Bristol Report
Conference report
The principal speakers were the Earl of Dartmouth, Delroy Young, Trevor Colman, Tim Congdon, Sir George Earle, George Hargreaves and Roger Knapman. Piers Merchant gave an objective and illuminating PowerPoint presentation of the electoral challenge which the UK Independence Party faces. There was a panel discussion chaired by Piers Merchant, the panel consisting of Bruce Lawson (former party treasurer), Dr David Abbott (NEC member), John Pratt (chairman, UKIP Wales) and Eric Edmond (NEC member). A telephone message was received live from Dick Morris, and his words were communicated to the audience. A DVD from Australia, made by Philip Benwell, and explaining the difficulties which would be posed, by the passage of the consitutional treaty (the so-called Lisbon treaty), to the status of the monarchy in Australia and other countries of which Elizabeth II is queen, was shown. In response to demand the organising group will try to make copies of these available to UKIP branches. There was a final free discussion period chaired by Geoffrey Kingscott.
It was generally agreed that the conference was a success, provided that the ideas generated could be turned into action.
Two suggestions which emerged from the conference, and which – within 24 hours – had people telephoning members of the organising committee, were the Battle of Britain March, and the Coronation Oath demonstration.
The Battle of Britain March was suggested in the free discussion period by David Howells, of Newcastle-under-Lyme branch. He and his colleagues had the idea during a pub discussion. Nearby Stoke-on-Trent was the birthplace of R.J. Mitchell, designer of the Spitfire. The idea is to start a march in Stoke-on-Trent, and, like the Jarrow marchers of the 1930s, march to London, gathering up support on the way. David Howells admitted that they had not yet looked at just how feasible the idea might be, but was sure it was worth exploring. The Stop the Treaty organising group will be passing on expressions of interest, and liaising with David Howells to explore if and how the idea can be taken further.
It was in reply to a question posed during the panel discussion that Dr David Abbott suggested that, while HM the Queen, by normal constitutional practice,has to assent to any bill passed by Parliament, the passage into law of the constitutional treaty was something unique. The Queen could be violating her Coronation Oath by assenting to it. He suggested that perhaps we ought to demonstrate outside Buckingham Palace with placards exhorting Her Majesty to remember that Oath. Here again the Stop the Treaty organising group will be examining the feasibility.
Because both of these ideas came up during discussion sessions, it is clearer than ever that some form of democratic structure and organisation needs to be introduced into the UK Independence Party so that the ideas of members can continue to come forward, investigated, and, where feasible, implemented. This structural gap was mentioned both by Delroy Young and by Geoffrey Kingscott, and here again arrangements need to be put into place. The initial result will certainly be the organisation of further events in different areas of the country. In 2005-2006 the ‘Lechlade Group’ did provide a ferment of ideas for the Party, and it is evident that something of that nature is needed again.
The low spot of the conference was the slowness with which the buffet lunch was served, which caused considerable irritation and played havoc with the programme timetable. The Organising Group had left the arrangements for the buffet entirely with the hotel, but with hindsight should have enquired more closely into the detailed planning. Here, as in other matters, problems were caused to the organisers by a late rush of applications; planning was for a conference of 200 but late interest brought the numbers to more than 300.
One of the high spots of the conference, on the other hand, was the decision of former leadership candidate Richard Suchorzewski, to announce that in view of this new spirit of renewal and revival in UKIP demonstrated by the conference he felt he should rejoin our struggle. He received a standing ovation, and his application to rejoin was endorsed by Roger Knapman.
This chimed in with one of the points made by Delroy Young in his address earlier, when he envisaged how the UK Independence Party could once again attract the many talented activists who had felt constrained to leave the Party. Geoffrey Kingscott read a message from former chairman Petrina Holdsworth wishing the conference well: it could mean, she had written, that UKIP would be moving out of its siding and back on to the main line.
The call by several speakers, for UKIP MEPs to withdraw from the Ind-Dem Group (Sir George Earle in particular made a closely reasoned case for this), and Roger Knapman’s announcement that he would consult the membership in his South-west region before making his final decision on whether he personally would withdraw, appeared to receive the general approval of the meeting. Obviously this is an issue with two sides to the argument, which needs to be discussed at every level of the Party. It will no doubt be an issue at candidate hustings, as will the even more controversial argument, advanced by one or two speakers though the general feeling of the meeting was not tested, that MEPs should be restricted to a single term to prevent them “going native”.
A full statement
of the financial receipts and expenditure for the conference will be drawn
up when all payments have been completed, and made available on request
to anyone who attended.
A busy time at the registration desk just before the start of the conference.
The Earl of Dartmouth giving the opening address.
A PowerPoint presentation by Piers Merchant gave a graphic illustration of the electoral challenges facing the party.
Audience amused by the words of Dick Morris being relayed to them from an international telephone call.
Sir George Earle introducing Roger Knapman
Question time. New NEC member Eric Edmonds answering questions from the audience. In the foreground is fellow panel member Bruce Lawson.
David Howells, Newcastle-under-Lyme branch, outlining plans for the Battle for Britain march in the fight to Stop the Treaty.
Richard Suchorzewski about to sign an application form to rejoin UKIP.
Two days later the NEC voted to reject his application and return his
£20 fee. However, Richard will continue to support the struggle
against the Treaty.
The venue.
Speakers from the floor at the conference, and questions to the panel, commented on the difficulty of puncturing the public indifference to the European question. Showing the relevance of particular directives, from the separation of Network Rail and rail operating companies to limitations on bus routes, from new over-regulation of vitamin supplements to restrictions on wase disposal, is a task which UKIP ought to be undertaking.
However, as so often, the South-west region is ahead of the game. Trevor Colman’s upbeat speech showing just what can be done electrified the audience. He and his team had already enjoyed considerable success, and national publicity, with his parish polls on EU membership. Many councils, however, had refused a parish poll on the grounds that it was not a strictly local issue. However, those same councils would be hard put to argue against a parish poll on the closure of a local post office. And Trevor Colman and his team would be there to show how post office closures were the direct result of an EU directive. This will effectively show up the hypocrisy of the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat parties on this issue. Anyone interested in the post office closure campaign can contact Trevor at UKIP South-West, Lexdrum House, PO Box 408, Newton Abbot, TQ12 9BG, mail@ukip.org.