Lord Pearson of Rannoch Election address:

This is the CV that will appear on ballot papers and in INDEPENDENCE.

Personal Statement from Lord Pearson of Rannoch

Although I understood his reasoning, I deeply regretted Nigel's decision to step down as leader. Sadly my efforts to get him to change his mind, publicly at the conference and privately, have been to no avail.

I had to think long and hard before putting my own name forward to lead UKIP. I knew that were my bid successful, I would be committing to an indefinite period of hard work and would have to forgo directorships and other interests. However I also realised that any sacrifice would be trivial compared to those made by Nigel Farage over nearly two decades. Dauntingly, I would also find myself successor to the most eloquent politician in the land.

Initially I declined to volunteer because I lacked ambition to lead a political party. But I believe passionately in my country and in the democracy and freedom which so many generations have fought to win and defend, often at terrible cost, all now being sold out by a selfish and deluded generation of gutless professional politicians.

In the end it was the sheer persistence of many UKIP members and donors who said that it was my duty to offer myself to my country's service. I suppose that is arm-twisting UKIP style!

So what can I offer you?

Perhaps I should start by telling you what I am not. In a party with 13 MEPs I am not an elected politician. You must consider whether that is or is not a virtue. It does mean that I am available in this country, without the continual distraction of continental travel. Certainly I am well placed by my seat in the House of Lords to articulate our case. It is, of course, Westminster where these great issues must eventually be decided.

That I am not a professional politician may be no disadvantage in an age when our political class is widely despised. My background is in international insurance. I would like to think that habits such as delegation, training and financial discipline might be useful in the necessary reorganisation of a party whose power and influence has outgrown its infrastructure.

There is one particular area where I feel I should be able to contribute usefully. With the likely implementation of the Lisbon Treaty, these are perilous days. We are desperately short of time if we are to save our great country. This means we have to rapidly recruit and train a large force of people dedicated to national survival. To this end we need to cast a broad net and my contacts with the wider Eurorealist movement could prove very valuable. Along with David Willoughby de Broke in the Lords, as well as through my activities with Global Britain, I can lay some claim to having rare contacts throughout the movement. I hope that I enjoy some respect from people as politically diverse as Lords Stoddart and Tebbit and with others less well known but with considerable financial assets and patriotic dedication. As far as I know, I have no enemies within UKIP and remain on good terms with many who have left us.

What of my political philosophy? I am essentially interested in conserving the British constitution against all who threaten it, most particularly from those "Traitors within the Gate", the British politicians who have betrayed their own people.

It is rare for a new party to survive long in British politics. UKIP has stood that test of time and changed the political agenda singlehandedly. Our recent success must now be turned to maximum advantage.

We must develop the quality of our candidates and activists. This requires training, with experienced campaigners helping those who have yet to cut their political teeth. This has to be backed up by activity manuals and informative literature. As someone who has provided (I hope useful) publications such as "What is the point of the European Union?" and "BETTER OFF OUT" I may have something to offer here.

We have speak to the British people in straightforward language. Against the background of the country's financial crisis, we must show how leaving the EU is positive, invigorating, vastly enriching; in short everything to be welcomed and absolutely nothing to be feared. Hand in glove with this goes the promotion of binding national and local referendums. Only thus can power be returned to the people from the political class in Westminster and Brussels.

UKIP policies should be short and incisive and targeted to emphasise what can only be achieved by leaving the EU. They should also be selected to embarrass the old parties by showing how their political correctitude has left them out of touch with the basic common sense of real people. Examples abound: Their refusal to entrust us with education vouchers or to insist on work permits for foreigners; their failure to maintain our borders and their appeasement of militant Islam.

My ambition is for UKIP to do well enough in the General Election to trigger a revolutionary realignment of British politics. In place of our current 'one party state', with all the older parties blindly deferring to the EU, we desperately need a new and genuine Opposition. Already many Conservative MPs and most of their activists are with us. Many decent Labour and Lib Dem supporters are also getting the point.

Our priority, which cannot be overstated, must be to maintain our aim of an amicable divorce from the European Union. My slogan is "Friendship and Free Trade only." Anything and everything we do must be directed to this end and nothing must compromise this objective.

We now have a growing majority of the British people who share this view and a monopoly, amongst the moderate political parties, in expressing it. This is an electoral gold mine.

