The UK Independence Party in Sheffield launched its campaign for the European elections on Wednesday. Last time the European elections were contested in 2004 UKIP shocked the political establishment by taking over 2.6 million votes nationally, knocking the Liberal Democrats into fourth place. The campaign launch at St. Mary's Conference Centre on Bramall Lane was attended by Paul Nuttall (UKIP Party Chairman) and Jonathan Arnott (UKIP General Secretary), and the press together with 25 local activists.
Jonathan Arnott, is also the no.2 candidate for the 'Yorkshire and the Humber' region and the chairman of the local branch in Sheffield. Paul Nuttall spoke of his delight that this year's campaign is shaping up to be "the most professional national campaign that this party has ever run" and praised the local UKIP Sheffield organisation which has already delivered over 20,000 leaflets in April.
Jonathan Arnott spoke on the reasons for voting UKIP at this year's European elections: "We’re in the middle of the biggest global recession in my lifetime and we’re fighting it with one hand tied behind our backs with Brussels red tape. Our small bus inesses are being strangled before they can become big businesses. If you’re right-wing, you should oppose the EU for its interference in sentencing and belief in unlimited immigration. If you’re left-wing you should oppose it for its callous foreign policy and state aid rules that won’t let the government help failing businesses. But whether you’re left, right or centre we should all be opposing the EU for its wastefulness, bureaucracy and cost."
Jonathan also reminded activists that the European elections are a 'single-issue election'. Jonathan said "UKIP are often accused of being a single-issue party. We're not a single-issue party but this is a single-issue election about our relationship with the European Union. If you’re in favour of the European Union you have a wide range of choices – Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat, Green. If you’re opposed to the European Union then there’s just one moderate show in town and that is the UK Independence Party".
Immediately following the launch, UKIP activists took to the streets in the city centre handing out leaflets and received an encouraging response from the public.
Josh O'Nyons is a former UKIP member.
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2 comments:
While I have some sympathy with UKIP's position I believe that if your washing machine is broken you should try and fix it before you throw it out; or if your frieds are not playing a game you like, you should try and get them to play something else before you collect up all your toys and run home.
Consequently, Euro-sceptics should be voting for pro-democracy Libertas EU in the upcoming elections. Their aims are:
1. To get rid of the Lisbon Treaty, which was rejected twice when it was called the European Constitution and once under its new name, but each time that voters have given the "wrong" answer Brussels has just resubmitted the proposal. Even now the Irish are being told to reconsider, and no doubt the Irish government in its current straitened circumstances is being bullied.
2. To make the EU Commissioners elected rather than the appointed cronies of the national governmental leaders. This would impede the current practice whereby governments do deals in "smoke filled rooms" to support each others proposals for directives. These directives are then produced by the EU Commission and approved by the Council of Ministers and presented to the various parliaments as fait accompli which they are obliged to translate into law. By this means the executive arm of government across Europe marginalise their parliaments, and erode democracy.
3. Reduce the squandering of taxpayers' money by an organization that had not had its accounts signed off by its auditors for 14 years.
If and when Libertas fail in this effort, only then will UKIP's time come.
While I have a good deal of sympathy for UKIP's position, I nevertheless believe that before you throw away a broken washing machine, you should try and repair it; or if your friends are not playing a game you enjoy, you should try and persuade them to change their activity before you collect up all your toys and run home.
Consequently, I would suggest that Pro Democracy Libertas EU would be a better place for a vote. They want to reform the EU.
Their three main aims are:
1. To get rid of the Lisbon Treaty, which was rejected twice when it was called the European Constitution and once under its new name, but each time that voters have given the "wrong" answer Brussels has just resubmitted the proposal. Even now the Irish are being told to reconsider, and no doubt the Irish government in its current straitened circumstances is being bullied.
2. To make the EU Commissioners elected rather than the appointed cronies of the national governmental leaders. This would impede the current practice whereby governments do deals in "smoke filled rooms" to support each others proposals for directives. These directives are then produced by the EU Commission and approved by the Council of Ministers and presented to the various parliaments as fait accompli which they are obliged to translate into law. By this means the executive arm of government across Europe marginalise their parliaments, and erode democracy.
3. Reduce the squandering of taxpayers' money by an organization that had not had its accounts signed off by its auditors for 14 years.
If and when Libertas fail in this effort, only then will UKIP's time come.
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