acumen.

And that frightens the living daylights out of the main parties.

I do not support UKIP, but if lending them my vote helps to shake the main parties out of their torpor then so be it.

[Suff]

I understand your position and support it. Things have to change in British politics. They can't remain the same and the country remain the same.

I have long said that the UK is either fully in the EU or fully out. Half measures will not do. I understand that we currently stand on opposite sides of that divide, both for good reasons.

What I do feel, though, is that the "dream" has become a nightmare and it is beginning to unravel on a sea of deceit and lies.

Imagine if you are a Eurozone country and the commission demands to audit your budget and have a veto over it. Yet for more than a decade the official auditors of the commission have refused to sign off the books because they are a tissue of lies. The same commission which demands increases in budget over inflation and ever increasing powers. The same commission which refuses any legal challenge and any form of oversight.

My take is there can be no other end game than unravelling. So UKIP, to me, is no real issue. Give them the money, take the trade and do our own thing. It is the only path left which makes any sense.

[KateLMead]

Europe! Kinnockio refused to publish "The books" whistle blowers were seriously threatened they lost their jobs and were fearful.. We know that he along with Mandy became millionaires.. and the latter was the individual who banking couldn't afford to pay his mortgage.. Landed up with a top position following being disgraced for attempting to borrow from Robinson... Farage has admitted to welt way over the million, thanks to his position in Europe.. Glynis like her old man made a fortune £300.00 a day (like our Nurds (Lords) sign in 15 minutes later disappear. When caught by reporters she cocked her snoot and said "No Comment" Then these ruddy hypocrites don themselves in the sable that they supposedly loathed.. They are a disgusting bunch of opportunists and crooks.

[Suff]

They are a disgusting bunch of opportunists and crooks.

Honestly Kate, methinks you are far too nice to them....

[Suff]

The UKIP have gained council seats and knocked the Tories into 3rd place in South Shields. Labour lost votes and the Lib Dems lost their deposit, coming in behind the BNP with half the BNP vote....

It appears that the UKIP carved their 24% of the vote out of the 3 main parties with the independents taking votes from the BNP. It seems that the UKIP are cementing themselves as the no immigration, non racists, protest vote party.

That will cause total havoc in the next elections for the Tories and seriously damage the Lib Dems. It will let Labour in but may change the balance of power some.

Something to think on about how it will change things.

[Workingman]

Listening to the pundits, commentators and politicians it appears that there are a lot of Ostriches out there - no offence Ossie. The main parties ignore UKIP at their peril.

It is also noticeable that the parties are being given every opportunity to trash UKIP rather than analyse its rise. Only Simon Hughes, of those I have seen questioned so far, has attempted to explain how protest parties gain and he did it from the perspective of the LibDems having once been the alternative voice.