Ukip - why are they gaining support?

[Corax]

Plenty of polities allow a "none of the above" option on ballots, and the NOTA option is counted and disseminated just the same as the votes and names of candidates are. Some polities even allow "write in" candidates.
This polity, however, will never do so, because to do so would further highlight the bankruptcy of our parliamentary "democracy".

Some stuff on R4 at the moment about the growing Voto en Blanco movement in Spain - where (reportedly) submitted blank votes are counted, reported, and respected as a vote of no confidence.

http://translate.google.co.uk/trans.../Voto_en_blanco&prev=/search?q=Voto+en+Blanco

 

[J Ed]

Some stuff on R4 at the moment about the growing Voto en Blanco movement in Spain - where (reportedly) submitted blank votes are counted, reported, and respected as a vote of no confidence.

http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voto_en_blanco&prev=/search?q=Voto+en+Blanco

I don't see any particular reason why anyone would put any effort into this, some of the indignados called for a vote for anyone other than the PSOE or the PP and I'm not sure it had much of an effect but where it did all it did was reduce the PSOE vote and help the PP get into power. PP voters, unsurprisingly, do not listen very much to what indignados have to say.

If they're sick of neoliberalism then they should vote for the left, which is actually in a reasonably healthy state in Spain compared to here.

 

[Corax]

I don't see any particular reason why anyone would put any effort into this

At the moment it doesn't have any teeth, and there's no actual effect from a large "non-vote" other than some concerned hand-wringing. But it's a step, and if it were taken a bit further so that it had real consequences on the standing politicians then it could be a good thing.

 

[goldenecitrone]

Farage getting ripped to shreds on QT now, the little Englander cunt.

 

[SovietArmy]

Well Farage now on Question time I am sick to listening about East Europeans as myself came from Lithuania and living in UK. What we done East Europeans why such hate on us? Strange we still on feudal thoughts we still debating about nationality, about what woman should wearing for example burkas. Dont ever considered how we still back in time.

 

[skyscraper101]

Farage is on TV again. Now its the Sunday Politics. That's two TV shows in a week. It's ridiculous.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Farage is on TV again. Now its the Sunday Politics. That's two TV shows in a week. It's ridiculous.

Having Farage-oh on your programme is the televisual equivalent of having an entertaining but incontinent chimp as a seaside photo-op. We laugh at him, rather than with him.

 

[nino_savatte]

The BBC would rationalise Farage's frequent appearances on their channel by claiming they're putting UKIP under 'greater scrutiny' because of their electoral success, which are local rather than national. If anything the Greens should be 'scrutinised' more than UKIP because they have a Westminster MP and 2 MSP's. UKIP have no representation in Scotland or Westminster (long may that continue).

 

[taffboy gwyrdd]

Having Farage-oh on your programme is the televisual equivalent of having an entertaining but incontinent chimp as a seaside photo-op. We laugh at him, rather than with him.

Didn't people think the same of that bloke who became Mayor Of London? And who is "we"? If it's people on U75 then you may well be right. Lots of other people think NF talks "common sense" when he drones on about PCGawnMad (tm) etc. And slagging off the EU is like shooting fish in a barrel.

 

[taffboy gwyrdd]

Partisan (and not hiding it) but well sourced and good info.

http://haringeygreens.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/just-how-much-media-coverage-does-ukip.html

 

[Awesome Wells]

I remember the last time Paul Nuttall was on; his attitude toward mental health was utterly disgusting. Odious little twat.

 

[Spanky Longhorn]

The BBC would rationalise Farage's frequent appearances on their channel by claiming they're putting UKIP under 'greater scrutiny' because of their electoral success, which are local rather than national. If anything the Greens should be 'scrutinised' more than UKIP because they have a Westminster MP and 2 MSP's. UKIP have no representation in Scotland or Westminster (long may that continue).

UKiP are the third or fourth party in terms of vote share though which is more important IMO.

 

[nino_savatte]

UKiP are the third or fourth party in terms of vote share though which is more important IMO.

