Monday, 21 November 2016

Diane James resignation, the NEC and the heart of UKIP

Diane James has resigned from UKIP, citing an "increasingly difficult" relationship with the party and lack of support from the NEC during her brief stint as leader.

There have been a few senior resignations or defections since the referendum which, whilst disappointing, isn't particularly concerning. What we're seeing is the Tories in UKIP clothing and protest members going back to their old political lives and those who are left behind are the real UKIPpers.

What is of concern is Diane's comments about the NEC. It's a common criticism amongst those that are leaving the party under a cloud that the NEC are making irrational decisions and are impossible to deal with. The NEC can't keep lurching from one disaster to the next and not take responsibility. We need to not only bring in fresh blood in the NEC elections that close this week but look at how the NEC needs to change to make it work better for the party and its members.

Leadership contender, Suzanne Evans, has suggested that Diane Evans should resign along with Steven Woolfe, Amjid Bashir and Janice Atkinson as UKIP was elected not them as individuals and she's right. UKIP won 24 seats in the EU elections and those seats should be filled by UKIP MEPs. That's what people voted for and that's what they should get.

There will probably be more people walking away from UKIP in the coming months who came along for the ride but were never really UKIPpers at heart. UKIP is its grassroots members and supporters - those of us who stand in council elections, hang around on street corners giving out leaflets, put up posters and work for the communities we live in - and while we're still doing our bit on the ground the party will survive and thrive despite the tantrums, politicking and manoeuvring at the top.

Posted by wonkotsane at 23:57
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wonkotsane is an author at Bloggers4UKIP.

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Thostids's avatar

Thostids · 433 weeks ago

I am not best pleased by these serious splits, allegations and so forth between interlopers, power-groups and quasi-professional political wannabes. We have a strong local Party representation and this conduces to voter trust at National level, but what is it with our so-called National level representatives? With the exception of "Lord" Nigel, I haven''t a clue what is going on. I will remain as a member in the belief that having achieved the main goal, we now have even more to do to bring sanity to English politics......nobody can save Scotland!
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Mike Smith's avatar

Mike Smith · 433 weeks ago

I can understand arguments for and against 'regionalising' the NEC. It does seem unfair that some regions of the UK have no representation whilst others are over-represented. However, if the NEC is totally regionalised then talented people may not be able to become members if there are others in their Region. The only answer seems to be a somewhat extended NEC. One of the problems with the current system is that ordinary members know little of the candidates, especially when there are 91 of them. A potted biography is not enough. Regional elections would be complicated and expensive. My solution in simple;
The 11 Regional Chairmen should be ex-officio members of the NEC and a smaller number elected by the membership nationally.
Regional Chairmen are elected by Branch Chairmen, who know them. Branch Chairmen are elected by members who know them. Thus there would be a direct democratic line and, more importantly, provides a direct line of communication from the top to the grassroots.
I would also suggest that any future paid-employees of the Party should be recruited by the NEC, not by the Party Leader whoever it may be.

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