Where does UKIP go now?

A somewhat disappointing result for UKIP on thursday night. The targets of one million votes and the seat of Buckingham both fell short, with Nigel Farage unfortunately coming third in the contest and the party overall winning just over 900,000 votes. Still, that is a sound result when one takes into context the three party squeeze and the understandable focus on the hung parliament/Clegg surge/Conservative win factors.

When comparing these results to the 2005 general election where UKIP won over 600,000 votes, they are overall a clear improvement.

The UK Independence Party must now, if it wants to get anywhere, redirect it's aims and hopes and to emphasise more on other important political factors. It must realise that when it really comes down to it, European Parliament Elections mean nothing to the wider electorate. Local and national issues must come first.

There will be many UKIP members who will scream that the EU is the most important issue. It isn't. Admittedly it is to them, but as we all know the majority of the public are not UKIP members, or indeed the majority do not even know who or what UKIP actually is. This is coming from a paid-up member of the party and an enthusiastic supporter of the domestic policies; in particular the 31% flat tax for all earners above £11,500 (no tax on the minimum wage) and the radical school vouchers proposal which as I have said in previous posts, will dramatically improve education standards and undoubtedly increase social mobility.

None of UKIP's excellent domestic policies have been effectively utilised in the election campaign that unfolded over the past four weeks. It was all about the EU, how bad and evil it is, how it can be put to blame for all the nation's problems. To be honest I have had enough. I have had enough of the whining and moaning about how UKIP isn't doing well enough and how voters just don't get the apparent urgency and importance of the anti-EU message. They don't get it because they don't care, and rightly so. There are more important things for voters to think about: education, taxation, jobs and the structural deficit.

Now obviously the EU does have say in some aspects of our governance, in particular trade, immigration and agriculture but the most important things affecting the people of this country are still (thankfully) decided at Westminster. Yes the EU is expensive, undemocratic, overly bureaucratic and has since it's inception held the 400 million Europeans within the union in utter contempt. Those who disagree are ignored, those who agree are rewarded extravagantly through taxpayers' money. Britain would be substantially better off out of this political institution where it could still trade and cooperate with European nations but without the stranglehold of political union.

Nonetheless UKIP must start to hit home what it would do on local issues, how it's stance would help or improve the country. It has to prove to millions why it really is the radical alternative. The party does offer something different and when I say different I don't mean in the Clegg-I'm-different-honest way but true fundamental, wide-reaching radical reforms for the good of the country.

If the party is to forever go on about the European Union, Islam and immigration it will, without a doubt fail.

The recent election results show it has yet to convince the nation of it's credibility, it's potential, it's worth.

I for one hope it diverts it's gaze on Europe to more domestic fronts. Let us show people under a UKIP government taxes would be lower, jobs would grow and prosper, our armed forces would be equipped and invested in, our healthcare and welfare services would be innovative, efficient and value for the taxpayers' money.

UKIP could be so much more if it allowed itself to be. Be the true libertarian, radical alternative and please shut up about Islam and the 'evil EU empire'. To simply marginalise an entire religion, someone's faith, is exceptionally wrong and it must stop. It is a total contradiction of principle to proclaim to stand up for liberty and then to want to ban someone from wearing an item of clothing. That talk is simply conforming to the narrow-minded, publicity-driven nonsense seen in the media and press. We, as a party must be more than that, we must be above that.

It is time to change, indeed to evolve. Do it, or fail.

An unpredictable, exhilarating night for democracy

Although this was my first time being able to vote in a general election, due to my obessesiveness with politics and elections I know that this was perhaps the most unpredictable general elections for generations. There were marginals with tiny majorities that failed to be enveloped by the Tories while simultaneously apparently unwinnable seats fell with unprecedented swings.

The Liberal Democrats did terribly considering up until polling day they were on course to winning around 90 seats. They lost 13 seats and only gained 8. Indeed, I don't think Lembit Opik was expecting to lose his Montgomeryshire seat with a swing to the Tories of 13.2%. The election results quite frankly are all over the place.

I somehow managed to watch the whole thing from 10pm straight up until just over an hour ago thanks to the splendours of lucozade. So, what happens now?

Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats would be fools if they do not accept Cameron's offer of cooperation. If they refuse, they will look partisan and if they accept they will, after 100 years have some say in government. Personally I think this is the most favourable outcome of the hung parliament scenarios because it means Labour is finally (well, hopefully) gone for a few years while bi-partisanship and cooperation for the good of the nation will be a good symbol of democracy at work.

