Greg Lance - Watkins (Greg_L-W)
UKIP’s Determination to Self Destruct
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is what gives the remaining 10% a bad name!
UKIP’s Determination to Self Destruct in Lincolnshire & its Timeline!!
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Timeline: The rise and troubles of Lincolnshire UKIP
From winning their first ever 16 seats on Lincolnshire County Council in May, UKIP in Lincolnshire had to deal with racism allegations and suspensions, leading up to the party losing its official opposition status after six councillors split from the party in September. How did it get to this point?
May 3, 2013: UKIP win their first 16 seats for councillors on Lincolnshire County Council in the local elections, as Conservatives lost overall control after winning just 36 seats and Labour won 12 seats. The turnout was just 29% county-wide. In Lincoln the turnout was even lower at 26%.
May 9, 2013: Conservative County Council leader Martin Hill agrees on a coalition to maintain control with Liberal Democrats Reg Shore, John Marriot and Pat O’Connor, and Independents Chris Brewis, Bill Aron and Angela Newton.
May 10, 2013: Chris Pain, UKIP’s East Midlands regional chairman and Wainfleet and Burgh councillor, is voted by fellow party members as the leader of UKIP on Lincolnshire County Council. He nominates Robin Hunter-Clarke and Victoria Ayling as his deputy leaders. UKIP become the second largest group on the council, the majority opposition.
May 11, 2013: Chris Pain confidently says he will stand for MP at the next general election for Boston and Skegness against Conservative MP Mark Simmonds, squashing rumours that UKIP leader Nigel Farage will stand there given the party’s success in the area.
May 17, 2013: All 16 UKIP councillors refuse to sign an anti-racism declaration at the County Council annual meeting. The document is meant to ensure all Lincolnshire residents are treated equality and have access to the same services. The motion is passed by 60 other councillors.
May 23, 2013: Lincolnshire Police begin investigating claims that racist comments were posted on the Facebook pages of UKIP Lincolnshire leader Chris Pain and two other UKIP councillors, Alan Jesson and Tiggs Keywood-Wainwright. All three strongly denied making the comments and Chris Pain said his account had been hacked. The issue was brought to police attention by someone from the County Council.
June 4, 2013: Chris Pain is forced to step down from his East Midlands regional chairman role over the alleged racist comments posted on Facebook. UKIP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) said it was holding its judgement on until police complete their investigation. Chris Pain remains leader of the UKIP group on the County Council.
June 12, 2013: Chris Pain insists sanctions imposed on him by UKIP are just a formality while he clears his name and says he submitted an application to stand as an MEP representing the party in next year’s European election.
July 31, 2013: Chris Pain confirms his deputies Victoria Ayling and Robin Hunter-Clarke have been stripped of their roles in the party on the County Council. Councillor Ayling says “There are question marks over the process taken with this,” and that UKIP are investigating the matter. Tattershall Castle Councillor Colin Mair becomes the new deputy.
September 5, 2013: Tiggs Keywood-Wainwright gains the Fenside seat for UKIP on Boston Borough Council with 162 votes. The by-election was called after English Democrats Councillor Eliott Fountain was ousted for not attending any council meetings for over six months.
September 6, 2013: Tiggs Keywood-Wainwright, and Bob McAuley, elected at a by-election in May, form a UKIP group on Boston Borough Council. Former Independent McAuley stood as a UKIP candidate in a by-election in the Staniland South ward following the death of Conservative councillor Paul Mould. He is leader of the new UKIP group with Keywood-Wainwright as deputy leader. These are the first two UKIP seats on Boston Borough Council.
September 9, 2013: Lincolnshire Police drop their investigation into the alleged racist comments from Chris Pain and two other UKIP Lincolnshire councillors. Police say there is a possibility the councillors’ Facebook accounts were hacked, but there was not enough evidence to trace whoever posted the comments. “Fictional police and CSI shows often depict investigations where information in cyberspace can be traced instantly, but the reality is very different,” the force says.
