I am baffled by your assertion that there is unanimous hatred for Nigel Farage on this forum Chris, I'd say it was more strong disagreement with his party and policies. I for instance actually quite like Nigel Farage - he is an affable guy, and comes across a great public speaker, ok he can be a bit unnecessarily rude sometimes but at least he has a personality. I just happen to disagree with the majority of his view and policies.

I honestly, genuinely, don't understand the virtually unanimous hatred for Nigel Farage here on BJ. He doesn't strike me, my family or people I know as being racist at all and talks a lot of sense. Maybe if you lived here in East London where we have tons of asylum seekers and other immigrants who get all the council houses you'd see how he talks what people born and bred here, and not just white people either, are thinking. He seems like a top bloke too who can relate to the ordinary man or woman in the street or pub. Can you say that about Cameron, Clegg or Miliband? Nigel should be an MP sooner rather than later. Actually this country would be far better if he was PM and UKIP in Government.

 

Why do you always make arguments along the lines of "most people think this, therefore it must be right"? :lol:

 

I agree with the point that he is genuinely popular in the "real world" -- I've always thought so-called political experts who have been constantly predicting UKIP to fizzle away have been completely underestimating Farage's appeal, because the fact he speaks vaguely like a humanbeing is enough for him to stand out among the current dire crop of politicians. And he MIGHT not be racist, it might be that he doesn't truly believe the bigoted stuff he's come out with lately about not wanting Romanians to live next door to you (although, if anything, knowing better but still scaremongering anyway is in some ways worse than someone being genuinely ignorant and not knowing better). But even if he's not racist, that doesn't mean he's not an utter tool :lol: Claiming all the major problems will be magically solved just by withdrawing from the EU is lazy and juvenile, he doesn't actually suggest any serious answers to anything. His idea of a European policy is probably putting a whooppee cushion under Angela Merkel's seat.

Edited May 22, 201411 yr by Danny

His image is of the 'top bloke' in order to win round the man on the street. He's not like that, he's a populist and a dangerous one because his motives, presented as somewhat reasonable to the right-wing and common man on the street are actually quite nasty and isolationist once you look beneath the surface. His Romanians comment ('you know the difference' - ugh) was an example of the mask slipping, and his lackeys are far worse at disguising their true intentions. His utter incompetence at using any of his or his party's power as an MEP also means I would not trust him anywhere near Parliament, even if I did agree with his policies, which I vehemently don't. As a person, he's a good speaker, but I do not like his party or what they stand for.

 

The difference between the SNP and UKIP, as far as I can tell (I don't know a huge amount about the SNP's policies in detail), is that the SNP wants independence for Scotland. The UK is already independent. UKIP don't want 'independence', they want isolationism and British supremacy. They're a friendlier-on-the-surface version of all these horrible little rightwing parties that have sprung up as an 'alternative to the status quo'.

I am baffled by your assertion that there is unanimous hatred for Nigel Farage on this forum Chris, I'd say it was more strong disagreement with his party and policies. I for instance actually quite like Nigel Farage - he is an affable guy, and comes across a great public speaker, ok he can be a bit unnecessarily rude sometimes but at least he has a personality. I just happen to disagree with the majority of his view and policies.

 

 

Okay maybe I put it wrongly. UKIP and it's policies then!

Which - Labour coming third or Miliband being ousted?

 

 

Even if Labour come third they won't oust Miliband before the election. It's too near now. Some on DS think that it's more likely that Clegg will be replaced if as expected the Lib-Dems do very badly but I can't see that happening either. The three leaders will go in to the election.

I honestly, genuinely, don't understand the virtually unanimous hatred for Nigel Farage here on BJ. He doesn't strike me, my family or people I know as being racist at all and talks a lot of sense. Maybe if you lived here in East London where we have tons of asylum seekers and other immigrants who get all the council houses you'd see how he talks what people born and bred here, and not just white people either, are thinking. He seems like a top bloke too who can relate to the ordinary man or woman in the street or pub. Can you say that about Cameron, Clegg or Miliband? Nigel should be an MP sooner rather than later. Actually this country would be far better if he was PM and UKIP in Government.

 

I agree- that would be you screwed over! :lol:

 

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/m...tobacco-alcohol

Apparently turnout is on course to be about 40%, which would be the highest ever for a European election.

 

Not sure whether that favours UKIP or not...

It will and it won't. I saw a lot of students turning out today who I'm pretty sure don't have a political bone in their bodies but were just turning up to keep UKIP out. I don't know the demographics of previous European Elections and whether the gap in turnout behind the General is usually greater with younger or older voters. If it's the latter then they could still do very well.

I love these election specials much more than I should.