The swing to the Tories while not enough to gain them a workable majority, still is an impressive feat. The swing overall is larger than that of Thatcher in 1979 and indeed the Tories have gained more seats in this election than they have since 1931. Considering only a week ago it looked as though the Lib-Dem surge would be maintained until polling day, Cameron has succeeded. His party admittedly will be angry and frustrated: how on earth did they not have a landslide when the government has presided over 13 years of bloated, stagnant failures led since 2007 by a universally unpopular Prime Minister?

The answer to that is relatively simple; the Tories were starting off at a relatively low base with which to gain a majority so to gain 100 seats is something the Tories should feel positive about.

What now must happen is serious plans for deficit reduction and spending cuts in order to get the country moving again. The recent economic developments in Greece, Portugal, Spain and last night New York are all signifying the incredible problems ahead for this country. Do I think a hung parliament will inhibit any solutions to this problem? No. This could be the opportunity where the parties come together in order to tackle the almost insurmountable structural deficit we as a nation currently possess.

Overall an interesting night with some spectacularly random results. Congratulations to Zac Goldsmith for winning Richmond Park off Susan Kramer despite the Lib-Dem surge. I've always liked Mr. Goldsmith and am sure he will be a more than capable MP. Also congratulations to Caroline Lucas in winning the first Green seat in Brighton Pavilion. Now don't get me wrong, I personally despise the Green Party's blatant communist, tax-obessessed mentality but to win a seat at Westminster when your party's national share of the vote is currently just 1.0% (285,616) is quite an achievement.

Comiserations to Nigel Farage in coming third in Buckingham, I also hope he and the pilot have a speedy recovery after the unfortunate plane crash that occured yesterday.

With a hung parliament now clearly official, I can happily say I am excited about what this will do for politics in Britain.

The Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats would be wise to now work together to sort this country out. The voters deserve honesty, clarity and much-needed solutions.

Let's just see what happens...

Brown has survived 'Bigotgate', but can he survive tonight's final debate?

What a gaffe that was yesterday, undoubtedly the most cringeworthy, appalling incident of the election campaign. The most enraging part of it all was when after coming out of Ms. Duffy's home after the apology he said with that horrendously eerie fake smile that he was 'mortified'. Then why were you smiling you strange man?!

Despite the monumental cock-up, the whole thing doesn't really seem to have done any damage to Labour in today's polls. So with that, all eyes are now on tonight's crucial final debate. This could just be the turning point of the campaign and with just a week to go the pressure on the three party leaders must be immense.

Brown despite all his failings, can appear strong on the economy. This of course in turn despite the evident fact that he was the one as Chancellor and then Prime Minister who presided over the economic recession and record inflation of our public deficit and national debt. He will spew out numbers and statistics that will out-flank and disorientate the two other naive younger opponents and in order for them to really destroy him they must be prepared with counter-attacks.

Brown's incumbancy is simultaneously his asset and his liability and he will attempt to ring circles around Cameron and Clegg to ensure its the former, not the latter, that the public see tonight.

For Cameron, this is his final chance to prove to the electorate that he can be the agent of change. Do I think this will happen? No. He has been too soft in this campaign; trying too hard to be statesmen-like when ideally he could have gone on the offensive and tore both Labour and the Liberal Democrats apart. He didn't because his party failed to give the clear message of what, when, and how they were going to cut in order to bring down the deficit. They fell into the Blairite trap of nauseating soundbites and slogans such as 'We're all in this together' which fell on deaf ears from an electorate literally numbed by political spin. We have after all, lived under New Labour for the past 13 years. Tonight he must be ruthless and concise in his argument; he must spell out in detail what the Tories will do and when, and above all he must show the electorate how they are different from the other two parties in the debate.

For Clegg too this will be a defining moment: will this debate cement the surge of support gained in the past two weeks or will his weakness on the economy ultimately be his undoing? Personally I do hope the latter occurs precisely because Clegg has become arrogant and presumptious over his potential power and demands should a hung parliament materialise on May 7th. He does not deserve the support of the British people. Nonetheless it is of course the wider electorate in particular the undecideds and marginal voters who will decide the fate of this debate and indeed the election next week. Clegg will have to show he is strong on the economy and be willing to defend his plans for tax reform from two opponents who I presume will be doing their utmost to bring him finally down.

All them will have to answer the questions surrounding the apparent blackholes in all their spending plans, if they don't I am certain the electorate will not tolerate it and rightly so. It is about time we had some honesty and clarity in this campaign, especially when it comes down to the state of our economy.

