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WEBCHAT GUIDELINES: 1. One question per member plus one follow-up. 2. Keep your question brief. 3. Don't moan if your question doesn't get answered. 4. Do be civil/polite. 5. If one topic or question threatens to overwhelm the webchat, MNHQ will usually ask for people to stop repeating the same question or point.

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MNHQ

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

741 replies

KatieMumsnet · 22/02/2011 12:40

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.

OP posts:
Eleison · 22/02/2011 22:37

Yes, fair enough scottishmummy and Tondel. I'm a bit torn about it. I suppose my overwhelming feeling is UKIP beliefs are based on fear and mistrust and hate, rather than reason, so not much will be achieved by engaging and that to be in a conversation with them is to give them a dignity they don't deserve. But I can certainly see the reasons for engaging too and I wouldn't want to undermine others' conversations with UKIP since that would gives them the small prize of claiming to be silenced.

scottishmummy · 22/02/2011 22:44

imo better hear ukip thean feed conspiracy theory that liberals and leftie silenced them.as this perpetrates the notion ukip are treated unfairly

TondelayoSchwarzkopf · 22/02/2011 22:45

I read a lot of skeptic bloggers who engage with say creationists, anti-abortionists, homophobes - not in the belief they can convert the opponent but for better informing the lurkers IYSWIM. If there are people reading this discussion who think some areas of UKIP are worth engaging with - I would want to highlight that they are not - and that they are no better than the BNP when it comes to the rights of women and non-whites.

jonicomelately · 22/02/2011 22:47

Absolutely, scottishmummy. Meet them head on.

scottishmummy · 22/02/2011 22:49

fundamentally one can and should engage freely with whomever.and no i dont like to feel limited in range or told what's the point

im not deluded enough to believe in any way i will change fararge pov, but fact is i have that prerogative,and i will use it

GawainTowler · 22/02/2011 23:19

Just as a comment to you all, and with a disclaimer that I work for UKIP. The reason why Farage asked to have the webchat is because you, the Mumsnet crowd are an important audience. Simple as that.

I can assure you that nobody has been asked to troll, people have been directed to the forum because it could be interesting. After all these fora have their reputation as being less than supine.

And if we in UKIP are serious, then we have to venture out of our own comfort zone. What do we expect from you? Well Farage doesn't expect soft soap, but common courtesy would be appreciated.

Other than that, hope you all enjoy the opportunity to ask him questions directly, or berate him with impunity.

TondelayoSchwarzkopf · 22/02/2011 23:27

Sorry - link fail. Blush

Hi Gawain

GawainTowler · 22/02/2011 23:28

Indeed, and hello

foxytocin · 22/02/2011 23:49

Good God, correct the typos on the blog before you even link on here.

And don't steal banners from a CD cover!

madamimadam · 22/02/2011 23:59

Nigel, what's the difference between UKIP and the BNP?

(Seven years at public school, I was told...)

scottishmummy · 22/02/2011 23:59

lol england expects?no scots/welsh/irish then?just ukip and middle england

foxytocin · 23/02/2011 00:03

I was also wondering that, madamimadam.

The BNP tried to hijack the British Legion and its Poppy and now UKIP, if this is an officially sanctioned blog, is hijacking Nelson.

madamimadam · 23/02/2011 00:18

I just love their names, Foxy. I mean,'anglosaxon'. With no irony or sense of British history at all. If UKIP won't look out for the rights of the indigenous inhabitants of this sceptred isle, who will?

Will no one think of the Celts?

scottishmummy · 23/02/2011 00:22

quite content to be disassociated with ukip.but hell if i were english id be annoyed at the insidious branding association ukip and england

snailfig · 23/02/2011 00:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

scottishmummy · 23/02/2011 00:32

did you cut & paste that?let farage talk for himself

CaptainNancy · 23/02/2011 00:34

Sorry snailfig- your question to Nigel is what exactly?

snailfig · 23/02/2011 00:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HHLimbo · 23/02/2011 00:47

AHAHA - yes bring on the clowns mumsnet!

Dear Nigel. You are an MEP? Isnt that like the blind member of the klukluxklan, whi didnt realise he was black?

scottishmummy · 23/02/2011 00:51

irrespective of all posturing,let farage answer q and assess those answers on their content.am guesing he asked to be on mn for a specific reason

TondelayoSchwarzkopf · 23/02/2011 00:51

"This is tiring"

You said it babe.

snailfig · 23/02/2011 00:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.