September 10, 2013: Chris Pain is suspended as UKIP leader on the County Council under the emergency powers of the chairman of UKIP, after he wrote a complaint against UKIP national chairman Steve Crowther, which might be subject of legal action. A disciplinary committee will be sitting within the next 10 days for Chris Pain. Deputy Colin Mair is appointed as acting UKIP leader in Lincolnshire.
September 11, 2013: A majority of Lincolnshire UKIP councillors sign a letter of no confidence to County Council chief executive Tony McArdle. With majority written support from his group, Colin Mair takes over as UKIP leader on the council on a temporary basis until a formal election is held. Pain remains a councillor for Wainfleet and Burgh.
September 12, 2013: Chris Pain forms a breakaway group from UKIP, called UKIP Lincolnshire, along with councillor Alan Jesson.
September 13, 2013: Councillors Tiggs Keywood-Wainwright, Richard Fairman, Bob McAuley and John Beaver also join the breakaway UKIP Lincolnshire group, which has in total six seats. UKIP are demoted from the majority opposition on Lincolnshire County Council with only 10 seats left. Labour form the official opposition with 12 of 77 seats in total.
September 18, 2013: Chris Pain is removed from UKIP following a meeting of the party’s emergency disciplinary committee.
lareinaflamenca (signed in using yahoo)
“Yet more signs of the stranglehold the current “management” and their appointed cronies are imploding the party from within. UAF reigns supreme. The current “leadership” – and I don’t necessarily mean Farage – is engaged in creating positions for its like minded cronies who make the jibes about UKIP being “far right” look ridiculous.Democracy no longer exists within UKIP. If these people don’t like you, they get rid or make your life a nightmare by using their UAF pals who infest Facebook and Twitter to hack and clone your account – then make up vicious lies about you. There are uneasy allegiances with a group of nutters who go by the name of “EDLnews” – and they are not EDL, they are solely engaged with “outing” people they THINK are ex EDL and BNP, currently proscribed under the party’s constitution. Of course these numpties usually get it all wrong but it just suits their purpose anyway.Wait till the REAL truth comes out soon. Some much less than squeaky clean types – and they are definitely NOT right wingers. Worse still, THEY are the ones making up lies about everyone else to cover their own tracks.”
Reply · 3 ·· September 14 at 6:05am
Anna-Marie Crampton · Top Commenter
I was one of those that UKIP clearly “didn’t like” and “didn’t fit the mold” when i ran as a candidate in the CC elections in East Sussex last May…
UKIP management’s cronies hacked in to my Facebook account (allegedly), created a ghost or clone account using my name, photograph and my email to access my main account…
wrote a whole load of anti semitic rubbish in my name which no thanks to their useless press department, resulted in a nationwide indeed, world wide negative press campaign against me which has carried on over many months.
The last publication that i am aware of, with negative comments related to myself was just a month ago in The Sunday Times!
They deliberately tried to wreck my reputation and standing in the community and possibly make me a target of extremists who assumed (wrongly) that i am anti semitic and a crazed conspiracy theorist…
they then, suspended me.
It was a vicious, nasty, reckless and dangerous attempt to discredit me. It was a difficult time but, i weathered it and held my head high.
I still ran in the CC Elections and indeed my colleague and i did incredibly well. Why?
Because the local community and indeed UKIP branch members didn’t for one minute believe the negative publicity cooked up by these vicious but incredibly ambitious thugs within UKIP… Shameful.
I have since resigned from UKIP and am convinced that UKIPs upper management were behind this witch hunt.
There is no way that UKIP are committed to free speech or democracy.
I believe they are just another right wing controlled opposition party who are supporting and abetting the establishment’s agenda.
Some of grassroots remain in denial but, when the truth comes out and it will, they are in for an unpleasant awakening when they realise they have all been well and truly used.. and conned.