I shall feel honoured and humbled if you elect me to lead what is the noblest cause in British politics today. But whoever is elected can rely on my full support.


Malcolm Pearson: Biography.

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Lord Pearson of Rannoch was born in 1942 and educated at Eton.

In 1964 he founded the PWS Group of international insurance brokers, which went public in 1984 and was sold to the THB Group in 2008. He is now Hon. President but is willing to sacrifice that position should he become leader of UKIP.

During 1975-82 he was the main protagonist in the "Savonita Affair" at Lloyd's of London, when his refusal to collect a fraudulent claim led to reform at Lloyd's, and a new Act of Parliament.

From 1984-90 he actively promoted freedom in the Soviet Union through financial and other assistance to dissident groups.

In the period 1983-92 he represented commerce on the Council for National Academic Awards, Britain's largest degree awarding body, which validated the courses in our Polytechnics (Universities since 1992). He joined with Baroness Cox and others in fighting far left control of Teacher Training, Social and Media Studies, etc.

In 1984 he founded the Rannoch Charitable Trust, which has funded such things as refugees from Communism in Europe, various human rights initiatives, research into British state education, the environment of the Scottish Highlands, free market economics and Islamic fundamentalism.

In 1990 Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher raised him to the Peerage.

During 1991-97 he led several successful amendments in the Lords on Scottish environmental legislation.

In 1992 he received an Honorary Doctorate (of Laws) from Council of National Academic Awards, for services to Higher Education.

During 1992-96 he was a Member of the House of Lords Select Committee on the European Union, which led him to become a leading exponent of the case for the UK to leave the European Union.

In 1992 he became Hon. President of RESCARE -The National Society for Mentally Handicapped People in Residential Care, a subject where he has family experience.

In 1998 he joined with Lord Harris of High Cross (Independent) and Lord Stoddart of Swindon (Labour) to found "Global Britain", a non-party think tank, to research alternatives to UK membership of the European Union. (See www.globalbritain.org )

In 2004 he lost the Conservative whip for suggesting that people should lend their vote to the UK Independence Party, in elections to the European Parliament, and now sits in the Lords, along with Lord Willoughby de Broke, as a UKIP peer.

His many speeches can be here

His belief in freedom of speech and disregard of controversy was illustrated in 2009 when he invited the Dutch MP, Geert Wilders, to show his anti-Islamist film, "Fitna", in a press conference at the House of Lords. When Mr. Wilders was banned by the Home Secretary from entering the UK, Lord Pearson went ahead with the film and accused the British Government of appeasing Islamism. (Google: "Fitna" and "Geert Wilders").

For many years he has been an articulate critic of the institutional pro EU bias of the BBC and has personally invested in research, proving the case much to their discomfiture.

Alan Wood's Election address:

This is the CV that will appear on ballot papers and in INDEPENDENCE.

I do not approve of Lord Pearson's intended election strategy of making "the threat of radical Islam the major focus". This is the wrong approach to winning an election. It will automatically make UKIP candidates unelectable for its negative 'hate' message. Radical Christian Tony Blair, who went to war in Iraq on a lie and helped to kill thousands of innocent civilians, might be a better target. Let me make it clear that if Lord Pearson is elected as Party Leader I will leave the party after 13 years of service. He will lead us into the wilderness.

Our enemy is the EU and I will have a 'Manifesto for Government' of the British for the British.

Most importantly, the anti-EU parties in UK have to work together rather than splinter the vote. I am already in discussion with others outside of UKIP to explore where all anti-EU people other than BNP can work together for the benefit of the 'cause'. The BNP have hijacked the anti-EU cause and we have to show the people affected by EU immigration policies that its the EU and not ethnicity or religion which is the problem.

You can phone me on 07748 197 996 - 8am - 10pm only please.

UKIP LEADERSHIP ELECTION 2009

CANDIDATE - ALAN STEPHEN WOODCEng MSc MIMechE

WHAT IS THE KEY TO LEAVING THE EU?

WESTMINSTER HOLDS THE KEY

1. UKIP is not a pressure group but a party fighting for government, for only through representation at that level will we succeed in our aim of leaving the EU. To do this we need to show the nation that we have the strength in depth and the worldly policies to form a credible government

2. People considering voting for UKIP ask what we will do for them outside of the EU. Our job is to convince them that there is a 'far better future' out of the EU with UKIP, who could ignore all the EU directives that blight our lives.

