UKIP- the usual nonsense

I'm probably not Prince Charles's biggest fan, but good on Gary Titley MEP for his comments on UKIP's Nigel Farage childlishly refusing to stand up or applaud the Prince's speech on climate change at the European Parliament this week. "I was embarrassed and disgusted when the Leader of the UK Independence Party, Nigel Farage remained firmly seated during the lengthy standing ovation Prince Charles received. I had not realised Mr Farage's blind adherence to right wing politics involved disloyalty and discourtesy to the Royal Family. He should be thoroughly ashamed of himself and should apologise to the British people he represents".

Strange behaviour from Mr Farage who earlier in the week had claimed that UKIP "will always try and put what we see as the national interest above our own party interest." This comment was made in the context of UKIP announcing that in the next general election UKIP will not stand "against MPs from the Conservative or Labour parties who are prepared to campaign on the same issues that (UKIP) are." Apparently there can be no similar deal with eurosceptic MEPs, because the party list system used in European elections meant they will not be able to target specific candidates. However, Mr Farage states that he expects to make big gains in the European elections next June on the back of the Government's confirmation that there will be no referendum on the Lisbon Reform Treaty (see my blog entry dated 9 February 2008 for why I think we don't need a referendum).

I'm hoping that for the electorate of the East Midlands it will be a case of "once bitten twice shy" when it comes to casting a UKIP vote next June after their experiences with Robert Kilroy-Silk (now founder of Veritas). I've always thought standing as Member of the European Parliament is so obviously the wrong platform for a Eurosceptic. If you don't believe that an institution can bring advantages to a region, then what exactly is the point in you being part of that institution? I find it difficult to see how UKIP representatives can validly claim they will be able to put their constituents' interests in Europe above their party's when that party's interests are so at odds with the core principles of the European Union. Surely Westminster is the more appropriate place to make your stand against Europe? I'm not encouraging Euroscpetics, far from it. What I am saying is take your fight elsewhere, and let the rest of us get on with the task of bringing the benefits of the Union to our regions.