Thursday, 28 July 2016

Confirmed leadership candidates so far

The deadline for nominations for the leadership of UKIP will be closing soon and six candidates have confirmed their intention to stand so far.

Candidate
Jonathan Arnott MEP
Cllr Lisa Duffy
Bill Etheridge MEP
Elizabeth Jones
Steven Woolfe MEP

Jonathan Arnott is UKIP MEP for the north east of England and served as UKIP General Secretary for 6 years. Arnott is a mathematician and continued as head of maths at Handsworth Christian School until he was elected MEP in 2014. He is officially UKIP's most rebellious MEP but also has the highest voting record of UKIP's MEPs.

Lisa Duffy is a councillor and leader of the UKIP group on Huntingdonshire District Council and a town councillor on Ramsey Town Council, the first UKIP-controlled council in the country which she was also mayor of. Duffy is leader of the UKIP group on Huntingdonshire District and Chief of Staff to Patrick O'Flynn MEP. She has been endorsed by Suzanne Evans.

Bill Etheridge is one of the UKIP MEPs for the West Midlands and councillor on Dudley MBC. Bill is a member of the Campaign Against Political Correctness, CAMRA and is an Associate of the American Legislative Exchange Council. He sits on the EU Regional Development Committee and is being backed for leader by his ex-wife, UKIP disabilities spokesman Star Anderton.

Elizabeth Jones is a member of UKIP's National Executive Council and Deputy Chairman of Lambeth UKIP. Elizabeth has contested 11 elections for UKIP and was a key member of UKIP's election campaign.

Steven Woolfe is one of the UKIP MEPs for the north west of England and a practising barrister. Woolfe is UKIP's financial affairs and City of London spokesman and head of UKIP's Black & Minority Ethnic Association. He has the support of Nathan Gill AM and is currently favourite to succeed Nigel Farage and become the first BME leader of a mainstream political party in the UK.

Posted by wonkotsane at 07:09
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wonkotsane is an author at Bloggers4UKIP.

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keith howson's avatar

keith howson · 452 weeks ago

Looking at the list of candidates the one name who stands out is Diane James, having seen her performances on the television when be grilled by Andrew Neil, she was more than capable of holding her own and getting UKIP policy across whilst rebuffing lies. She also has a very easy going manner, is not hectoring or strident, I think she would have a wider appeal across the electorate as a whole, than say Steven Woolfe, who, although good at putting across his points, seems to come across as cold and monotonous, and doesn't inspire any empathy, just my opinion, but UKIP would be on the up with Diane James in charge
3 replies · active 451 weeks ago
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David's avatar

David · 452 weeks ago

Agreed. Steven should be Deputy.
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pubcurmudgeon 104p · 452 weeks ago

Except Diane James isn't standing.
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keith howson's avatar

keith howson · 451 weeks ago

Oh, I see Diane James is on the Ballot released by UKIP HQ.
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Leo Savantt · 452 weeks ago

Diane James is probably the most electable of the group, although she needs (as do all politicians) very good advisors.

Beware of both Caswell and Hamilton's malign influence, neither really support UKIP's core values of democracy and sovereignty, they are failed Tories who quite rightly are not respected in their old Party; they could do a lot of damage to UKIP.

Both Steven Woolfe and Lisa Duffy are good solid people, but Mr. Woolfe might not have a wide appeal and the sparkle required for media appearances, Ms. Duffy for all her undoubted convictions risks being manipulated by Carswell and Hamilton.

A radical solution would be a tripartite leadership of Jones, Woolfe and Duffy.
1 reply · active 452 weeks ago
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julie lake · 452 weeks ago

lisa duffy has had launch in london this evening, steven woolfe for me.
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rosaleenegan4 0p · 452 weeks ago

I agree Diane would make an excellent leader unfortunately she has yet to declare whether she will stand. I am rather concerned that Steven Woolfe is rather like the anointed leader before we even have any hustings. I note that he had a "rally" in Manchester. I had hoped that all candidates would leave the talking until the hustings, he has a higher profile than the other candidates and I would prefer a more level playing field. Perhaps I am too naïve for these political games.
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timesarehardinthecountry 0p · 452 weeks ago

Why isn't Diane James not standing as leader.. The dream ticket would be Diane James as leader & Steven Woolfe as deputy...
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Whistler80 · 452 weeks ago

If it's anyone other than Steven Woolfe then expect a mass exodus of the membership to a new party set up by Aaron Banks
1 reply · active 452 weeks ago
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idltdvirtm 103p · 452 weeks ago

If that happened and if Aaron Banks's new party elected someone else as leader, will he set up another, and another until Woolfe is elected as party leader?

I haven't seen Banks attempting to 'buy' power - but it seems some of his fans expect exactly that...
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Mark 's avatar

Mark · 452 weeks ago

Woolfe will not be the first BME leader of a mainstream UK political party, as suggested in your biographies of leadership candidates. What about Benjamin Disraeli? Leader of the Tory Party and PM. He was an Italian, Sephardic Jew. Be very careful of making extravagant claims such as this.
1 reply · active 452 weeks ago
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Wiganer · 452 weeks ago

Disraeli was London born, as was his father. He became a Christian at age 12. Nationality and religion are not definitions of race, unless you are using the Labour party definitions. If I converted to Judaism I would not be changing race, likewise if I emigrated.

Plus using your definitions Ed Miliband is BME.

You can argue, but the claim is hardly extravagant.
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Marion Aitken · 452 weeks ago

Steven Woolfe reflects the dignity and good sense necessary to lead the party. He will be his own man while keeping the values built into the party by Nigel.

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