As well as the merits of independence & democracy, and the freedoms it brings, we have to be proactive and offer policies that are close to their hearts and pockets on jobs, homes, children, parents and health, education, pensions, crime, the economy, and 'green' issues.

We may feel aggrieved because so many of the public (and even the Queen) do not respond to our pleas to save their sovereignty and freedoms. They do not vote for us for a multitude of reasons. Solely banging the drum on Sovereignty & Freedom is not enough to persuade many voters to vote for us. We have to accept that our election manifesto has to appeal to a lot of different social groups.

3. In addition we need to state where we stand on the important matters of the day.

On Afghanistan where our troops are courageously fighting an enemy that is already within. On the economy, where reckless lending and borrowing means that we have lived beyond our means. Where we have sold off our strategic and manufacturing businesses to all-comers and have forgotten our engineering heritage and how it helped to make Britain Great. On educational standards which are reflected in ration-coupon certificates. On attitudes to excellence where equality and mediocrity is preferred. On 'Rights' madness and crazy 'elf 'n safety rules'.

We must offer a new broom.

WHAT CAN BE ACHIEVED AT THE GENERAL ELECTION?

4. We are the major party insisting upon withdrawal from the EU so as to regain our nation and dispense with EU rules. The public agree with us, making UKIP second in the European elections and supporting many smaller anti-EU parties. Unfortunately, they still believe that the Conservative Party is 'eurosceptic', which drains our support.

5. Sadly, to our disadvantage, Westminster is occupied primarily by pro-EU MP's. The media, trades unions and commerce support the EU project. The Queen has not spoken out in her own realm. The 'First Past the Post' (FPTP) electoral system and media election rules heavily favour the Government and Opposition parties. The media will want to play this election as LABOUR v CONSERVATIVE or LABOUR v CONSERVATIVE v LIBDEM.

6. But, the expenses scandal has infuriated the public. Many well-established MP's will be leaving Westminster. The current government is unpopular. EU directives have antagonised the public.

The public agree with SAY NO the EU, to its pro-EU MP's expenses at Westminster, to the lack of a Lisbon Treaty referendum. So, we have to add the extra dimension of positive manifesto policies for them to SAY YES to UKIP.

7. Historically, 2/3 of the seats do not change hands. However, records are there to be broken and anything is possible this time. MP's expenses have started the possibility of a rebellion by voters. If we go about this election with new strategies and tactics we can win many seats. There may be a hung parliament where UKIP hold the balance of power. Anything can happen!

8. As there is barely a cigarette paper between the pro-EU parties they are equally worthy of our disdain and disgust. We pose a threat to their seats, especially in the marginals, and need to adjust our tactics to suit each seat.

9. I have already mentioned the public's antipathy to the EU and the MP's but a manifesto with the sole pledge of a referendum would fail.
A general election is not a referendum or "a referendum for a referendum" and whether we like it or not the public support political parties at a General Election for a multitude of factors.

10. It is essential to capture public imagination early to enable a campaign to gather steam. I have always recommended that we draw attention in our literature to the LINKAGE between EU directives and the results they cause - like the wrecking of Royal Mail. LINKAGE is now one of our biggest weapons - the longer that the EU rule us the more ammunition they give us.

11. The anti-EU vote in the European Elections was spread over many parties, some of whom were formed very recently. There has to be a reconciliation of the non-racist anti-EU parties. I would seek a coalition with other parties.

12. Nigel Farage has cleverly shown one way of winning a seat - to challenge a vulnerable MP and concentrate resources on getting out one's message.

Our MEP's already have the profile to contest other suitable seats, together with the advantage of an MEP salary. How ironic that the EU could be helping us to win in Westminster!

13. This government will be removed if opinion polls are to be believed but it is not a foregone conclusion as to where the balance of power will lie. We need to make it UKIP.

THE FUTURE

15. Our Branch structure is the future, supported by the MEP's and our new MP's. We have to build the party further from the bottom up with more resources to Branches.

UKIP members need to be in Parish and Town Councils to support their community and gain the trust of the public. It is possible to win District Council seats. It is a lot harder to win a Unitary Council seat. But we can win with the right tactics in 2010, 2011 and later years.

