Sunday Times "sting"

It's worth letting the righteous spout their indignation before commenting on accusations of sleaze from newspapers ...

Statement from the UK Independence Party

Following the article in The Sunday Times (dated April 4th 2010) the UK Independence Party would like to make the following statement to clarify any misunderstandings.

As with all political parties, UKIP receives many offers of donations (both financial and voluntary help) everyday, so it was not unwise for Stuart Agnew MEP to follow up the offer made to him. Perhaps, however, it was naive of Mr Agnew not to realise it was a Sunday Times reporter in disguise. We would like to make it clear that no transaction between Mr Agnew and The Sunday Times journalist took place.

The UK Independence Party did receive donations via Global Britain, in 2009 for the European Election Campaign. All these donations were, at the time, perfectly legal and within the guidelines set down by the Electoral Commission. These donations were fully disclosed by UKIP in the second quarter of 2009.

When asked by The Sunday Times reporter if her anonymity could be guaranteed, Lord Pearson, Leader of the UK Independence Party, clearly stated (as reported in the Sunday Times article) that he would check with the Electoral Commission and "if there was any doubt I would honestly rather go without.'"

Lord Pearson also added that he was regularly in touch with the Electoral Commission over Global Britain and all donations.

Mark Wadsworth, UKIP Treasurer, said today: "All donations or loans to the UK Independence Party have been reported to the Electoral Commission."

The reporting of this "sting" by one of Rupert Murdoch's Tory-supporting newspapers was timed perfectly to try and cause maximum damage to the party that is going to cause maximum damage to Devious Dave's Conservatives in the election.  This has been in the pipeline since last month but has only been published after Nigel's appearance on Have I Got News For You and other positive media appearances.

Whilst some voters will undoubtedly be disappointed at the implication that UKIP is fiddling expenses, most will realise that this is the Sunday Times making a mountain out of a molehill.  There is nothing illegal about using intermediaries to donate money to political parties.  Millions of people don't opt out of the so-called political fighting fund (another name for what most of us would call a slush fund) when they join a union and contribute to the tens of millions of pounds that's funnelled straight into Labour Party funds.

We could really do without sleaze, real or imagined, but the important thing is, the law has not been broken.  All Stuart Agnew and Lord Pearson did was explain to what they thought was a potential donor how they could make an anonymous donation without breaking any rules.  It's unfortunate that Stuart Agnew told the undercover reporter that Peter Reeve doesn't do any work for him or David Campbell-Bannerman because it's not true.  Peter Reeve only works part time for the two MEPs and David Campbell-Bannerman does make use of his services.  The inevitable inquiry from the EU's anti-fraud unit, OLAF, will be an unnecessary distraction just as his services are most needed.

David Campbell-Bannerman: Irish ‘bullied’ into voting Yes

David Campbell-Bannerman has released the following press release:

Irish ‘bullied’ into voting Yes

The Eastern Counties MEP for the UK Independence Party, David Campbell Bannerman has described the result of the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty as: “A triumph for political bullying” and a “dark day for democracy.”

Mr Campbell Bannerman, who is also UKIP’s Deputy Leader said: “The fact is, this referendum should never have been held at all. The Irish people voted NO last year and that should have been an end to it. Unfortunately, the political system under which we now live does not allow dissent and if you give the ‘wrong’ answer, you must vote again.

“To ensure the result they wanted, the political establishment has pulled out all the stops. Any rules about balanced media coverage were suspended and the European Commission broke its own rules by spending €1.2 million on a huge advertising campaign. Any number of Commissioners, including its President, have been to Ireland to campaign for a YES vote. In contrast, anyone who dared speak out against the Lisbon Treaty was immediately vilified.

“The Irish people have been bullied into making this huge mistake, which may ultimately mean that the EU no longer ever need to consult voters in any member country, because the Lisbon Treaty is self-amending. It really is a dark day for democracy. However, this is not the end of the story. There is nothing more precious than our basic freedoms, which are being undermined by the EU. We can never give up this fight, so the battle will go on.”

UKIP Steps Up Fight to Save the British Pub

The battle to save the traditional British pub is today (11.3.09) being stepped up by the UK Independence Party (UKIP). Already well known for speaking out against the slow extinction of the British pub, through a combination of the over taxing of beer and over zealous health and safety legislation, UKIP is using National No Smoking Day to start a ‘Save the Pub’ a petition, with its own website www.savethepub.co.uk which also features a major policy document ‘Pubs and Smoking’ that contains far reaching proposals aimed at keeping British pubs open.