 

Lynne Featherstone hitting the nail on the head when she says the main reason for UKIP's rise is that they simply speak like humanbeings and people think they stand for SOMETHING rather than just wanting to get "into power". And proving the point are the prats sat next to her, with Chuka Umunna trying to perfect his attempted unnatural "statesmanlike" pose and Grant Shapps parrotting the utterly vacuous slogan "long-term plan".

Well, here's something. The Tories have won a seat from Labour in Sunderland. Steve Bonallie has been ousted.

 

From the figures, UKIP's 653 votes may have opened the door for the Tories.

 

A quick update on what we actually know so far (which isn't much). Labour has won Sunderland, taking a seat off the Conservatives in the process but losing one to an independent, while UKIP's vote surged to more than 30% in some wards. UKIP has also gained two seats in Basildon, and one in Hull. Labour won a seat on Rushmoor Council.

 

And an update on the speculation: Former Lib Dem MP Mike Hancock could be set to lose his council seat in Portsmouth to UKIP; Labour may be going backwards in marginal seat Swindon and Great Yarmouth.

 

http://www.politicshome.com/uk/article/984...sults_live.html

 

Seems like UKIP is causing ALOT of chaos with the 3 main parties! Think that's probably what the public wanted, to send a message not to take them for granted.

So far the one piece of good news for the Lib Dems is that they are holding seats where there is a Lib Dem MP. Having seen Ed Davey earlier Kingston (upon Thames) may be an exception.

This UKIP bloke from Croydon on the BBC at the moment is an utter maniac.

This UKIP bloke from Croydon on the BBC at the moment is an utter maniac.

 

He gave me a much needed laugh :lol: I swear I saw some UKIP "minder" bobbing about in the background trying to cut off the interview,

 

**

 

Jesus, these results for Labour are looking even worse than I thought. Their vote is DOWN on the already abysmal 2010 results. Andy Burnham NOW.

Edited May 23, 201411 yr by Danny

The Lib Dems have gained seats in Brentwood - where Eric Pickles is the MP.

Jesus, these results for Labour are looking even worse than I thought. Their vote is DOWN on the already abysmal 2010 results. Andy Burnham NOW.

Actually, that's not quite correct. Counterintuitively, Labour did quite well in the 2010 council elections as turnout was so high because of the general election - most local elections get ~30% turnout, so a 60% turnout boosted us hugely as higher turnouts benefit Labour in council elections (and that's historically been the case as well). Our vote's down because of Ukip and a return to normal turnout levels, but we're still gaining seats overall - and even in London, and we had really good council results there in 2010 all things considered.

UKIP making gains in places where they won't win seats, Labour making gains in places where we will. Problematic night so far but just gone to show what we knew already - no one knows how to stop UKIP but Labour are looking good in places that remain cold to them.

Labour have just gained control of Redbridge council. I know you love to talk Labour down at every opportunity but you spoke too soon this time Danny. :P

He gave me a much needed laugh :lol: I swear I saw some UKIP "minder" bobbing about in the background trying to cut off the interview,

 

**

 

Jesus, these results for Labour are looking even worse than I thought. Their vote is DOWN on the already abysmal 2010 results. Andy Burnham NOW.

The good news for the people of Croydon is that that particular numpty not only lost but finished behind the Green candidate. Perhaps calling Croydon a dump wasn't such a smart move.

Actually, that's not quite correct. Counterintuitively, Labour did quite well in the 2010 council elections as turnout was so high because of the general election - most local elections get ~30% turnout, so a 60% turnout boosted us hugely as higher turnouts benefit Labour in council elections (and that's historically been the case as well). Our vote's down because of Ukip and a return to normal turnout levels, but we're still gaining seats overall - and even in London, and we had really good council results there in 2010 all things considered.

 

I'm sorry, but Labour got 29% of the vote in 2010. Struggling to improve on that is NOT good.

 

Admittedly Labour aren't doing QUITE as badly as it looked like they were doing last night, mainly because they seem to be doing well in London (ironically one of the few places which is actually getting the economic recovery that was supposed to save the Tories), but I really despair of the complacency that Douglas Alexander had in an interview before. Even if all hope is not completely lost, things are clearly not going well. At least, on the positive side, I'm hopeful that last night will have FINALLY hammered into the elite's thick skulls what the public's real opinions are; surely even the most blinkered Blairite will realise people are not voting UKIP because they want "economic credibility", ffs.

I'm sorry, but Labour got 29% of the vote in 2010. Struggling to improve on that is NOT good.

...and made gains of 4% in the locals from where they were in 2006.

 

EDIT: It was actually 1% from 2006 because Wikipedia is stupid. The 4% rise was compared to 2009.