David Allen for NEC
Below I include the personal statement that will go out with the Independent magazine shortly and a description of some of the things I would like to see happen in the party. I have also produced a series of video presentations explaining these same concepts and they can be found on my candidate’s web site: www.davidallen-ukip.co.uk
I would have posted this earlier but I have been busy campaigning in a borough council by-election (Trench Ward) in which I am standing as the candidate. The opposition is strong as the Conservatives hold almost all the council seats in Tonbridge and Malling. We are giving it our best shot.
Personal Statement:
I stood for an NEC position last year and received 764 votes. I hope to do better this time. Like most members I’m not privy to the details of NEC and leadership disagreements but I can assure you that I see the post as principally supporting the leadership toward achieving the party goals. That, it appears, hasn’t always been the case.
I support greater member inclusion, structured policy development, innovative fundraising and the expansion of our membership to a new generation. I have the ideas and the organisational and management background to make things happen. To find out more about me, my ideas and my intentions please visit. www.davidallen-ukip.co.uk
I have a track record of developing and progressing innovative solutions and my 65 articles published on UKIP Daily attest to a breadth and depth of political understanding.
Help me to make a real difference!
Stan Edwards, Wales, for NEC
I bring a fresh face to UKIP. Although I am politically aware, I am as yet untainted by direct involvement with political activity. I have strong views that the ordinary people of the UK are the ones who are desperate for a voice above the elitists who consider the electorate as voting fodder. Also the grassroots of UKIP should have a greater say in a more accountable NEC.
I bring the knowledge and experience as a property professional who worked for public authorities in Wales involved in delivering major projects, eventually using gained specialist knowledge in my own consultancy.
You will find that I have transferrable skills to bring to UKIP. To know more, see: Stan Edwards Compulsory Purchase.
I am for all the things we voted for in exiting the EU to maintain British sovereignty, culture, heritage and traditional values. I put my family before any organisation and as a committed Christian I put God before anything else. ‘We the people’ must be heard in place of ‘we the traditional establishment LibLabCon elite’
Policy interests:
To maintain as near as possible the original alignment of UKIP ideals. UKIP needs leadership, a clued-up NEC and the support of the members. We have to remain focused yet always be adaptive to changing circumstances. We have to deliver for the 17.5 million people who not only voted LEAVE but further bring fundamental change in the way we are governed. We have to be smart.
Expertise:
Using knowledge and experience to build up UKIP candidate core knowledge and skills and to be a reference point in specific knowledge areas.
Gerry Robinson for NEC
When, back in October, he confirmed on the ‘Daily Politics’ Show his candidature for the Leadership position, Paul Nuttall, who didn’t stand in the previous election, stated that he was coming back because he felt that ‘the Party needed him’. He was right of course. Now, more than ever, we need to move on past the infighting that has taken place at the top of our Party, draw a line under it and make a new start with a new leader and a strong, professional NEC to back him or her up.
I don’t simply ask for your vote without explaining here why I think you should vote for me. To me it is obvious, as has been stated by other political commentators, that our National Executive Committee is desperately in need of what some have called ‘professionalisation’. For me, this translates into an elected body with transparent and open procedures by which the grassroots members can clearly see the decisions made by the NEC including decisions made at meetings and voting records. It means radically improving the connection between the regional level and the NEC so that branches can more easily take contact to, and influence the decisions of, that body. It means an organisation with the maturity to deal with the diverse personalities in the upper echelons of the Party and to thus ensure that we are one unified force able to effectively take seats in the next General Election and move into the position where UKIP needs to and should be – the main opposition party, whilst in the meantime exerting unified pressure to ensure that the wishes of the majority of the electorate who voted on the 23rd June are met in full and not weakened or watered down as many, such as the MiliClegg alliance for example, seem determined to do.
I bring to the contest nearly thirty years of professional project management experience, mainly gained abroad, project managing large project teams working on high value contracts for multi-national companies. You can find the full details of my professional experience on LinkedIn https://ie.linkedin.com/in/robinsongerry
Politically, after joining UKIP in early 2014, ‘I hit the ground running’ supporting Roger Helmer’s Newark By-Election campaign. Soon afterwards I became Membership Secretary for Rutland & Melton Branch. During the General Election, I was Parliamentary Campaign Manager for our candidate, Richard Billington, achieving second place in a safe Conservative seat and quadrupling our vote share in the process. As Area Organiser during the Referendum, I ran the local operation, coordinating the work of UKIP, Leave.EU, Grassroots Out and Vote Leave volunteers with both Rutland and Melton voting to Leave on the 23rd June.
I believe that with my professional background, skills and experience coupled with the political knowledge gained over the last two years, as an NEC member I will be able to drive the professionalisation of that body and help to ensure that our Party takes its rightful place as a major political party always with our country’s needs as its main driver.
To Rob.
Can you please remind me as to how many places we can vote for?
There are many excellent clients and in order to save time I will like to have my hard choices already selected.
With thanks.
Bob,
There are seven vacancies to be filled.