David Campbell Bannerman, the Party’s Deputy Leader and Eastern Counties Lead Candidate in the forthcoming European Election as well as its policy director said: “There is nothing more traditionally British than the local pub but we are losing them at a rate of around 40 a week and they may be wiped out unless there is a major effort to save them. UKIP has a whole range of ideas for turning this situation around. Among other things, we would cut the duty on draught beers, real ale, cider and some lagers. We would introduce a Royal Commission to investigate beer pricing to sort out the current problems with wholesale prices which strongly disadvantage pubs.

“We would also cut business rates on community pubs and remove local authorities from the licensing process. Community pubs play a role in social cohesion through providing a comfortable environment for people to meet and talk. They are also a controlled drinking environment which offers a bulwark against the binge drinking problem.

“In regard to the smoking ban, we fully recognise its popularity in many parts of the community but UKIP would take a more flexible approach toward its enforcement in pubs, which would be allowed to have separate, contained and well ventilated smoking rooms as well as outside smoking areas using patio heaters. The EU ban on patio heaters is absurd as their impact on the environment is negligible and certainly not worth the loss of an important local amenity”.

To read the full UKIP policy: ‘Pubs and Smoking’ and to sign the Save the Pub petition, go to www.savethepub.co.uk UKIP will also be delivering special 'Save the Pub' beer mats to pubs all over the Eastern counties.

UKIP demo held in Bury St Edmunds earlier today

The UK Independence Party (UKIP) held a demonstration in Bury St Edmunds this morning.Members gathered outside The Athenaeum, on Angel Hill, to rally against a meeting of the Europe and International Affairs Panel of The East of England Regional Assembly. David Campbell-Bannerman, deputy leader of UKIP and their lead candidate for the East of England in this year's European elections, led the demonstration. "EERA is an undemocratic disgrace and an obscene waste of money in these hard economic times. "This body reports directly to the European Union and not to the people it purports to represent. How dare they make such major decisions on planning and economic matters without true democratic legitimacy." He said the party was not against being in Europe but wanted the UK to have agreements similar to Norway and Switzerland that gave trade benefits without becoming part of a 'superstate'.

UKIP RALLY IN BURY ST EDMUNDS TO ATTACK EERA AS AN 'UNDEMOCRATIC DISGRACE'

The UK Independence Party (UKIP) is to hold a public demonstration outside of the meeting of the Europe and International Affairs Panel of the East of England Regional Assembly (EERA) being held in Bury St Edmunds at the Athenaeum at 9.00am on Friday 16th January 2009. The UKIP protestors will be highlighting the undemocratic and unrepresentative nature of EERA. The demonstration, organised by the Huntingdon & Cambs Branch of UKIP, will be led by David Campbell Bannerman, Deputy Leader of the Party and UKIP's lead prospective candidate in the East of England for the 2009 European Election.

Mr Campbell Bannerman said: “EERA is an undemocratic disgrace and an obscene waste of money in these hard economic times. This body reports directly to the European Union and not to the people it purports to represent. How dare they make such major decisions on planning and economic matters without true democratic legitimacy. It is one group of bureaucrats at home serving another group of bureaucrats in the EU. A bureaucrat's tryst!"

"This Europe Panel is ten times worse because it is obsessed with promoting the interests of the European Union, not those of the East of England. Wasting millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money on this quango is totally unjustifiable. It is taxation without representation."

"Our demonstration in Bury St Edmunds will let them hear the voice of the people. It is about time they listened." The protest will take place between 8.00 and 9.00am as delegates arrive for the meeting. If you would like to join please ring Tel: 01245-266466 Mobile: 07734-457390

UKIP Public Meeting on Saturday 31st of January 2009

The Peterborough & NW Cambs Branches will be hosting a Public Meeting with guest speaker Nigel Farage MEP party leader on SATURDAY 31ST OF JANUARY 2009 starting at 10am at the

"Manor Farm Centre", Eye, Peterborough, PE6 7UY which will finish at 5pm.

All newcommer's are welcome to come and hear ten speakers talk about the UK Independence Party and put their questions forward to be given an answer too.Speakers on the day inculde:
>David Campbell-Bannerman (Deputy Leader)
>Paul Nuttall (Party Chairman)
>Jeffrey Titford (MEP)
>Stuart Gulleford (Political Advisor)
>Stuart Agnew (European Parliamentary Candidate)
>Lisa Duffy (National Co-ordinator of Young Independents)
>Micheal Heaver(BBC Question Time Winner)

Refreshments will be served throughout the day.For further details contact us on: 01487 710898 or 01733 333138.or e~mail us on: nwcambsukip@hotmail.co.uk