UKIP go from strength to strength

[bathsheba666]

It is clear that what my beloved country needs is fewer people - of much higher quality - in it .

It occurs to me that we could achieve this by maintaining immigration at current levels, while at the same expelling any readily identifiable group of semi-educated bigots.

The Atacama desert probably has the kind of rarefied atmosphere where the UKIP fairy thrives - perhaps we could expel the supporters there ?

 

[Arakhor]

A Tory defector keeping his seat is not news at all; it should be treated with the contempt he richly deserves. The Labour results are much more significant, but that it is absolutely no guarantee at all of future election success.

 

[Hygro]

I am delighted. First time I've ever fist pumped the air in celebration over politics. The Heywood and Middleton result may even be a greater achievement then Clacton in the bigger picture. An incredible boost in support for UKIP.

Farage was on the BBC claiming UKIP will hold the balance of power. I'm not sure if we will reach that kingmaker status next term but to even be talking about having any MPs is a marvelous improvement.

Quackers, you getting to the gym enough these days? I feel like you could be totally crushing it on the barbell but I'm getting the vibe you're slacking. Watch some Elliott Hulse and get back in there, trooper!

 

[filli_noctus]

I thought you might be, but as I care more about the UK economy than keeping them from takin' our jeerbs I am more worried

I do agree that the Heywood and Middleton result is the bigger news. UKIP taking a lot of votes from labour in its heartland is much more significant than an encumbant who has changed the colour of his right wing banner keeping his seat.

I'm not so sure, obviously Carswell was a shoo-in given that he's personally popular in his constituency but the Heywood and Middleton result could easily be explained by the by-election protest vote effect combined with the fact that the Lib Dems - the usual recipient of said protest votes - having badly shot themselves in the foot during the coalition.

Looking at the numbers Labour did lose 6,000 votes but their proportion of the votes cast increased by 0.8% due to lower turnout when compared to 2010. The majority of new UKIP votes seem to have come from the Tories, the Lib Dems (or at least protest votes usually lodged with the Lib Dems) and the BNP (who didn't field a candidate despite getting 7% in 2010).

Rochester should give us a better idea as Reckless isn't as personally popular as Carswell and it's a marginal seat previously held by Labour. However current polling gives UKIP a 9 point lead on the Tories.

 

[Alba]

This is great news! If UKIP rise, then so does the support for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom. The political landscape between Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom is too divergent. There will be renewed calls for another referendum.

 

[Hygro]

hahaha that was an awesome first post, especially 2.5 years after registering.

 

[really]

I hadn't realised how few parties were in the house of commons - the small ones are mostly regional/nationalist ones.

Conservative Party (302)
Labour Party (257)
Liberal Democrats (56)
Democratic Unionist Party (8)
Scottish National Party (6)
Sinn Féin (NI) (5, Abstention)
Plaid Cymru (Wales) (3)
SDLP (3)
Alliance Party (1)
Green Party (1)
Respect Party (1)
UK Independence Party (1)
Independent (3)

 

[Tahuti]

hahaha that was an awesome first post, especially 2.5 years after registering.

Don't be a bully Hygro.

[Says the man that continues to make Poland jokes to this day, but it doesn't make it less true]

 

[Alba]

Do you think the question has been indefinitely answered?

It is common sense. If the vow made by the three main Westminster parties is broken and UKIP does pretty well in the coming general elections then there will be serious questions being asked from north of the border.

The independence movement is still alive and kicking, despite losing the referendum last month. We are already 45% of the way there. There is no going back. The Union will end within this generation.

The Vow: Westminster promised Scotland that we would get Devolution Max if the Scottish public backed the Union.

 

[Arakhor]

The Vow: Westminster promised Scotland that we would get Devolution Max if the Scottish public backed the Union.

Westminster didn't promise anything. Three party leaders did so, quite undemocratically.

 

[Alba]

One of those leaders is the Prime Minister, and the other is his deputy.

Many people believed in the vow and it did boost support for the Union in the last few days up until polling day. It could've gone either way before the vow was made. Have we been duped?

Westminster does have a moral responsibility to honour the vow.

 

[Arakhor]

If Westminister is morally bound to do as the Prime Minister says on short notice, then we are not running a democracy.

Besides, what sort of person wishes for a terrible party to get into power, just so it can serve their own selfish goals?

 

[Alba]

Making a false vow to the Scottish public to influence a referendum is also undemocratic.

If the English public votes for UKIP, then they get UKIP, and if that aides Scotland's right to self-determination, then I support that.

Edit: Selfish? Undemocratic Westminster policies have had a direct impact on my life. I lived in China for a few years in exile because of Theresa May's family breaking immigration laws. British citizens require a substantial salary or vast wealth for the right to bring their spouse into the country. To add insult to injury, it wasn't even debated properly in parliament before it was put into law. As far as I am concerned, Westminster already has a terrible party in power. The main reason why I voted yes to Scottish independence is for the chance to live in the country of my birth. How pathetic is that? We are here now, but only temporary and we must be gone in December despite the fact that my wife is carrying our first child and is due in January. If that is a selfish goal, then so be it.

 

[Arakhor]

Cameron and Clegg crawling up north to beg the Scots to remain in the Union was servile and pathetic. They absolutely should not have done that, especially given that “Devo Max” was not supposed to be a referendum issue at all.

Scotland has exercised its right to self-determination and, for better or worse, we have that result. Wishing UKIP on Westminster will not change that issue.

 

[Samson]

Making a false vow to the Scottish public to influence a referendum is also undemocratic.

If the English public votes for UKIP, then they get UKIP, and if that aides Scotland's right to self-determination, then I support that.

Edit: Selfish? Undemocratic Westminster policies has had a direct impact on my life. I lived in China for a few years in exile because of Theresa May's family breaking immigration laws. British citizens require a substantial salary or vast wealth for the right to bring their spouse into the country. To add insult to injury, it wasn't even debated properly in parliament before it was put into law. As far as I am concerned, Westminster already has a terrible party in power. The main reason why I voted yes to Scottish independence is for the chance to live in the country of my birth. How pathetic is that? We are here now, but only temporary, and we must be gone in December despite the fact that my wife is carrying our first child and is due in January. If that is a selfish goal, then so be it.

I feel for you, that sounds like a hard situation. If I was you, I would not be hoping for UKIP to do well, I would not imagine that helping your situation at all.

 

[Hygro]

Don't be a bully Hygro.

[Says the man that continues to make Poland jokes to this day, but it doesn't make it less true]

I wasn't being sarcastic. It was an awesome first post.

 

[Traitorfish]

Westminster didn't promise anything. Three party leaders did so, quite undemocratically.

Public perception in Scotland is that a promise made unanimously, if vaguely, by all three major party leaders is as good as a promise from Westminster. You can pick holes in that, but it's how people see it.

 

[bhsup]

Well, you called him a great man. I wouldn't want people getting too carried away...

Sherlock Holmes thought the sun orbited the earth, and I'd consider him a great man!

 

[gangleri2001]

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAH!!!!!!!!!

Link to video.​

 

[Arakhor]

Thank you for that stunning contribution, gangleri. Do come again.