There is no loyalty within UKIP, no respect and no thanks for hard work or loyal support by its members, candidates and councillors… in fact, from what i have witnessed first hand, grassroots are lucky to receive so much as the crumbs from management’s table.
Reply · 4 ·· September 14 at 8:34am
Claire Khaw · Top Commenter · Satirist at Political Entertainment
Anna-Marie Crampton The trouble is that all members of all parties are routinely exploited and abused.
Reply ·· September 16 at 12:53pm
Susan Lockwood · Top Commenter · Co founder at Buzzy Bees Cleaning Services
Good luck to Chris, always hard working, upfront and instantly likeable.
Much to his credit..it’s also helped in his downfall.
His only handicap as far as I see it is that he was too popular!
Reply · 3 ·· September 15 at 10:50am
To view the original article CLICK HERE
The story told, of her experiences, by Anna-Marie Crampton seems to be replicated by that of Gabi Coleman, whose story is,, told elsewhere on this web blog!
The incompetence of UKIP leadership and the internicine squabbling amongst the claque is further displayed by the fact that their misshandling of the squabbling has now spilled into all areas of the press & media as with this article from The BBC:
Lincolnshire UKIP councillor Chris Pain expelled from party
Chris Pain was elected to Lincolnshire County Council in May along with 15 other UKIP councillors Related Stories
The former leader of UKIP on Lincolnshire County Council has been expelled from the party.
Councillor Chris Pain was removed following a hearing in front of a UKIP: disciplinary panel in London.
Details of the reasons for his expulsion have not been disclosed, but Mr Pain said he was in dispute with party chairman Steve Crowther.
Mr Pain said he “feels sickened” at the way he has been treated and planned to appeal against the decision.
‘Dynamite to crack walnut’ Mr Pain, a councillor for Wainfleet and Burgh, said: “After nine years of hard work, and achieving some of the best results in the history of the party, they are throwing me out.
“It seems like they’ve used a stick of dynamite to crack a walnut.”
He added: “I’ve always thought the party was just and fair – but this raises some grave concerns about the leadership.”
UKIP is yet to comment on the decision to remove Mr Pain.
The party gained 16 seats on Lincolnshire County Council in May, causing the Conservatives to lose overall control and form a coalition with the Liberal Democrats and several independents.
Earlier this month, following suspension by the party, Mr Pain was removed as leader of the group on the county council.
He then formed a breakaway group with five other members under the banner of “UKIP Lincolnshire”.
Councillor Colin Mair, who represents Tattershall Castle, was appointed acting leader in the county.
to view this BBC article CLICK HERE
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Regards,
Greg_L-W..
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Related articles
- What Excuse Will UKIP Use Next to Suspend Chris Pain? (ukip-vs-eukip.com)
- The Antics of Nattrass & more alleged UKIP coruption! (ukip-vs-eukip.com)
- Those Chosen to be UKIP MEP candidates SO FAR! (ukip-vs-eukip.com)
- Keeping Up With The UKIP Ferrets & The Sack! (ukip-vs-eukip.com)
- Chris Pain Cleared by Police, what now for UKIP? (ukip-vs-eukip.com)
- UKIP Needs A Bigger Sack For Its Squabbling Ferrets! (ukip-vs-eukip.com)
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Ukip-vs-EUkip 
That really turns UKIP into a bed-blocker. Far from educating the voting public at large, Farage isn’t even reaching his own members. This is the response of a branch chairman to a question on UKIP’s policy to Art 50:
“My understanding is that Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty is designed to prevent the sheep leaving the fold. We must leave on our own terms, even though we know the technocrats will try to make it as difficult as they can”.
I suppose, though, that if this is the level of ignorance in the party, it is better if UKIP keep away from EU issues and leaves them to the grown-ups.
It’s a fork – bank on about the EU and stay on the outside, quieten down on that subject in order to increase your vote and get accused of abandoning your principles. The question is, do you really think Farage has given up Brexit as a goal?
