Leader of Exeter Labour Students, Dan Richards and Gender and Equalities Society Treasurer George Causer examine UKIP’s place in modern British politics. Below, Dan suggests that a vote for UKIP is nothing more than a misinformed protest vote and following suit in an interview with Exeposé Comment, George condemns UKIP as, “out of touch with modern Britain”.
Those among you who look with glee at the rise of the UK Independence Party, and were counting down the days until Nigel ‘the Chosen one’ Farage graced the University with his presence at the UKIP Spring Conference should really ask yourselves a question: Are you really a UKIP supporter? Or are you simply a disillusioned individual, tired of party politics, who has been unfortunately led astray by the dark lord himself?
UKIP to me is nothing more than a protest vote for one simple reason. They only have one well-known policy, a policy which they manage somehow to link to every aspect of the British political system in an attempt to tap into the supposed wide-spread Euro-scepticism that currently exists in Britain. In other words, “If that big, mean and nasty European Union would just leave us jolly-well alone, we respectable Brits would be much better off!” Their entire platform is based upon a simplistic, reductionist view of the European Union. To truly give your support to a party, there has to be more than one issue with which you agree with them on and I would be surprised if many people could name a different UKIP policy.
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As head of Labour Students, it is to nobody’s surprise I disagree with the policies of UKIP. I disagree with their ‘death to Europe’ attitude and believe that leaving the Union would be disastrous for Britain; but what most perplexes me about UKIP is the rest of the party’s platform and what would be left once they had removed the ‘coven’ of European bureaucrats. A couple of examples of their policies from their manifesto should show you what I mean. When it comes to the economy, the tax cuts and alterations they propose, although seemingly giving money back to the people, would make it almost impossible for them to protect the frontline services they promise to uphold. Their social policy is bleaker still, with UKIP claiming that ‘Britishness’ is under threat from multiculturalism (I do not know how we sleep at night!) and that they wish to teach a history of Britain in schools which, as a historian myself, appears to be somewhat at odds with the truth.
But I am in favour of a referendum on the European Union. We need a debate to show both sides of Europe for a change. I believe a vote of confidence for the EU would be the response of the public once both sides of the argument were put forward and with this, a dagger would be plunged into the heart of UKIP. The current protest vote party would once again be the black sheep of UK politics. We should not celebrate their arrival in Exeter but rather look forward to their eventual farewell from the political scene altogether!
Dan Richards.
In the following interview with Exeposé Comment, George Causer examines UKIP not only as a simple protest vote, but as importantly a party with no, “coherent policy platform”.
Exeposé Comment: How would you sum up UKIP?
George Causer: I completely agree with David Cameron that most UKIP voters are a bunch of “fruit cakes” and “closet racists”. Their policy platform is incoherent. They want to hark back to a Britain that doesn’t exist anymore. Issues such as gay marriage show that they’re not up with social trends. Frankly, I believe that most UKIP voters are old Daily Mail readers who are out of touch with modern Britain.
EC: Why have UKIP become so successful, so quickly?
GC: I think it is because of the complete and utter collapse of the Liberal Democrat option as a protest vote. [The Liberal Democrats] seem to have compromised on their beliefs- they made unaffordable promises such as abolishing tuition fees. UKIP haven’t got the trappings of power so can make unaffordable and out of touch commitments which they have no intention to keep.
EC: What do you think of our relationship with the European Union?
GC: I think our relationship with the EU needs to be changed. We give too much money to schemes such as the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) which goes to subsidising French farmers at the detriment of starving Africans who can’t trade their way out of poverty. However I don’t think we should pull out of the EU; that would be the removal of a foreign market that we trade with and a silly move to make at this time. What we need to do is renegotiate, not leave.
EC: What are the main problems that face UKIP in their struggle to be considered a serious political party?
GC: They need some policies other than leaving the EU. At the moment they have a hotchpotch of unaffordable spending commitments where they say they can cut taxes for everyone whilst at the same time increasing the military budget, and spending more money on schools and the NHS. They also suggest a flat rate of income tax which would be grossly unfair. They need to think through a coherent policy platform. Also, they need to be less dependent on Nigel Farage…outside of Farage they have no credible political figures who any members of the general public would recognise. UKIP need to build up local council bases, they currently have a very low amount of councillors compared to the major parties.
EC: How long can UKIP maintain their current impressive polling figures?
GC: I think they’ll win the European elections when the public realise that it’s a vote to stick two fingers up to the EU and not really elect a government, but they’ll fizzle out in 2014/15; maybe because of more media exposure regarding their absurd policy plan and I think that by the time the General Election comes along they’ll be back to 6%. It will still be enough to damage the Conservatives but not enough to win them many seats.
For the case made for UKIP be sure to read UKIP: Filling the Void and Here to Stay. Is UKIP the only party offering a serious stance on EU referendum? Or are they simply reaping the protest vote from an unsatisfied conservative voter? Give a reply below or post your comment to the Exeposé Comment Facebook Group.
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