At the request of my son, a YI member, the thick West Yorkshire traffic was battled against on Thursday the 8th of December to meet fellow Kippers in Skipton. The meeting was hosted by the Skipton & Ripon branch and I extend my thanks to them and their Secretary Anthony Smith for their warm welcome. As ever, it was great to meet other members and listen to their views, and I shall share with you some of my thoughts following this visit.
Young Independents took charge of proceedings. Polite and intelligent young people. The evening was ably and efficiently chaired by Sarah, a YI member from Skipton and Ripon. She introduced four speakers each of whom gave a short address, before questions were taken from the attendees and further discussions ensued. Three of the speakers spoke on policy issues and one on party issues.
Firstly, Roger Tattersall Chairman of West Leeds and Pudsey, gave a talk on energy policy and climate science in the light of both the referendum result and contemporary scientific data. Many readers will be familiar with Roger, one of many members I have met who have a wealth of knowledge and experience in this field of science. For readers with an aptitude for science and the natural sceptical instinct of any true scientist, Roger has an engaging blog “Tallbloke’s Talkshop”. Energy policy cannot be underplayed as an issue. Provision of reliable Energy at low cost is essential to underpin the effectiveness of any strategy to reinvigorate and grow the UK manufacturing base. The understanding of the real environmental effects of increased emissions from hydrocarbon combustion and our response to it needs to be rationally and honestly considered. The emotion and demonstrable dishonesty in the discourse surrounding ‘climate change’, has for too long prevented the establishment of any rational and sustainable policies – UKIP can take a lead on this.
Roger was followed by two young speakers, Nick Harris and Josh Spencer, who spoke eloquently and with good knowledge on Trade and ‘Brexit’, (or as I prefer, leaving the EU). Particularly refreshing was the naturally positive outlook which both Nick and Josh foresee for the future of the UK, unshackled from the EU. What was also striking was the understanding that both Nick and Josh had of their subject matter, which would put many older people I know (including many academics) to shame. We all learn as we get older (at least, some of us strive to), but for men so young, their knowledge was impressive. Their focus was not on the past, or the tedious fearfulness one hears from the professional politicians and political pundits. It was on the goal, namely the strengthening of international relations and the opportunities available to the UK from the return of complete control to Westminster. [If only those in Westminster had the vision or desire to embrace this control] This positive, pragmatic and undistracted focus was particularly notable.
The final speaker was YNL Regional Organiser Gavin Felton, who updated the attendees in matters relating to the Party and the ongoing work being undertaken and planned for in the Region. (more from Gavin below)
The remaining time in the meeting included questions and answers from the speakers and wide ranging discussion, too much to describe and give justice to, but the theme from the attendees was one of positive outlook and the common understanding that the prime focus of the Party moving forward is to develop detailed policy offers for the public, attract new members, establish mechanisms for the sharing of ideas and expertise to enable the Party to produce clear but comprehensive policies. For my part, I feel this process cannot be undertaken solely by a distant and disconnected Party hierarchy, who also have the job of maintaining the pressure on a clearly untrustworthy Government with respect to Leaving the EU. The leadership must be guided and advised with the expertise within the grassroots and have the mechanisms to access that expertise.
Gavin’s Takeaway
I asked Gavin to give me his two big ‘takeaways’ from the meeting. Here’s his response:
“Firstly, we need a new media platform as we all know, but John Rees Evans needs to be involved. Secondly, as Paul Nuttall has promised, we need policy teams.”
James’ Takeaway
A non-member attended the meeting, an enthusiastic campaigner for the Leave campaign. Her feedback was to the point. Education, training, skills and jobs – with an emphasis on jobs and building up the manufacturing base. As a party we must have a positive message for the people backed by a plan as to how UKIP will harness the industrial nature of the UK and its people, and guide the UK on a productive and prosperous pathway.
Maximising inclusivity, openness and involvement with the party and getting our media use professionalised and effective. We must use the skills that are clearly available. The positive input that John Rees Evans brought to the leadership election should be noted and utilised. I hope the leadership harness John’s undoubted skills in this area of activity and quickly determine an approach that political parties in other countries have shown to work in engaging and including ordinary people in the political process.
Thank you, James: This article makes me feel optimistic: the thought of knowledgeable, committed young people with vision for the Party and the country trying their wings and preparing to edge out all the tired, failed politicos of the present.
This above all is the reason to keep UKIP strong and viable – we need to look ahead and give the young ones a platform from which they can challenge the liblabcon ossification and restore our poor, put-upon country and people to our former dignity and strength.
