UKIP WEALDEN NEWSLETTERS
APRIL 2010
ACTIVITY
Over the past two months we have been busy as a branch, delivering leaflets and organising ourselves in various ways for the coming election. We have enclosed a list of the activities and events with this newsletter. If you want to attend any event, or help in any way, please let us know.
We have leafleted most of Uckfield, Hailsham, Forest Row, Wadhurst, Mayfield and many of the smaller villages around the Uckfield area. We are now turning our attention to the Crowborough area, and later, Polegate and villages around Hailsham. Reception has been very good, and so very different from years ago. It is clear that we are gaining ground.
So far, we have delivered to over 16,000 homes and businesses. In addition to this and the work we have yet to do, the election address will soon be going out to every household in the constituency.
We do of course sometimes struggle to get the attention of the media, despite coming second nationally in the EU elections. I think that this will change though, because it seems obvious from the responses that we get from people that many of them are tired of the three old and failed parties. I appreciate that it is difficult to make the break from a party that you used to believe in (heaven knows, we in UKIP all had to do it). It is up to us to give people confidence that we are worth their vote.
In the main, people seem to be scared of ‘wasting’ their vote, even though they believe in more of what we stand for than they do the LibLabCon. My answer to that is that if they don’t feed us we won’t grow, and they will always be stuck with the same choice, and will always be unhappy with the status quo. If they want to change things they have to have the courage of their convictions and make the break.
You will also note from the events lists that we have been invited to play a part in a number of public meetings.
For national events, please see www.ukip.org and for local events see our Programme of Meetings and Events
LOCAL ISSUES
We are often asked what relevance UKIP has to local issues. Quite simply, as over 75% (and rising) of legislation comes from the EU, most things that affect people’s lives locally have a connection with the EU. The list includes refuse collection (EU Landfill Directives), closure of Post Offices and deteriorating Royal Mail services, housing supply (MigrationWatch say that about 86% of new housing is needed because of mass immigration fuelling demand), agriculture (the Common Agricultural Policy also adds a hefty amount to the weekly shopping bill), and the list goes on. To make matters worse, the Regionalisation policy will take decision making further away from Wealden residents, with local concerns less likely to be addressed. We are very, very relevant to local issues.
With this in mind, we should be building up a presence on local councils and within the District and County councils. We would like to hear from anybody who does have a wish to get involved at that level. You needn’t be involved in all the activities at the constituency level, but you could count on the support of branch during your campaign if you were standing under the UKIP banner.
Hailsham Town Council has a by-election coming up 27 May. This is for two wards, Central and North Ward (2 members), South and West Ward (one Ward). Nominations would need to be in Thursday 29 April. If anybody in that area is interested, please let me know.
ASSISTANCE
If anybody is able to assist us in our campaign, please do not hesitate to contact us. You can write to the address below, or phone (01825 732092) or email at dandocker@msn.com or via the Wealden UKIP website at www.wealdenukip.org.uk.
Thank you to all of those who have made generous donations – more are always welcome!!
Our Treasurer is Tony Robards, Netherbury, Isfield, East Sussex, TN22 5XA.
APRIL 2010
As spring draws closer, so too does the general election. The likely date seems to be 6th May. The other three main parties are all vying for the centre ground and there isn’t much to separate Labour and the Conservatives, both in terms of potential share of the vote and policies.
I have been amazed to hear our MP, Charles Hendry say that he supports our membership of the EU, but does not think there should be political union. He must have a different version of the Lisbon Treaty to me.
This is the first General Election where if anybody wheels out the old ‘you’re splitting the vote’ argument, you can look them firmly in the eye and tell them that there is not the slightest element of truth in that. Rightly or wrongly, the party leadership made the Conservatives an offer last summer - agree to a fair referendum on the Lisbon Treaty and we won’t stand against you at the General Election. The Conservatives ignored that offer, so it proves once and for all that there is no important common ground between us. They are for EU membership, and we are against.
The local campaign for the General Election is well underway now.
· I have had the honour of being chosen as your Prospective Parliamentary Candidate (PPC) (see enclosed leaflet);
· Your branch members have been distributing leaflets door to door and in the street.
· I have attended my first public meeting of the campaign, which was a ‘Question Time’ type session at St. Leonards-Mayfield School. The panel consisted of Charles Hendry MP, and the PPCs of the Lib Dems, Labour and Greens and me.