WHY SUPPORT ALAN WOOD?

a) Should UKIP become a 'Europarty'? I declare that this must be a decision made by the members not the MEP's.

b) My election expertise and strategies will benefit the General Election campaign.

c) I will try to bring the non-racist anti-EU community together.

d) My achievements and background relate to most social classes. It will help to gain the trust of floating voters. We must not allow ourselves to be unfairly painted as the extreme right wing of the Conservative Party. e) My Civil Service and Local Government experience, professional knowledge and project management skills, particularly in the GREEN issues of energy and conservation, will be assets for the party.

f) As a pensioner I also appreciate the problems of the grey voter.

g) As a councillor I understand the problems of the genuine poor and needy.

h) One policy I will insist upon is abolition of the Council Tax system and its replacement by a fair system of local taxation.

UKIP CV

SUPPORT TO PARTY
Loyal supporter since 1996 to all party leaders.

REGISTERED PARTY NOMINATING OFFICER
Since 2006 all UKIP Deputy Nominating Officers for UK elections and Regional Agents for European elections have received certificates at my expense.

BRANCH CHAIRMAN
North Wilts (1997). Devizes since 2002, plus Westbury temporarily.

SOUTH WEST COUNTIES COMMITTEE
Elections adviser 2007 local elections and 2009 European elections. Now Chairman.

ELECTION CANDIDATE / AGENT
1997, 2001, 2005 - Candidate, General elections
1999 (IND), 2003, 2007 - Candidate, District Council elections (elected)
1999, 2004 - Regional Agent, European Elections
2009 - Candidate, Regional & National Agent, European election
2009 - Candidate, Wiltshire Council election
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Organised a Parish Poll on a referendum for the EU Constitution. Obtained 100% support.
Organised a Constituency Poll in Gordon Brown's constituency which was 80% in favour of a referendum on the EU Constitution.

CAREER & PERSONAL CV

Married to Jane for 43 years. Adviser to wife and sister-in-law who are joint directors of a family property company.

Grammar school educated and became a management apprentice in Portsmouth Royal Dockyard. Won a scholarship to The Royal Naval College, Greenwich. Awarded an honours degree in Mechanical Engineering. MSc awarded by Loughborough University.

Ministry of Public Building and Works (later PSA) Project Engineer, Contracts/Cost Adviser, Energy Conservation & Construction Project Manager, Deputy Director. Compulsorily redundant in 1992 when PSA closed.

Chairman of Fittleton Parish Council.

Secretary of a National Canine Society 1993 - 1996.

Chairman of Salisbury Canine Society 2003 - present.

Championship dog show judge.

Former Captain of Dorking Golf Club.

NEW UKIP BRANCH IN COVENTRY

Following on from the recent success for UKIP in the European elections, a number of UKIP activists in Coventry have been inspired to set up a branch in the city.

After a successful and well attended meeting in the Biggin Hall Hotel on Monday 3rd August 2009, the branch was successfully set up and local UKIP activists, Martin Judge and Aaron Davies were elected as the main branch officers. Martin is the new Coventry branch chairman and Aaron has become the joint treasurer and secretary. The next branch meeting has been set for Monday 21st September, once again in the Biggin Hall Hotel which is close to the city centre and is ideal for members to get to.

Martin Judge said "we already have a number of plans for the branch and are really looking forward to getting going". Aaron Davies, who is a new member of UKIP, said "we are hoping to make our first full meeting in September a joint planning meeting and a social gathering for the members to get to know each other".

West Midlands UKIP representatives, Jill Seymour and Derek Bennett were present to help with procedures, questions, and the new branch set up. Jill Seymour, who from September will be fully active in her new roll as a UKIP organiser in the area, was delighted with the progress made in Coventry which is in the part of the West Midlands she will be covering in her new roll for the party.

Derek Bennett, who assisted with the paperwork and had liaised with the local members was especially pleased with progress as the new branch has already got two fully approved Parliamentary candidates who are: Joanne Asselman and Mark Taylor (pictured).

He said: “Coventry has three Parliamentary constituencies and having two candidates ready and waiting gives a great boost to the new branch, the added bonus is both are high quality candidates and are a real asset to the party,”. all we need now is a third candidate for the final constituency to have full representation in Coventry”

The new branch has now been registered as an official UKIP branch and UKIP will be ready to fight a full campaign in the City when Gordon Brown finally has the guts to call the long overdue general election.