Tbh, I think the BBC wants a UKIP government.

 

[Awesome Wells]

I think the BBC are doin gwhat their tory masters want: keep the proles focussed on immigration and away from their bullshit.

 

[gosub]

I think the BBC are doin gwhat their tory masters want: keep the proles focussed on immigration and away from their bullshit.

I'd go the other way, last thing tories want is UKIP nibbling at their vote share

 

[Quartz]

I wonder if there's a simpler explanation: Farage makes good TV?

 

[chilango]

UKiP are the third or fourth party in terms of vote share though which is more important IMO.

Simple as this.

The UKIP are, at the moment, a major party. Thus the BBC is quite "right" to be giving them the sort of platform they are.

 

[butchersapron]

Long may it continue.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Didn't people think the same of that bloke who became Mayor Of London? And who is "we"? If it's people on U75 then you may well be right. Lots of other people think NF talks "common sense" when he drones on about PCGawnMad (tm) etc. And slagging off the EU is like shooting fish in a barrel.

To turn your own question back on you, who is "lots of people"?

 

[DotCommunist]

I wonder if there's a simpler explanation: Farage makes good TV?

does he though? I've seen portillo in form and hated him even as he did rhetoric well. Falange doesn't come across well at all imo. He's like a marionette.

 

[butchersapron]

Lots of people do think he comes across well though - and he does have a sort of personal vote no matter where he stands. I think if he'd stood in eastleigh he would now be an mp.

 

[DotCommunist]

he lent his weight heavily in that campaign, and yet UKIP did not win. Significant showing in the vote share though iirc.

 

[butchersapron]

he lent his weight heavily in that campaign, and yet UKIP did not win. Significant showing in the vote share though iirc.

They missed it by around 1500 votes - i thunk farage would have got over the line if he stood. 20% lib-dem --UKIP swing.

 

[taffboy gwyrdd]

I remember the last time Paul Nuttall was on; his attitude toward mental health was utterly disgusting. Odious little twat.

he gets in our local rag (Manchester Evening News) on a very regular basis in the the letters page. May as well give him his own column. If it aint too much trouble, what's the gist of his attitude towards mental health issues?

 

[DotCommunist]

what a depressing thought. I know farage is on record as saying 'we are now the third force in british politics' and with the imminent/ongoing collapse of the LD he might even be right. I don't think they can be considered as 'merely' a tory protest vote anymore. Have to see when push comes to shove round 2015 I suppose.

 

[butchersapron]

Interesting to see how the different factions of capital relate to them over the coming year.

 

[taffboy gwyrdd]

To turn your own question back on you, who is "lots of people"?

heh - presumably a good many of the 10+ % expressing preference for them in the polls. Evidence of their kind can be seen all over social media. They are blindly partisan followers, with such in depth matras as "UKIP, UKIP, UKIP"..."UKIP for me" and "UKIP all the way". They also have a special gift for crow-barring a moan about migration into the most unconnected of ways. It's a wonder to behold, in a rather depressing way.

 

[ViolentPanda]

heh - presumably a good many of the 10+ % expressing preference for them in the polls. Evidence of their kind can be seen all over social media. They are blindly partisan followers, with such in depth matras as "UKIP, UKIP, UKIP"..."UKIP for me" and "UKIP all the way". They also have a special gift for crow-barring a moan about migration into the most unconnected of ways. It's a wonder to behold, in a rather depressing way.

So "lots of people" = "fractional minority", then?

 

[Awesome Wells]

I'd go the other way, last thing tories want is UKIP nibbling at their vote share

Assuming the tories are that smart. Their policies, closed thinking, and all round malicious stupidty preclude this IMO even though Farage is splitting the tory vote.

I think these tory mp's live in little bubbles. Who else would vote for a scumbag like IDS who has screwed up everything he's touched. These people have a core of sycophants and wannabes who will vote for them come what may. I see it every election time when the local farmers line the roads with 'Vote Tory' signs.

 

[butchersapron]

In Somerset? You're far far more likely to see UKIP banners in the fields in my experience.