Live webchat with UKIP leader Nigel Farage, Thurs 24 Feb, 1-2pm

[KatieMumsnet]

Our live webchat guest this week is Nigel Farage. He is the leader of UKIP and has been a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) since 1999.

Known for his straight-talking, Nigel has made the headlines with forthright speeches, once telling the EU President he had the charisma of a 'damp rag'.

He is a regular on programmes including BBC Question Time.

If you have a question you'd like to put to Nigel, please join the webchat this Thursday lunchtime, 1pm - 2pm. If you won't be around then, please post your question here.

It's daft to say he shouldn't be on here. He should be subjected to the scrutiny of public questioning like any other politician, and it's quite right that he has chosen to do so, regardless of your opinion of his views.

TondelayoSchwarzkopf The problem at the last General Election is that many voters wanted to vote UKIP but also wanted to get rid of Labour. Therefore, they voted Conservative.

All small parties lose under the First Past The Past System due to this tactical voting. Of course all small parties will do just as bad under the AV system of preferential voting. It is time that we had proportional or an AV+ voting system.

UKIP has a range of common sense policies, including getting rid of the hated Human Rights Act and the Climate Change Act. This will just be the beginning.

Nigel Farage has a significant following in the US Tea Party movement, unlike our lame PM twins.

unclear as to whether last poster is being satirical.

it's a bit of a cringe for Farage that he's obviously put the word out for his cronies to join MN and appear here.
this thread looked silly enough, but this is now the fifth or so completely new poster with an in-depth knowledge of UKIP policy... Nige, you need to learn how to play it cool.

Nigel, is that you?

Is that what it's called then, the 'Hated Human Rights Bill'?

Oy Justine can I come on and hold a webchat on behalf of my bizarre cult as well. It must surely be my turn next no?

Question for Nigel Farage: what kind of biscuits do you like - I'm assuming not dark chocolate ones.

complimentary if you read my post I said UKIP members and candidates, didn't mention those that vote for them.
I am involved in politics and have met the members and candidates in my area and yes they are unhinged.

I would like to ask a very simple question.

Your main objection to the EU appears to be on the grounds that it is expensive. Whenever I see UKIP election literature it seems to focus mainly on how much the EU costs. Is this your primary objection to the EU?

Lots of things in life are expensive, my car and house for example, but I still find them pretty useful.

Isn't the price we pay worthwhile for a united and peaceful Europe?

It is fine that he is doing the webchat. I agree with UD. His political party is not one that I would vote for but he has the right to be ripped to shreds by the MN vipers heard.

MNHQ - can you see if you can get a hold of some of these biscuits for the webchat.

Thanks Sheik - I've just lost an hour of my life to that Schez Goldsmith thread and she was a no-show!

imright / PStaveley / mormonkris / complimentary - you support independence and yet strangely speak as one. You go girlfriends

Being human, I love the European Convention on Human Rights and it has nothing to do with the EU - Switzerland is a signatory.

Also - do you realise how expensive our food would be without the CAP? Milk especially is heavily subsidised.

jonicomelately [I am not Nigel and no he did not ask me to come onto this discussion] However, I can give you some indications as to why I do not like the EU.

It is not just the cost of membership, but it is the cost to businesses. The Taxpayers Alliance calculated that the cost to businesses in the UK in additional regulation is around £1.2 billion per year. EU's answer to all problems is to introduce more regulations which, ultimately we all have to pay for through increased prices and taxes.

Also there is a lack of democracy. As mentioned earlier 75% of our laws emanate from the EU. Those laws are created by 27 unelected commissioners who are appointed and cannot be removed. The European Parliament can only amend and delay that legislation, they have no powers to stop it. So in that respect there is little democracy within the EU.

Did you know that we now have a president, who you did not elect, cannot be removed and earns more than the President of the USA?

Regarding keeping the peace, that is what we have NATO for. The EU has not done anything to keep the peace so far. However, they are on the verge of creating an EU army and an EU Police force, which is one of the reasons why our armed forces have been reduced to the point where, for example, we do not have an aircraft carrier.

What UKIP is after is keeping Government, taxation and particular state regulations down to a reasonable level and returning governance to the most local level that is practical.

Schezzer's webchat was a CLASSIC

So you're no relation to this guy then?

Gosh, what a coincidence

Has Nige been on the phone?

GO AWAY PStaveley.

It is VERY bad form to give an answer to my question when you are not Nigel Farage.

TondelayoSchwarzkopf we may speak as one but I can assure you that I do not know who imright, mormonkris or complimentary are.

Regarding CAP, I am not so certain that it does reduce prices. What it definitely does do is require us to pay in taxation for: food subsidy both in the UK and in the rest of the EU plus the massive amount in bureaucracy. Would it not be better to pay subsidy (through taxation) to just British farmers and/or food which comes to Britain. At the moment that subsidy that we pay in taxation also goes on food sold in French, German, Italian, East European etc shops when we have a massive debt to pay off.

Talking of food, did you know that are fishing industry is dying because of the EU Fisheries policy. One of the reasons for the high fish prices is because 50% of all catches have to be thrown back into the sea, dead. That policy cannot be changed because it helps too many other countries in the EU.

In contrast Norway (which is not in the EU) has a thriving fishing industry.

Since you are here answering questions Peter Staveley, UKIP candidate, can you please tell me this.

I have had a look at your website. Are you really only 48?

jonicomelately I am sorry to upset you, but I wanted to give my opinion. I was not answering a question.

I cannot see anything in the rules preventing me from stating an opinion.

SNORT at jonicomelately

Perhaps it's 48 + VAT