With Nigel Farage getting his life back, and the June referendum safely won, our dear party appears to be paralysed in a barren dream, lurching from one crisis to another while wrestling with a philosophical question that is timeless: Why?
Why do we still exist? Why do we not, instead, retire and bask in the memories of our finest hour?
Well, I believe there are two main reasons for our continued existence in British politics. Firstly, while the referendum has been won, exit from the European Union has not been secured. Not only do we have a new Prime Minister who backed Remain but we have a new Prime Minister with a history, in her time as Home Secretary, of failed promises, empty words and endless bowing and kowtowing to the virus of political correctness.
Secondly, moving away from the issue of the United Kingdom’s membership of the sclerotic and decaying European Union, we are still locked into a grim and chastening political reality in Britain. Five hundred and sixty-one MPs in the House of Commons are from either the Labour or Conservative Party. These parties are meant to be ideologically opposed to each other, but this supposed ‘opposition’ is a sad joke, as their differences are trivial and they both prefer to ignore anything that exists out of their narrow paradigm.
UKIP is required, therefore, to maintain electoral pressure on a potentially-dishonest Prime Minister and to present a radical political alternative to the beige offering of the pathetic and tired ‘mainstream’ parties who currently hold dominance in the main offices of political power.
As we move into our second leadership contest of the year, I believe only Raheem Kassam has the requisite ideas, profile and presence to propel our party into a successful and meaningful post-Brexit and post-Farage future. Kassam has come up with a radical and profound set of ideas and policies for both UKIP and our future manifesto which, if he becomes leader, can ensure three things will happen.
Firstly, our foundation as a party can be secure. Kassam wants to slash the membership price and bring the number of members up to 100,000 by 2020, thereby providing UKIP with enough activists, volunteers and potential candidates to fight future elections and spread our beautiful message far and wide.
Secondly, Kassam wants to inspire a digital revolution for the party, dragging us into the 21st century and making UKIP far more accessible than it currently is for potential members and folk who want to find out more about us. After all, the Internet is king and our current social media presence is inconsistent and haphazard.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, with Kassam as leader our manifesto for the next General Election will present a genuine and glorious alternative to the narrow-minded focus of the Conservative and Labour parties. Flat tax. Opposition to extremist Islam. Better education on British history. Justice for Marine ‘A’. Opposition to the failed doctrine of multiculturalism. A return to technical colleges, as well as grammar schools. The list can go on.
Neither of the other two main leadership candidates, Paul Nuttall and Suzanne Evans, is offering such a persuasive and enticing set of pledges. On her recent appearance on the Andrew Marr show, Evans stated that she wanted to take UKIP to the centre ground currently occupied by the notorious ‘mainstream’ parties and she bizarrely labelled Kassam as wanting to take the party in a ‘far-right’ direction. Personally, I feel that Evans made a very bland and vapid opening pitch. I do not want UKIP to be a party of the centre as we already have an abundance of parties in British politics taking that position. Equally, her comments about Kassam’s genuine vision for the party seemed rather sour.
On Sunday Politics, Paul Nuttall pitched himself as the ‘unity’ candidate. I agree, certainly, that unity is important, but it seems strange, to me at least, that a man who was Farage’s deputy for so long believes he can heal the vast divisions and civil strife that sadly exist in the party. It seems even stranger still that he believes unifying the party should be the main aim and motivation; in the eyes of a great majority of the British public, UKIP’s raison d’être has been served. Whilst unity would be grand, it would serve no practical purpose unless accompanied by a bold and innovative set of ideas – the latter of which only Kassam is offering.
With UKIP at risk of being consumed in the fire of political irrelevance and oblivion, we need a new leader to reclaim our eternal theme of being outspoken and unashamedly forthright. I joined UKIP two years ago because we were a radical and genuine alternative to the failed ideas of the mainstream. I would like us to stay that way, so I am firmly supporting Raheem Kassam to be our next leader.
Thanks for your input Josh. Its great to read an articulate contribution from a younger member of our party.
Events move quickly. It seems that a day is a long time in the modern world of politics, never mind a week.
Raheem Kassam has, as we now know, decided against standing for the leadrship. I for one am slightly saddened by this (I’ll get over it) as my vote is there to be earned, and Raheem certainly brings much to the table and has much expertise, especially in dark world of media and propaganda. I will now listen attentively to the candidates who are now on the ballot paper and hope that at least one of them convinces me that they are worthy of my vote.
We’ll have a longer chat about the leadership when we next meet. Thanks again Josh.
Panmelia and Dee,May I remind you that we can’t choose our biological parents or the religion they serve. Raheem has discarded the Muslim faith and is now an atheist that is good enough for me
Any one who thinks that this opportunistic attention seeking clown is a serious proposition for any office in UKIP, let alone its leadership post, seriously needs as reality check.
I’m increasingly suspicious about Aaron Bank’s activities in this leadership circus, he’s not a stupid man & he must see that Kassam is an un-serious joker – as indicated by that farcical tacky “launch” in the pub, replete with cynically worn Armistice poppies and plastic Union J’s. It looks increasingly to me as if Banks may be trying to crash UKIP & replace it with another organisation that he has more control of? If this is the case lumbering UKIP with a hopeless leader is an effective means of action to that end. I’m struggling to make sense of his strange decisions in this issue post-June 23 in any other way.
