UKIP forms Pan-European Political Party

UKIP have formed a Pan-European Political Party three years after the membership voted against it.

When the idea was first mooted it was met with opposition in some quarters and started former MEP Nikki Sinclaire's war against Nigel Farage and later, against the party. UKIP's economic advisor and world renowned economist, Professor Tim Congdon, was also opposed to the idea and it formed one of the central pillars of his failed bid to become leader of the party when Lord Pearson stood down.

The current Pan-European Political Parties, all of which promote EU integration

At the time myself and others wrote on this blog about the arguments being put forward both for and against the idea of UKIP forming a Pan-European Political Party without any real consensus. The membership as a whole were less ambiguous and voted against it in an internal referendum by 2:1. That was three years ago though and membership of the party has doubled in that time with running costs going through the roof as the party has professionalised. A lot has changed since the poll conducted three years ago and the £1.5m of funding available is badly needed to take the pressure off party finances which are paying for campaigning not just here in the UK but across the EU.

I made the point more than once that there is £10m of funding available to Pan-European Political Parties that is currently all going to federalist parties and unlike the EFDD ground (then just the EFD) it can contain delegates from political parties that don't have MEPs, thus supporting the eurosceptic movement across the EU and incubating future partners for UKIP in the EU Parliament. Leader of the EFDD group, Roger Helmer, makes the same point that the same amount of money is going to be spent - the budget isn't increased when a new group is formed - so it makes sense for UKIP to take a share of the cash which is currently going exclusively to promoting further EU integration.

A further internal poll of the party membership could have been held prior to the formation of the Alliance for Direct Democracy in Europe and the associated think tank, the Initiative for Direct Democracy in Europe, but with more than 40,000 members these things are starting to get pretty expensive for the party. Whilst there is a certain irony to not practising direct democracy within the party on the subject of forming the Alliance for Direct Democracy, it's a common sense move that will benefit both UKIP and the eurosceptic movement across the EU and allow the party's money to be spent on the upcoming elections.

The Pan European Party Issue; What's your thoughts?

The Pan European Party for UKIP has been an issue for a couple of years now and will finally be coming to a head on Saturday 4th of June.

I am currently undecided on which way to vote. I am inclined to vote no, but do not feel compelled to shout from the roof tops about it.

I'm sure most of you are as undecided or nonchelant about the issue, so I have compiled some links from UKIP related sources which discuss the issue rather eloquently.
The first article is by Chris Palmer, a rising star of Young Independence which you can read by clicking here.

Another is by a long standing member whose blog is known as Witterings From Witney which you can read here.

The official 'YES' argument from UKIP Stuart Agnew MEP, Steph McWilliam of the South West Region and NEC Member Mick McGough can be read here.

And finally the official 'NO' argument from UKIP MEP Trevor Coleman can be read here.
What are your opinions? Do you passionately believe that we must and should vote yes? Or that voting yes is a step too far?

UKIP won't be forming pan-EU party ... yet

Paul Nuttall has issued a statement on the question of UKIP forming a pan-EU party.

In connection with the possibility of the UK Independence Party becoming part of a pan-European Party, the following decision has been taken today.

It has been decided that because of the concern of the membership and the complexity surrounding this matter, no decision will be made in 2010 on membership.

As the final deadline for joining this year is 15th November, this means that there would not be sufficient time for a full and frank debate on this most important matter.

If left till next year, the party can properly debate and consider the ramifications of this issue before the November 2011 deadline.

This subject came up some time ago and marked the beginning of Nikki Sinclaire's open warfare with the party and Nigel Farage in particular.

The European Empire has a £10m slush fund for funding parties that don't have MEPs and bringing them under the vassalage of those that do through the pan-EU party scheme which sees parties in the EU Parliament form alliances with other parties that don't.  In UKIP's case this would have been an opportunity to put money intended to promote the eurofederalist cause to good use helping smaller eurosceptic parties build their profile in other countries.

With lingering disquiet amongst the membership about the possibility of UKIP forming a pan-EU party, it's the right decision to defer this until next year but it's going to be a difficult job trying to convince the members that it's a good idea or even just putting across the facts in a way that members will understand.  I hope that next year UKIP is able to take advantage of this money because at the moment the whole £10m is going to pro-EU parties who will be using it to promote the eurofederalist cause.