I have read the various threads on the forthcoming election with interest. As a member of UKIP almost since it formation I have voted with that party at all elections where there has been a candidate - but not this time.
With the Liberal Democrat 'surge' there is always a possibility that the other candidates in this constituency could split the right-wing vote and let in David Rendel. This could be repeated in other constituencies where Labour has no chance - especially now Peter Hain has advised Labour voters in such cases to vote LibDem as a tactical ploy to keep the Tories out.
This constituency is a two-horse race between Richard Benyon and David Rendel. I don't believe that any of the other candidates stand a chance of winning the seat, excellent people that they are. Brian Burgess in particular is one for whom I have the utmost respect, but his campaign to do something about the mess that West Berkshire Council have made of Newbury is better fought out in the council chamber, where his voice will have more effect than in Westminster.
So I am adopting a tactical ploy and switching my vote to the Conservatives as the most anti-EU party likely to be in power. They are not perfect in this respect, but the best bet in reigning back the powers of the EU. My decision is helped by the fact that I believe Richard Benyon has been a first-class MP during the past 5 years, and he is pretty Euro-sceptic. The LibDems are for closer integration and the adoption of the euro, and the thought of such a maniacally pro-EU party holding the balance of power in a hung Parliament fills me with dread.
So I hope others who oppose our membership of the European Union and its interference in our way of life will follow my lead.
....others who oppose our membership of the European Union and its interference in our way of life will follow my lead.
That would be unfortunate for all those recently stranded travellers who were covered by E.U legislation and were therefore able to claim unexpected expenses back from the Airlines*. (merely because the Airlines hadn't bothered to insure themselves)
....oh, and while we've had the dreadful greed of our M.P's exposed, is it still not the case that only UKIP has actually had one banged up for fraud?
Threep.
*(a bill that the Tory MEP's voted against by the way)
The literature's been coming thick and fast today. So far, I've had 3 Lib Dem, 1 Burgess, and 2 Conservative....and it's not even 10 o clock!
Have to chortle at Rendel's hocus pocus. All this 'the Tories will sell your granny and kill your dog' ranting is badly advised.
A sample from one leaflet.
"What else aren't the Conservatives telling you?" "Voting Labour will just help the Conservatives win here."
I'm not interested in all the scaremongery though, I want to know more about the Lib Dem candidate.
There's still time to tell me more about the man (and a good Etonian too!), who claimed to have mistakenly took cannabis hidden in a burger in India. I want David to explain why he spent a grand on a bed at his plush second home in London.
Pray tell me..How can anyone have/support totally, exactly the same views as any one Party.... I have been taking notice of a lot of each 'contestant's' intentions/promises and agree with one party on say Nat Health issues, another on their policies for immigration, and another for their plans on Pensions.. How do I split my vote... Well as I can not totally agree on every view of any one particular party, and I can not split my vote..guess what, I can not therefore vote. How can anyone devote a cross to ONE party..Beggars belief!!! I happened to bump into Mr Benyon at the craft Raft race yesterday and told him exactly the same..he seemed dumbfounded and didn't really have a reply.. I suppose some will say..Take the rough with the smooth...not exactly a winner is it?
There's still time to tell me more about the man (and a good Etonian too!), who claimed to have mistakenly took cannabis hidden in a burger in India. I want David to explain why he spent a grand on a bed at his plush second home in London.
Come on Dave!
Valid points, but in the interests of fairness (again) mebbe Richard could tell us why he rushed us for £3690 for 'estate agents fees etc' for buying another property in London, when he already has 300 of his own.
...and, lest we forget, although Richard did nothing illegal during the expenses debacle, it was in one of the previous years that he was found guilty of 'mis-spending expenses'
This constituency is a two-horse race between Richard Benyon and David Rendel. I don't believe that any of the other candidates stand a chance of winning the seat, excellent people that they are. Brian Burgess in particular is one for whom I have the utmost respect, but his campaign to do something about the mess that West Berkshire Council have made of Newbury is better fought out in the council chamber, where his voice will have more effect than in Westminster.
Valid points, but in the interests of fairness (again) mebbe Richard could tell us why he rushed us for £6000 for 'estate agents fees' for buying another property in London, when he already has 300 of his own.
So I am adopting a tactical ploy and switching my vote to the Conservatives as the most anti-EU party likely to be in power.
But if Cameron gets in you will have arch pro-EU Ken Clarke as Chancellor of The Exchequer by Friday lunch time. And a low UKIP vote will consign the party to oblivion. Is that what you want?
Yep. He declared it (the money) in his members statements, and the link provided takes you to his London estate. It does not take you to his Scottish estates as I thought it a bit churlish to suggest that he stayed up there.
He did claim the controversial second home allowance during his first year in parliament in 2005. (but that was outside the present expenses scandal timeline)
In addition, he still notched up £102,446 on travel, staffing and spending time away from home during 2006/7. You might want to compare that to Martin Salter (MP for Reading) who said that as he only lived in Reading he didn't need a second home and the MP (name escapes me..sorry) who said that as he was a milllionare he was not going to make any claims.
I'm afraid I am not responsible for your lack of political comprehension.
No need to be rude. I just think you should stand by the party you're a member of and not support someone else, that's all. What's the point in giving them your money, if you won't give them your vote.
You also seem to be supporting the Tories, the one major party that has all but ruled out electoral reform that would help UKIP gain seats in Westminster.
If you're really a UKIP supporter you haven't thought this one through have you. The Lib Dems are the best chance of UKIP gaining seats at the election after next as PR is pretty much top of their list of demands of forming a coalition so the more Lib Dem MPs this Parliament, the more chance of UKIP ones the next.
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