Robert Hampton

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30th April 2014

Smoke me UKIPper, I’ll be back for breakfast
Posted by at 9.44am | 2 responses | Politics

Did you get one of these through your letterbox recently? I did, and so did my friend Scott. I’m embedding his photo here because my copy of the leaflet went straight into the recycling.

UKIP

The rise of UKIP makes me sad. Sad that a significant chunk of the country is content to blame immigrants for all our economic woes. Sad that the “fearless” free press is failing to challenge Farage and his chums on the issues. Sad that the European Convention on Human Rights, a document inspired by Winston Churchill as a response to the horrors of World War II and the Holocaust, could be scrapped.

“But they’re just saying what ordinary people are thinking!!!111” is the cry. I disagree – most ordinary people do not believe that the winter floods were caused by gay marriage, that Lenny Henry should leave the country, that “no self-respecting businessman would employ a lady of child-bearing age”, and so on. It’s happened just a few too many times to dismiss them as one-off comments from someone stepping out of line.

The media are happy to go along with the image of UKIP as jolly outsiders breaking up the cosy Westminster system. People are being conned into voting for them, to stick two fingers up to the mainstream parties, without knowing just how harmful their policies are. Here are three ways I, personally, will be worse off if UKIP policies go into effect:

1. They want to introduce a flat rate tax, so I would probably end up paying more – the same percentage as millionaires have to pay.

2. They want to scrap many of the employment laws that have been hard fought for over previous decades – effectively making it much easier for employers to sack people – so my job would be less secure.

3. They want to repeal the recently enacted same-sex marriage laws, so if I do find someone to love, my relationship would have second-class status.

We desperately need some fresh ideas in politics. All three main UK parties are led by career politicians with little concept of life outside the Westminster bubble. But UKIP are definitely not the party to bring change. Don’t vote for them in the upcoming elections.

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2 Responses
  1. Comment by Paul F
    30th April 2014 at 10:54 am

    The problem with UKIP is they are a party of hate – nothing more nothing less.
    This is destructive politics because they can only retain support while they perpetuate they hate that made them “popular” in the first place. This means one of two things:
    1. They won’t actually “solve” the “problem” they claim to hate. Solving the problem means nothing to hate thus removing their Reason to be. IOW If they end the UK’s membership of the EU – what then?
    2. If they do “solve” the “problem” they have to find something new to hate to retain the support they hold. At present (despite the crazy UKIP comments you mention above) officially everything is the fault of the “EUSSR”, but who will be the next major target? Gays? Women? Non-Whites? Perhaps anyone that doesn’t have blonde hair and blue eyes* should be worried by this scenario…

    There is, sadly, plenty of Homophobic hate out there – I see that as nothing more than tapping into an apparently populist view point but more likely a small but incredibly vocal bigoted minority who want to impose their views of relationships on others. They abdicate responsibility for their views by claiming they are from their Sky Fairy, conveniently overlooking other teachings like love your neighbour and treat others as you would wish to be treated etc.

    What is very telling is points 1 and 2 in your post. This really does show us who is funding that party. Hatred of the EU is just the populist play that will get them votes. Significantly repealing workers rights, giving the wealthy and businesses more power as a result, is the real aim and it is sad that the media is relatively silent on this. Perhaps that is why UKIP isn’t too fussed about the media frenzy on “Gay Floods” and “Bongo Bongo land”. It keeps the media from talking about their real aims. As always follow the money…

    One could also argue that the malaise in the three main parties has helped the rise of UKIP as disenfranchised voters look elsewhere. That doesn’t mean UKIP are anything different just that they may be viewed as such. I think this is something else that should really be considered – why have UKIP become as popular as they (apparently) are? The same could be asked about the BNP. But that’s another discussion and I’ve rambled on long enough.

    Just my opinion – usual disclaimers apply. YMMV.

    * Yes I know, Goodwins law.

  2. Pingback by The Love Vote « Robert Hampton
    21st May 2014 at 1:22 pm

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