I think UKIP are the middle and upper class division of the BNP.... suggesting compulsory abortion for unborn babies with Down Syndrome

[JakeBullet]

Or rather yet another of their candidates has made a stupid comment. They really are not all that good are they?

Here

Yet another reason not to vote for them.

[ThingsThatMakeYouGoHmmmmmmmmm]

I wonder why the Guardian are silent on the Respect party......

[Catlike]

Probably because very few people are interested in the Respect party to begin with and also because it does not pose a threat to any of the major political parties. Unlike UKIP :)

[Dawndonna]

Galloway in The Guardian

and again

[ThingsThatMakeYouGoHmmmmmmmmm]

Interesting that you think that UKIP does pose a threat to the major political parties, Catlike.

Sadly, I agree.

[NishiNoUsagi]

What's been so remarkable watching this outburst of rage, which has been mirrored by the political class over the last few days, is what an utter failure it has been. UKIP's poll ratings have risen

At the risk of upsetting some UKIP voters , most of the people I've spoken to who are determined to vote UKIP had never even heard of the downs syndrome/abortion debate, abolishing maternity leave, disablist policies, inability to fund their own policies etc, and seemed to have no interest in learning anything beyond "hate immigrants, UKIP will get them out." They honestly had no idea. Some were shocked to hear about it, some didn't care. I'm sure that's not the only reason UKIP's poll ratings have risen, but I would be surprised if there wasn't a lot of knee jerk/reactive voting going on there too.

[Madamimadam]

Well said, Mrs DeVere

I do wonder how much of a threat to the Tories UKIP really are.

Nearby borough local election results (Tory safe seat) the party 4% behind the Tories were - to my immense surprise....

The Greens

UKIP after Labour - and Lib Dems

But we don't hear so much about the Greens, do we?

[flatpackhamster]

Madamimadam

But we don't hear so much about the Greens, do we?

No, but then they're still hovering around 4% of the vote so they're still in BNP/Respect territory.

[JakeBullet]

Off to vote for......God only knows who!
I have no faith in any of the feckers.

[Lazyjaney]

"Jesus, lazyy do you have such contempt for the working class voters that you think they'd agree with forcing women to have abortions and all of the other misogynist creep they agree with?"

Jesus, catlike, do you always totally misread posts to have your little rant? My point, as you clearly missed it spectacularly, is that the UKIPs stance on abortion is a very secondary concern for it's supporters, and UKIP is addressing pressing issues that the main parties seem to be ducking or stuck in dogma

Given that you (finally) admit later upthread that they ARE a major threat, would you care to explain why you think that is so I can misquote you and crap all over you in return so we can see how your views are so much wiser.

[fromparistoberlin]

I really hope someone does something nasty to him, or he gets a twitter hate campaign that makes him depressed

sorry, but remarks like that put him so low in my estimation I would be pleased if someone attacked him!

sorry, thats not very helpful IN THE SLIGHTEST but I feel very angry and emotional reading that

C BOMB

[Cookiewise]

Well, I am personally more fearful of the Respect party and their sycophants in East London as there are the ones who have an actual MP (George Galloway) and a large presence in Newham and Tower Hamlets that has driven out a lot of Jews and gays (minorities the left should be supporting but for some reason the Guardian et al have left The Telegraph to do all the investigations into corruption and racism there).

[ArbitraryUsername]

The respect party problem is incredibly localised though. Whereas ukip have quite a big support base in the south east (or at least areas of it). Tbh, I wouldn't even be able to name respect in a list of political parties unless someone reminded me of their existence. I doubt I'm alone in that.

I would vote green, but the buggers never run any candidates in my ward for local elections. Indeed, living here you'd think the lib dems were the only party available, as they are the only ones who do any campaigning at local election time. The overall constituency is a safe labour seat though, so I assume they actually campaign here for general elections.

[Catlike]

Jesus, catlike, do you always totally misread posts to have your little rant? My point, as you clearly missed it spectacularly, is that the UKIPs stance on abortion is a very secondary concern for it's supporters, and UKIP is addressing pressing issues that the main parties seem to be ducking or stuck in dogma

Given that you (finally) admit later upthread that they ARE a major threat, would you care to explain why you think that is so I can misquote you and crap all over you in return so we can see how your views are so much wiser.

I'm afraid that the only one who is mis-reading is you. And you have just misquoted me.

The post that you quoted and responded to with such aggression was not mine. So please redirect your vitriol and read more carefully in future :)

[Dawndonna]

Today I shall mostly be voting Green.

Unlikely that I would in a general election, but for County elections I am happy to do so.

[Lazyjaney]

I apologise Catlike, It was blackcats rant at me I was responding to in kind. You iirc took exception to me reckoning Melanie Phillips is a parody of herself these days.

I didnt even know show had a villa in Chiantishire but if anything, that proves my point even more. If one was going to parody caring champagne socialism, Islington looks positively dowdy compared to rustic Italy

[Catlike]

I apologise Catlike, It was blackcats rant at me I was responding to in kind. You iirc took exception to me reckoning Melanie Phillips is a parody of herself these days.

Polly Toynbee!!! (I would agree with you about Melanie Phillips...)

I have to say that I couldn't care less what her personal circumstances are or even if she doesn't mean a single word that she writes (although I think this extremely unlikely).

As I said in my previous post about her, she's one of the only national journalists who regularly writes about the difficulties faced by the working poor and about other important issues that tend to be glossed over by many sections of the media like the privatisation of the NHS.

I feel that so long as there is somebody out there attempting to give a voice to those who are marginalised and powerless in our society, their own background and possible privilege are irrelevant. It doesn't in any way invalidate their opinions or their research or their work.

Thanks for the apology, by the way :)

[printmeanicephoto]

If true, man OP mentions is quite clearly a nazi.

[LEMisdisappointed]

I had a UKIP flyer put through my door the other day, i was tempted to put it up in my window so their representative would call - I'd invite him in for coffee.....................and feed him to my dogs, one less drain on society and i wont have to buy dog food for a while, its politically sound, dontca think?

[Dawndonna]

LEMis

[Lazyjaney]

I am excelliing myself today :D Note to self: Do not Go on MN and work at same time.....

Mind you, it does make me think - Could Melanie Phillips and Polly Toynbee be one and the same....

Speaking of speaking up for those who feel Marginalised and disempowered, my view is that this is exactly why UKIP are making ground.

[flatpackhamster]

LEMisdisappointed

I had a UKIP flyer put through my door the other day, i was tempted to put it up in my window so their representative would call - I'd invite him in for coffee.....................and feed him to my dogs, one less drain on society and i wont have to buy dog food for a while, its politically sound, dontca think?

Killing and dismembering someone whose political views you disagree with would show the world that UKIP is the face of evil, fo sho.

[Orwellian]

flatpack. You forgot to mention a goat for hilarious middle class MN giggles.

[LEMisdisappointed]

flatpacker - please read my post properly - i said nothing at all about dismembering (my dogs can manage a whole one!)