A couple of points. Where is the sense in going quiet on the EU just as the ‘in’ campaign is dominating the debate? And surely the question to ask is if Farage has Brexit as a goal, what is he doing to bring it about? Finding evidence to support his exit credentials is getting harder all the time. I believe he is leaving EU withdrawal behind for personal reasons.
In answer to your question, I think Farage will do anything that helps him realise his ambition. If that means turning UKIP into just another mainstream party to help him into Westminster, then I have no doubt he would do whatever suits him.
The reality of the hustings may have been overlooked in this piece. Connecting with the voter and backing up the EU withdrawal case with other policies that appeal is important and probably necessary to attract votes.
It works like this, “That Nigel Farage who wants the UK to leave the EU, well he talks a lot of sense on HS2 (etc. etc. etc.), so maybe he’s onto something when it comes to Europe”.
Furthermore the complexities of withdrawal, via Article 50 or indeed any other means, will remain opaque until the process of withdrawal begins. No one in Brussels or London ever imagined Article 50 would ever be used in anger. Nobody, whether that be the Commission, Council or indeed UKIP can second guess this one. It is simply uncharted territory.
This is not to say that this issue should not be discussed, and that the possible options, mechanisms and pitfall analysed; but I suggest that for Mr. Farage to publicly raise this issue, at the present juncture, would be both foolish, unnecessary and counter productive.
First we ideally need the settled will of the people to be firmly in favour of withdrawal and for that to be demonstrated democratically and unequivocally. At this point the UK will presumably play its hand (badly or otherwise).
However, today we are not even sure if Lisbon will be politically or even legally the most important Treaty. Indeed if Cameron’s timetable is followed, it does seem possible that by 2018 a fully federalised Eurozone could be in-place (assuming that insolvency and civil unrest hasn’t put paid to the centralist agenda). This may well change the dynamic in Europe so that it is a new Treaty, not Lisbon, that federalists will rally around.
The criticism of Mr. Farage’s strategy is rather harsh, his job is to attract voters and at this stage not to inform them about the technicalities of the possible mechanisms of withdrawal. This is made especially so at this time when even the most prescient would be hard pressed to offer a credible forecast as to how things might actually pan out.
In light of that Farage, and UKIP’s over all approach of weakening the Conservative Party in its Europhile form at least (and of course to a lesser extent the others) and raising UKIP’s profile on EU and non-EU policy areas is working. So much so that even the President of the United States (whilst remaining philosophically a Europhile) raised the Referendum issue on the steps of the White House. It is UKIP’s rise that has forced the issue onto the agenda. So far their strategy not only looks relatively successful, it is also the only democratic game in town.
That does not mean those with more in-depth knowledge should not continue to debate, explore, and advise on the consequences, mechanisms and possible outcomes. Or that UKIp’s approach should not be criticised, as it has been consistently done on this site and at both a credible and intellectually coherent level .
Never-the-less there comes a time, especially as support and electoral success increase, when the politics of analysis and election separate.
The most important thing is votes cast in the direction of the UK’s withdrawal. With those votes comes moral authority, a force that may prove to be more powerful than Article 50, or indeed any other piece of ill thought out EU legislation (for in reality Lisbon was never designed to be a Treaty but a law within which the powers and functions of the EU were re-codified and increased).
It seems not unlikely that if, when and indeed how the UK leaves the EU, will be most influenced by the number of votes UKIP can attract in 2014 and the threat to repeat any success in 2015 and then ultimately on the size of any majority in favour of exit, should an IN/OUT be held and won.
It would seem that without UKIP none of this would be even a faint possibility. I might add that I am not a UKIP member, but it seems to me that you are asking them to jump a relatively distant fence when the electorate are still undecided at the water jump.
