to be grateful to UKIP

[drivenfromdistraction]

for terrifying me so completely with the possibility of them getting any sort of power, that I have actually pulled my finger out for once and voted. Not for them, obv.

I have been a shamefully lethargic voter all my life, but my inner suffragette has finally surfaced.

I think the problem is that although the threads may start off differently, they always end the same way. I'm guilty of adding my tuppence worth, but I will challenge racism, xenophobia, homophobia and being disablist wherever I see it

But I'd also still like to know what their other polices are other than immigration and the EU. And maybe that's why people get so het about those issues, as there is nothing else there to take the attention away from those ill thought out policies. If they had a shit hot fiscal, education or health policy, then the immigration thing would fade into the background, but it doesn't, as there is nothing there for it to hide behind.

And not one UKIP supporter has given any good argument other than "I want out of europe" and "the Bulgarians are coming"

Yes, it's really telling that I persist in talking about UKIP in ...a thread about UKIP.

No, its really telling a certain party supporter feels the need to say negative things about another party to bring theirs up.. that's what I said in other words.

Doesnt say much for the other party

Which party is that, Tequila?

And I'll be voting labour in the locals as my current councillor is up for re-election and she is a shit hot local hero; she has done loads to improve our community and is always available. She's been the ony one to canvas round here which says volumes to me; she actually cares about the local people and what they think of her, her party and her policies. Of course the others may not have a look in so cba to win votes? It's a traditional labour stronghold.

Europe, I am undecided...leaning towards the lib dems though.

I'm voting UKIP because I want us to leave the EU. That is the reason why I imagine that 99% of people voting them will be doing so.

Will you please, please explain how this will work? I'm dying to know how you think this will happen.

I was wondering that too. If you elect people to be part of a European Parliament, but you don't want the country to be part of Europe, what do those representatives do to make that happen? Refuse to turn up to any discussions?

But even if they could hold an impromptu referendum that would be legally binding, what would the question be? And then, would ukip negotiate the treaty to leave with the other EU countries? Would this be unsigning all existing treaties related to the EU, right back to the 70s? On what terms? What about if Scotland, Wales and NI don't agree, since ukip seems mainly an English phenomenon?

Can voting for ukip now achieve any of this? It seems unlikely.

Fine, there have been lots of threads and one might well get bored of the subject. Don't read the bloody thread then. No need for anyone to be a total arse to the OP.

I wonder when posters are going to fight UKIP on there actual policies.

What happening at the moment is very reminiscent of the "vote for us or they will get in" campaign that the tories had at one point.

You mean the BNP didn't inspire you first? To vote against them I mean.

To be fair, CumberCookie, the BNP haven't had their representatives invited onto every episode of Question Time, Any Questions, Newsnight, the Today programme, and a billion other tv and radio programmes. UKIP have, and it's turned a fringe crackpot group of nutters and racists into something resembling an actual political party through sheer force of exposure. It's still pretty widely accepted that the BNP are thugs, and I don't think (and I bloody hope) that no mumsnetter would come in here proudly stating they'd vote for the BNP.

That's why people are much more exercised about UKIP, because some people seem determined to overlook their crackpot racism and vote for them nonetheless, and don't seem to feel ashamed to say so.

That said, I am endlessly grateful to the people of Barking for turning up to vote and throwing out all the BNP councillors there last time.

I never thought the BNP had a hope in hell of getting elected. If I had, I would have voted (against, clearly).

Andrew Brons (BNP member) was elected in 2009 as an MEP for yorkshire and the humber when the labour vote disappeared. Basically everyone who voted for labour previously didn't vote at all in that election. Which meant that he was able to win.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Brons

Do not tell me it wont happen. It already has. I will use my vote to vote against the BNP.

Evil flourishes when good (wo)men do nothing. You're right, CumberCookie. It is dangerous not to vote.