Ajax,
I have to agree with you on this one, this man is turning the party into a joke, we can only hope that things get more serious in the hustings and we get to see all of their true colours. But he is just plain ‘tacky’ and diminishes the party’s standing, and I cannot think for the life of me why Arron Bank’s is supporting him except that he is just as good at making horrible comments himself.
I really do not think we need to descend to these depths and are capable of being much more intelligent about how to present ourselves, we don’t always have to be in a pub holding a pint do we?
Also, in answer to your question I think Arron Banks may not be supporting Paul Nuttall because of his support for Suzanne Evans, and hence her connections with Carswell who he and Farage despise.But I have to say I don’t think Suzanne stands much of a chance in this election.
Ajax, I must disagree, and I have to say your comments comes across as rather nasty.
Can you give chapter, or verse even, on your statement that Armistice poppies were worn ‘cynically’. Today I put quite a large amount in the poppy collection box, and for the first time ever chose a rather larger poppy than usual – for no particular reason, except that I liked it. I shall wear it with pride, as I have no reason to doubt that Raheem, his team and all present also did. It was, after all, well and movingly followed by a demonstration in support of Marine A, and remembering the fallen in Afghanistan and elsewhere. No better place, I would submit, to wave Union Jacks, (maybe another UKIP policy?) plastic or otherwise, and wear a poppy.
Obviously you disagree with Joshua’s piece, but this is below your usual standard of reasoned argument against a proposal, imo.
I agree with Dee: how can anyone wear a poppy ‘cynically’ or diminish UKIP by waving a Union Jack?: these things are such strong symbols that they convey unmistakable messages: remembrance of our war dead, and patriotic love of country. It is impossible to subvert these messages.
Can we bear in mind that Raheem is a UKIP member, on our side and not the enemy. Sharp criticism and mockery should surely be reserved for more deserving targets, of whom there are many.
Panmelia and Dee,
I may well be wrong but I feel that Ajax has a problem with Raheem wearing a poppy full stop, and finding his patriotism unconvincing because he was born a muslim. I don’t think he trusts him at all and may feel that a leopard never changes its spots etc.
I have to say that I don’t doubt his patriotism but I do his common sense and that of winding his neck in when necessary.
DD this is a shame. We enjoy lively chat over differences of opinion all the time here, so I have deleted my original reply to your first paragraph of your latest post, and refer you to Panmelia’s concluding paragraph.
Well, the thing is Dee I thought it was quite funny when you said that Ajax’s comments about Raheem were quite nasty, when it seems to me that it is Raheem making all the nasty comments. He really does not need to do it, it is not clever nor is it funny and I am sure he can make more sensible and intelligent remarks.
I am afraid that insults just don’t work for me, it smacks of a ‘bullying’ culture, and that is what I don’t like, this seems to stem back to when Arron Banks became involved. If they do not like what someone says the default decision is to throw an insult, to me that is poor politics, but perhaps that is the way things are done these days.
To me it just reinforces all the cyber bullying and nastiness that we hear about on line and it can be mostly directed towards women. Don’t forget what has happened to the Labour party, we don’t want to go down that line do we?
As I have said I may be just old fashioned and need to get accustomed to this way of communicating and behaving, but at the moment I am not at all comfortable with it, I am hoping to go to the hustings tomorrow so am hoping that face to face questioning will be much more productive.
To paraphrase: Any one who thinks that slagging off someone with whom you disagree, as an opportunistic attention seeking clown and an un-serious joker, and imputing motives, which you cannot know, for his wearing a poppy, is a serious argument, also seriously needs a reality check.
The place of his ‘launch’ is also immaterial; did you listen to his pitch, rather than look at the place, or read his proposals on his website? If you could you enlighten us as to where you disagree and why you think they make him the wrong person, I am sure we are all ears, and a rational discussion could take place.
We already have Evans spraying insults, and using our political opponents’ false characterisations of the party, against other candidates and much of the membership – much to media glee. We don’t need the foot-soldiers following suit.
Joshua, thank you, so perfectly put! I joined UKIP for the same reasons, and because I not only want UKIP to provide a party for those without a voice, and I believe Raheem will put to use the wealth of talent shown so often on UKIP Daily, listed by CK above, I too wholeheartedly support Raheem.
Labour in the North are not the only people who would vote for us if we espouse Raheem’s policies. Lib/Lab/Con have wreaked havoc on communities from John O Groats to Lands end. They will all vote for us under this dynamic, different leader!
Panmelia, well said in every way.
Joshua you are in part right in your analysis of the UKIP whither? argument.
UKIP requires men and women of extraordinary ability and commitment by the score, if possible by the hundred. UKIP cannot simply replace the great Farage with simply a leader. We need scientists, engineers, statisticians, academics (anti marxist), outstanding orators, ex military personnel, farmers, industrialists, builders, architects, IT boffins, inventors etc. We need teams of people nationwide and regionwide who can take on and defeat the arguments, block vote, and inertia of the ancien regime.
Which person can become leader and put in place the reforms that will lead to not more foot soldiers but open the gates to talent and give that talent the opportunity to transform the sclerotic corrupt systems/parties in place now towards a great populist movement that destroys the old left right posturing.
Stage one – for me – is to challenge the Labour hegemony in the North and to rescue the blue collar population from political apathy. More than any other sector of society in the United Kingdom they voted for Brexit.
They voted for sovereignty, patriotism/nationalism, and very strict immigration policy ( including the repatriation of undesirables).
We have but 12 months to put in place and begin this historic mission.
LET US MAKE BRITAIN GREAT AGAIN
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