· We have begun to have more regular meetings as well as meeting every weekend to deliver leaflets.
Last week, Julie and I went up to the Buckingham Constituency to help canvass for Nigel Farage. A good number of people turned up to help, and the response of the householders was far more positive than I could have imagined. It seems there are many receptive people who are disenchanted with the tired and old parties. They are looking for real representation. It remains to be seen whether these people will be able to make the break and vote for us, but never have I had such a positive response from people. Nigel was in good form and made his presence felt, rounding the mornings canvassing off with a public meeting.
Good lessons on canvassing techniques were learned, so all in all, it was an uplifting and informative day.
It would be good to enlist the help of as many people as possible in this campaign. As a party we have matured and are now well established. We need to show people that we are not a ‘wasted vote’, and demonstrate that we are truly on the rise. If anybody can help in any way, it would be greatly appreciated.
Can you help leaflet? Can you display a poster? Do you know of any good roadside, or other prominent sites for posters? Can you donate to our election fund? Any of these would be of enormous help.
With this newsletter I have enclosed a copy of a booklet briefly explaining some of our policies. Can I ask that you give this booklet to the one person you know who is most likely to make the break and vote for us? If you want any more, we can provide them.
As a reminder of the vote in the EU election, and therefore also as an indication of what is possible, I have copied below the Wealden election results from June last year.
Party Wealden South East
Conservatives 36.79% 34.79%
UKIP 22.37% 18.85%
Lib Dems 12.88% 14.15%
Greens 12.46% 11.63%
Labour 3.73% 8.25%
BNP 3.26% 4.36%
UK First 0.77% 0.70%
We can make a difference. Let’s get out there and persuade as many people as possible to make the break.
NOVEMBER 2009
LISBON TREATY
As you are aware, the Lisbon Treaty has now been adopted, and as expected the Conservatives have decided that on that basis they cannot now hold a referendum on it.
In addition, whilst Mr Cameron has outlined some of the measures he wishes to adopt if he becomes Prime Minister, anybody who is the least bit familiar with the Treaty will know that his stated aims are not achievable.
That he can try to mislead his supporters in this way is despicable. That most of them will believe him in hope is heartbreaking.
William Hague says there is no point in us having a referendum because the Treaty is now EU Law. What part of ‘Being in Europe, but not run by Europe’ does the very architect of that phrase not understand? He also says that any attempted re-negotiation is not a priority in any case. See the link below:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/6525111/William-Hague-Tories-would-not-take-on-Europe-for-some-years.html
We must surely all be disappointed, but at least the scales will fall from the eyes of a few more people now, and if we can be considered and sober in our reactions to what has occurred, and if we can mount a good General Election Campaign, then there has to be a great deal of hope for us, and for democracy.
Please help us, your local branch to do this by becoming involved.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
As you will see from the Agenda, the Branch AGM is to be held on the 25th November.
We would love to see you turn up and support us.
We will be looking for a new Chairman and a new Secretary, and possibly other officers, and certainly new Committee members. None of the existing officers intends to leave the committee, but it may be time to bring in some new blood.
Anybody who wishes to volunteer will of course receive our full support. At the very least, please attend the AGM – you will not be press-ganged!!
GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN
This campaign will soon be upon us, hence the need to get any new officers and committee members settled in their roles.
We also need to know who is prepared to stand for election. It would be nice to have three or four candidates so that we can hold hustings to decide who would be the best one.
Labour, the Liberals and the Conservatives are all keen to see us more deeply enmeshed in the EU. It really doesn’t matter which one wins the next election; the result is the same. So let’s make a difference in this constituency. We may not win (but who knows?), but at least we can send a very firm message, and if this is repeated across the country, who knows what the fall out will be? We may be closer now than ever before.
Let’s get started. Let’s make the AGM the first step of our fight back.
MEMBERSHIP
Our branch membership has shown a modest increase of late. That must be against the trend of other parties!
Let’s get some more. We may become fashionable! Spread the word.
WEBSITE
Don’t forget to check out the Branch, South east and main party websites from time to time. There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes.
Dan Docker, Chairman (01825 732092)
UKIP Wealden (www.ukipwealden.org)
(dandocker@msn.com)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/conservative/5540627/Ken-Clarke-Conservatives-will-not-reopen-debate-on-Lisbon-Treaty.html