Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Lord Hesketh, a former Minister and Tory party treasurer, and former chief whip to John Major's government, has left the Conservative Party and joined UKIP earlier this month.
Nigel Farage sent me the news by email, informing me of the constant growing support that is coming UKIP's way, which is now overtaking the LibDems in popularity.
The former Conservative party fund-raiser says he will now be working for UKIP and raising funds for the party. He will also be spokesman for defence procurement issues.
Nigel Farage said "On matters of defence, Lord Hesketh's expertise and knowledge is second to none and he will be a valuable addition to our policy team."
Lord Hesketh said: "UKIP's views chime with mine and I am delighted to join the party which is fast becoming a real force in British politics."
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
I'm sure there are many Conservatives (senior and lower ranking) who feel the Conservative party is out of sync with their own view, especially on Europe, but many feel (as I do) that the Conservatives have more strength to argue the case.
I must agree that it will give UKIP a fillip to have senior Conservatives move over to them as the more we hear about EU directives; the removal of our ability to make our own minds up about a range of things and the actual financial cost of us being members, makes many people uneasy about our continued membership of it.
Renegotiating, to the level that would make many Conservatives happy, would be a very tough call and I'm not sure it could be done.
Roger
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
I think thats oldish news now Alex, in fact we may have mentioned it before on here.
I remember Lord Hesketh for his brief flurry with the limelight back in the seventies when I was involved in Motorsport..he developed cronyships with the two flavours of the month at the time..Barry Sheene and James Hunt. I met him briefly once or twice, but very briefly.
He lived on quite a large estate in Northamptonshire and Im sure he does to this day. But his contribution to modern politics is non-existant as far as I can see. Its merely a gesture of frustration with the Conservatives. His departure happened prior to the recent House of Commons vote.
I dont think it will give UKIP much of a fillip, Lord Pearson was a similar figure, UKIP flagged him up for all they were worth, but did not achieve anything specific.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
This is old news and I also reported it to the Doverforum.And I think we will see more coming over from all partys,but it is the MPs we need to come over+ it is nice to get Lords but it is the MPs that UkIP need and I can not see that happing till UKIP get some of its own members in the house and that is going to be very hard,as we have seen in the pass.
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
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there are always geezers changing parties having little loyalty to there beliefs()or maybe they were just using the party in the first place?)
we have seen similar swopping of parties in dover
if you truely believe in a party you would not be able to change parties it would remain in your blood
like me you would just not bother with any of them
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
no real alternative for the reds though keith, disgruntled blues have ukip to turn to.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
It's one's beliefs that stay constant, but party policy changes, so people are staying loyal to their own beliefs, it's their party that lets them down and makes them move to one that is closer to them.
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
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i remember many years ago when the reds split into two and effectively handed power to the blues and many queried why denis healey stayed as where he was although his leanings were more towards the new party.
he simpy said that he would stand his ground and try to change the party from inside.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
But it might be of interest to note that UKIP has a different view to the Conservatives on Defence, believing that the Armed Forces have been left vulnerable by the recent cuts in the Defence budget.
Lord Hesketh seems to be of the same opinion.
The issues on which UKIP differ to the Tories are manyfold, and the particular issue on Defence might be one more reason why many might go over to supporting the party, especially considering the latest events in the Middle East and all the uncertainty unfolding there.
Another major issue is UKIP's commitment to democracy and the effective participation of the People in important decisions.
In other words, it's not just the EU, but a lot more.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
alex,who cares who joined ukip,such a boring party.but saying that mr farage did do a turn at the comendy club a few years back.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Brian, it's important to keep up to date with the four mainstream parties, because at election time people will want to know who to vote for.
So when a high-ranking personality changes party, it can be interesting to know about it. I mean, once in a blue moon
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
will it make any difference?
not realy
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Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
It will, Keith. Lord Hesketh will be raising funds for UKIP.
Labour is financed by the Trade Unions, which also lobby for the party. Is this politically fair, that only some parties receive fundings?
At elections, the two largest and most funded parties, Labour and Conservatives, invest enormous sums in electoral campaigns, which is what gets them into power, because they give the impression to the public that they are the two viable options.
Once this changes, we'll have more democracy, as party-funding will not be a privilege of only two parties.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
Alexander;
if only that were true.
your correct the two major parties spend millions on elections, i think your wrong that it makes any real difference.
mot people either know how they want to vote, or like many they either vote how they want on the day or like quite a few these days don't vote at all.
pushing evwen more leaflets through the door will have the opposite effect.
i think everyone is waiting for this breakthrough that ukip keeps promising
every election we see the same resuts, ukip i believe fails to get its message across and most people feel they are a one subject party.
im aware thet have other policies but they always when getting the publicity
speak only of europe thus giving people the impression that is there only aim.
but lets see if this guy makes any difference
t
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Guest 705- Registered: 23 Sep 2010
- Posts: 661
Winston Churchill swopped parties-didn't appear to do him much harm!
Never give up...
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Keith, you guessed right, that the impression of UKIP may be that it is predominantly an anti EU party.
That's why my post 1 of the thread didn't mention the EU, as UKIP has really so much more to offer on its agenda.
A tad less EU and some more spice and variety, and we should be there. Actually, I'm promoting this through "channels" connected to UKIP, in my own way
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
alex,if frogs legs and snails swimming in garlic butter is not spicey enough for you try beef stew in red wine,[with french garlic of course].
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
UKIP's latest signing in the transfer market turned up on our TV's today in none other than the Politics Show. Looking rather leaner than i remember him, he was rather chunky in my day with a low slung carriage, and he looks much older too.. but then dont we all. I remember him as a rather large Lord in the 1970's with rambling gait and rambling estate and with yellow bow tie as standard atire.
He dabbled then in motor racing, no doubt wondering what to do with himself and looking at ways to spend all that inherited money.
On BBC they managed to squeeze him in for three or four minutes at the end of the tightly packed show, but his significance now is overblown...yet no doubt something of a feather in UKIPs cap as is Lord Pearson, but of shortlived interest, and unlikely to sway public opinion in any great numbers to follow him to UKIP. He has been a Tory for 50 years...so it took some lack of faith in the Blues to derail this level of loyalty.
I give you...Lord Hesketh
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
lord hesketh will make the same difference as lord pearson did but there is a big push on at the moment, nigel farage seems to be back on the telly and in the papers after a lull.
there seems to be more blue door knockers and leaflet deliverers switching over since the referendum issue in the commons.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
yep barryw's dave stand on staying in the E.U will be more leaving the tories
and of course the party dividing, and destroying itself
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