I am sure AT is right in all that he (and Richard North similarly) says about and criticises UKIP/Farage. For me, Farage has provided a valuable service in promoting EUscepticism and having brought it or helped to bring it to public attention. The success of UKIP now gives concern to the Conservatives and others and it was Farage with his tub-thumping who largely achieved this. For this I am appreciative.
But that, I know, does not mean he has the ability to lead a mainstream parliamentary party. The difficulty is that we have no alternative at this stage. Just for whom do I vote in the coming European elections and in the subsequent UK GE? None of the main 3 parties is worth considering so it just leaves UKIP or my not voting at all.
If AT or others have any helpful suggestions. my thanks in advance.
Sorry, I meant “AM”.
LeoSavantt,
Things can be seen that way.
However, the view you take depends on how much faith you have in Farage’s initial intent and then steadfastness to remain true to UKIPs primary purpose of leaving he EU.
I think Leo has put more strategic thought into one post than Farage has into one year of UKIP activity.
People don’t seem to grasp that Farage’s priorities are Nigel Farage and money.
Leo’s argument reminds me of the hundreds of comments on Conservative Home arguing Cameron was only pretending to be a social democrat Europhile and that once in power he would suddenly reveal his inner conservative. We all know what happened there. Why suppose Farage has any more depth than Cameron?
AM,
Yes, I was thinking about Cameron the supposed eurosceptic wolf in europhile sheep’s clothing, playing his cards close to his chest. He turned out to be a sheep and a lot of us thought he was nothing else from the outset.
Being a political party carries temptations and compromises.
In UKIP’s case it was argued that if they got MEPs they’d ‘go native’ and there’s certainly an argument to be made for that.
In the case of representation at Westminster, especially with no immediate prospect of power, there has to be the temptation to fit in with the social-democratic consensus and occupy the LibDem niche of being a general protest party – and letting the question of leaving the EU fade into the background.
Most UKIP supporters are I fear politically naive so it is not that they don’t care it is that they just simply don’t know or haven’t worked out what makes Nigel tick.
@Dufyken
“…For me, Farage has provided a valuable service in promoting EUscepticism and having brought it or helped to bring it to public attention. The success of UKIP now gives concern to the Conservatives and others and it was Farage with his tub-thumping who largely achieved this…..”
Well, you’re not wrong. Farage has, to an extent {promoted] EU-scepticism, but what has he done to advance it?
Can you name a single crowning achievement of any UKIP MEP since 2009?
No, neither can I.
No MPs, some county councillors (unless disgraced and resigned), sabotaged mayoral and London Assembly elections… at what point do you wake up and realise it’s a personality cult?
@Nailer
Thanks for the response. I do not take issue with anything you have said but I still have no answer as to how I should vote in forthcoming elections – who else but UKIP?
@ Dufken
I vote for them as by far the least worst remotely credible option, but I don’t believe in them as it were. They’re a political party and while we’re stuck with electing one team or another of dictators, there’s no reason to believe UKIP are immune to the forces which made LibLabCon what they are.
Actually, I don’t even see LibLabCon as elected dictators, more like the current suit worn by the permanent government of civil service, local government, the EU, NGOs, QUANGOs etc., all untouched by elections every five years. The answer I’d say, is some measure of direct democracy where political parties are much reduced in their role, and we’d be far less likely to have the likes of Blair and Cameron taking very unpopular and far-reaching actions on a whim or for completely self-serving reasons.
The other problem we have is the major players in the political party game having a gentlemens’ agreement not to address certain issues of wide concern, and then fighting over a middle-ground which they feel comfortable with. Is it heretical to suggest that UKIP could be drawn into this if they had enough tribal support?
@Nial Warry
Most (enter political party) supporters are I fear politically naive so it is not that they don’t care it is that they just simply don’t know or haven’t worked out what makes (enter first name of leader) tick.
Admittedly, we do expect far higher standards of UKIP, notionally the outsiders seeking radical change.
Dufyken don’t vote for any of them it only encourages them!!