It’s a pity that too many comments on this page practically ignore the article in order to vent spleen on Carswell. He’s the past and we should focus on good news and a good report when we have one.
Panmelia,
We have indeed complemented the above article and commended the writer, but for you to say that Carswell is the past is not true, he is very prominent and well supported by certain high ranking people in the party, and there lies the problem because he does not represent the core grassroots IMO.
It is quite simple really he is not one of us yet he is our sole MP, he is our only connection to Westminster and yet it turns out he is nothing but a snake who holds the majority of the members and therefore, his constituents who voted for UKIP in contempt. Our opinions matter, why should we keep quiet about it? Good news would be if he were to be expelled from the party, but that is not about to happen is it?
The criticism I made was about completely ‘off-topic’ comments that do not refer to the article. This is a discourtesy to the writer of the article who took the time and trouble to inform us about the very important YI group and its activities. Mr Dalton probably looked eagerly at the comments to see what kind of response he got (if he’s anything like me when I’ve posted an article) and was perhaps disappointed to find that about half of them were banging on about Carswell with no reference to his report.
Carswell IS the past because he is not UKIP and has put himself beyond the pale of constructive comment. It’s more important to look at the young REAL Ukippers who are prepared to serve party and country. James’s article was important and uplifting instead of being a downer.
Panmelia,
Okay, fair comment. He is old news, perhaps we should not give him so much publicity. But I would like to draw to your attention that I was not the one who first one to bring him up in this thread, I actually had forgotten about him, but then like some horrendous reoccurring nightmare someone brought him up.
Carswell disloyal? That is an understatement. It has been said we should not be critical of him as he is our only MP I would suggest he is a UKIP MP in name only, he is a snake in the grass and seems to be doing everything he can to undermine us. My personal feeling is we should get rid of him and that other disaster Hamilton
Ken,
Exactly right we should ensure he is expelled forthwith. Suzanne Evans will then have to find another friend, which brings me to another point how can she be friendly with him?
“… a distant and disconnected Party hierarchy…”
From my perspective as a prospective member that is exactly right and one of my main reasons for remaining on the fence.
Very good to hear of the commitment of the next generation, well done all.
It’s the same message from young and not so young – ‘inclusivity, openness and involvement’, and a role for JRE.
I hope Paul’s listening.
James, it sounds like you had an informative and interesting evening with the YI, is it possible to ask them to write articles on this forum please.
DD that’s a great idea. Let’s involve involve and keep involving everyone, especially the young, so they feel they have an input. Perhaps Viv could send an invitation to all branches of YI, when she has time.
Regarding your question on the other forum last night and your comment that you are thinking about giving things until Christmas, I so understand. I feel that by his reported actions Carswell has disrespected and put two fingers up at members, feeling he can do so just because of his status. Mr. Nuttall needs to remember that without members he has no party, and if by any chance he has disciplined him privately he owes it to the members to make them aware of it.
However, if I personally link the article above with my personal longing to say enough! I then think that all these energetic young people would have no party to support without UKIP – so it’s tooth gritting time for me.
It’s interesting how many people think as I do that J RE has so much to bring to UKIP, it is my personal opinion that if Mr Nuttall really wants UKIP to succeed he should overcome his reluctance to have someone charismatic in the top team, because even if John disagreed with him and Suzanne Evans in the Leadership elections, John is loyal to the members choice and is doing his best to persuade members to stay.
We have to give some time to see if the new NEC can make a difference, there is so much to do, but I do feel that Mr Nuttall should remember that he needs a party to lead – only half the members voted, and some 5,000 who voted didn’t give him their vote. Without enough members he has nothing to lead and people out there who, as Mike said yesterday, will vote for UKIP, will then find there isn’t a party to vote for – a disaster for our country.
I am sorry if my comments seem disloyal, they aren’t meant that way, it’s just how I see it from here.
Dee,
Thanks for that, I was really cross with Carswell yesterday because I could not believe he could be so disloyal, but I agree with you he does not care about the members. It makes me wonder how he really feels about his constituents or does he just use them as well to get where he wants to.
This man is not to be trusted so as far as I am concerned he no longer exists in my World, I feel the only thing that is going to keep me going is believing that what we are fighting for is right for the country and future generations, but is going to be a hard fight and may even be a bloody one.
So, us genuine folks that truly believe this have to stick together and recognize the false ones like Carswell and the many others that infiltrate our party, and treat them with the disdain they deserve.
DD last paragraph spot on! And let’s keep agitating!