Up to seven.
Where can I find an up to date list of NEC members who won`t be standing down this time.
I would also be particularly interested to know their previous political adherence and date of joining the party. and also what particular skill they bring to the table.
I too am trying to make some sense from the magnificent choice we have been offered, much as others on this site have suggested – but much as in history, it`s a good idea to know where you are starting from to be able to plan for where you are going.
For instance we as a party are supposedly planning to go after the “disappointed” Labour vote – have we any ex Labour members on the present panel? or amongst the candidates? even the odd trade unionist.
What will the eventual balance of the total NEC be ex Cons and suspect Carswell, Evans, Hamilton tendency, better vote for some from the Northern region.
Will there be a decent female contingent able to get to grips with issues like FGM, will there be those experienced in real issues, exporting, military defence matters, the Commonwealth (if you haven`t noticed it`s my pet moan) I wan`t to know there is someone on the NEC pushing for integration in that direction and righting a shameful wrong – it`s one of the prime reasons I joined UKIP – Oh! and Grammar Schools and flat income taxes etc
I wan`t to feel the NEC is militant – alive, inspirational, full of schemes, enterprising, seems a bunch of old farts and killjoys at the moment.(not you Spon – you want to get us voting by click – how long have you been trying?)
Oh! finally sorry, citizenk, I won`t be voting for VA, as I feel she amongst others was at the bottom of the Lincolnshire debacle which resulted in the loss of UKIP`s chance to be the Tory opposition in the 2012 County election – that`s a wrong that`s never been righted.
Finally whatever the composition of the new NEC, I hope they will realise that Nigel is still our biggest asset – through his perception the Brand UKIP is global, although we are primarily concerned with local elections, whether Magpie May acknowledges it or not Nigel is our get out of Jail free card as a proper “Political entity”
Our new NEC must make their peace with him and be guided by him and he must be our ultimate spokesman. Without him we are nothing.
Just reading this through again, what I think I was getting at, but not explaining it very well, was that I want the “new” NEC to be the leaders and instigators in showing what this nation is aiming at “to be” after Brexit, it cannot all be left to the new Leader.
The vision of “sunlit uplands” after Brexit have to be made concrete to the grassroots, who will not be prepared to vote for a party where there is no VISION after Brexit.
I have ALWAYS been trying, Roger ?!
Here are the dates of office you need: http://www.ukip.org/people_nec
Dear Roger (Turner),
A list of NEC members: http://www.ukip.org/people_nec
But it tells you nothing about their history and skills.
Regards, Toby Micklethwait
Thankd for the info Spon and Toby.
Just as a matter of interest all those photos are they voters?
I was thinking Carswell in particular, if he was co-opted because he was leader in the House of Commons – fair enough, but if it`s because he is an MP – what happens when we get more than one?.
Also if it is because he is leader in the Commons, how come the Leader of UKIP in the House of Lords isn`t co-opted?
The current compromise is that of the rwo elected rep votes, one goes to David Sprason.
The other is shared between the MP and the two MEP reps on a rotating basis, so DC gets a vote every third month.
The Constitution Sub-Committee is addressing this.
I live in Spain and still waiting for my voting form.
What chance might I have of receiving it on time??
You will be able to vote in the leadership elction, using the ERS, by fax.
As overseas RO, I would normally make an electronic Indy News available in advance, if necessary, to help people read NEC bumf, but as a candidate this time, I have flagged it up and hopefully Damian Wilson, the editor can arrange something – although yiu will still need to send back the form that will arrive in the post.
Electronic voting would, of course, have resolved this… ?
DEMOCRACY REQUIRES CHOICE AND IT ALSO REQUIRES CHANGE.
There is a good case to time limit all elected positions including membership of UKIP NEC.
I am delighted with the choice of 91 candidates for the 7 NEC positions and have already spent many hours in my research of who I think will best serve the party. A few quick but brutal points ( and bear in mind that I can be criticised for never wanting elected office) if you have just joined the party or have not seemingly been an active public member then I am loathe to trust you. Only one person jumps out of the list for def support and that is the inimitable Victoria Ayling who I believe has the qualities to be a government Minister.
Another key factor for me is the skills they can bring to the NEC and in this regard there are many to choose from including a linguist ( I speak many languages fluently so I am biased) an IT expert and a self employed window cleaner. The latter is serious and I use it to point out the need to think outside the box. I am also interested in the proposers and seconders and the part of the UK the candidate lives to get away from a regional bias.One last point I was personally attracted to those who were prepared to be outspoken as we face so many problems as a country and a party this is not a game for sheep. Having said all that I humbly thank all those who have stood up to be counted.
PS I have decided to vote for John Rees-Evans as leader in order to encourage the combat nature he represents.
CK I so agree – I also would like to thank every person who has offered to serve UKIP on the NEC. That there are so many people, so many ideas and so much talent is very heartening.
If you’re serious about avoiding regional bias then the overseas region should be represented ?
Great to see another detailed website, David! Good luck in the local…