Will Brown win the debate? I doubt it but I do think it will be close. My prediction (and admittedly I was wrong in the last two: I thought Cameron won both...) is Brown and Cameron neck and neck in first place with Clegg behind but only by a few points. We shall have to wait and see.

Bercow is at it again...

It has been disclosed in today's Daily Telegraph that the Speaker of the House, John Bercow owes more than £600 in taxpayer-subsidised food.

And this is the man who promised to 'clean up' parliamentary politics...perhaps after lunch maybe?

The good people of Buckingham have an incredible oppportunity on May 6th; elect a refreshingly straight talking, dynamic person in Nigel Farage, or retain an arrogant, pompous, self-loathing hypocrite in John Bercow. The people of course will decide, but just seeing what Bercow gets up to with our money is reason enough to throw him out.

Flip Flop Clegg

An article in today's Daily Telegraph reveals that Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats has, within two days switched his position on forming a coalition government. On sunday's Andrew Marr Show, Clegg made clear that under no circumstances would the Liberal Democrats prop up the Labour government, especially if they come third in the popular vote and yet win the most parliamentary seats. He rightly said that situation would be undemocratic and the result itself would only go to prove the lack of fairness in our electoral system. And yet today he has changed his mind.

Speaking at a campaign stop, he stated that he would support "even the man on the moon" if it led to electoral reform". So there you have it, due to the surge in support Clegg has become arrogant and has out-reached himself with his demands. This is no longer about fairness and democratic accountability, it is about doing what he can for his party not I might add the British people. He has contradicted himself within two days and this is a perfect reflection of the sheer opportunism and dirty tricks so endemic within the Liberal Democrats. Surely supporting the ditching of Brown after the election in return for a more 'compatible' Labour figure is not only fooling the electorate but itself undemocratic?

For those of you thinking he offers change, he doesn't. He just doesn't. He is doing this for himself and his party, not you. His demands only reinforce his growing ego, who is he is to demand what is the rightful choice of the electorate? It is up to them what happens at this election. All of you please, don't fall for Clegg and his thin veneer of 'change'. He would lead this country to disaster.

Buckingham Tory stands up to be counted.

Guido Fawkes has the news that the first big name in Buckingham's Tory circles has come out and supported Nigel Farage's campaign against John Bercow. Well done Sir Nicholas Bonsor, a former MP who I understand may be risking his Conservative Party membership by backing Farage.

I have heard that the orders from David Cameron are stern: Buckingham Tories are not to back, let alone campaign for Farage. While Cameron's contempt for Bercow personally is well known, I suspect he doesn't exactly like the prospect of Farage causing problems by probing his own anti-EU backbenchers into a stir.

Tory commentators may remain pessimistic about UKIP becoming a major force in Westminster, but I truly believe that it will only take one UKIP MP to start taking the fight to the establishment inside the Commons for the momentum to very quickly build. I can think of no one better to initiate what is to be a vicious battle than Nigel Farage. Not to mention the fantastic constituency representative he would be for the people of Buckingham.

Clegg's Non-Dom Donation Hypocrisy

It has been revealed that the Liberal Democrats have recently received six figure sum donations from donors not fully resident in the UK. The entrepreneur Bhanu Choudhrie is said to have given a large donation as recent as a few days ago.

Similarly, they have received a £354,000 donation from French businessman Bruno Sangle-Ferriere. Now this may not seem that bad depending on whether you agree with large donations or not. The point that is so startling is that Clegg ranted on in last week's debate on how the Tories and Labour are funded by millionaires and trade unions respectively. Yet here he is, allowing his party to happily take large donations themselves, what utter hypocrisy. What an insult to the people. Does he think perhaps that now they have a shot of political power (or at least a say in government) he best take as much money as he can get?

Clegg recently announced that under Lib-Dem plans, political donations would never exceed £10,000. Obviously the recent six figure sum donations don't count then, eh Clegg? What an absolute joke.

All this just adds to the notorious donation of £2.4m by fraudster and runaway Michael Brown in 2005. Oh and the Lib-Dems never gave the money back, it was as Nick said "a long time ago", that's okay then...

The funniest bit of all of this has to be their spokesman's response: "We are committed to making everybody pay their fair share in tax and to reforming the system of party funding. Unlike other parties, our donors support us because of our values and have (wait for it!) no influence on party policy or campaign strategy." No of course they don't. Surely most if not all donations are made because the donors share the values of the given party? Of course the Liberal Democrats are different from the other parties because they....um...they...uhhh...their party colour is yellow! Yep, that's about it.

Hypocrisy, lies and pathetic excuses. Well, it is the Lib-Dems...