UKIP ahead of Lib Dems in local elections
Reply #11 - May 19, 2013, 02:43 PM
OP: even if they don't admit it openly, all parties are likely to tilt ever so slightly to the right due to the UKIP factor. This seems to have already happened to a degree, with Miliband conceding that his party had allowed too many immigrants in, during their time in power, and Cameron conceding more and more ground to Eurosceptics as we speak. To think, EU membership can now come down to a referendum should the Tories win a mandate at the next election, is to me a worrying thought. To leave an issue as important as that to the hands of a public that can sometimes be suspicious, emotional, reactionary, ill-informed and subjective, seems ill-advised to me. Although on paper, referendums on important issues such as these, are commendable steps towards pure democracy; in practice, I'd feel happier if decisions such as these were left in the hands of elected MP's, who in theory are better informed and more objective in reaching the right decisions, that are in the best interests of everyone.
In regards to the fact that even the Labour vote is suffering at the hands of UKIP, there may be another dimension to this than the explanations you guys mention. Put quite simply, the wrong brother is at the helm of the Labour Party. I felt this immediately at his 'election'. In the same way that I felt assured when Hague and Duncan-Smith and Howard were elected leaders of the Tories, I felt despair when Ed was elected. He seems almost unelectable to me, and his appointment was a disappointment for the following reasons:
- his brother was the preferred choice of both Labour supporters and of Labour MP's themselves. The leadership contest became skewed because of the archaic voting system that gives a disproportionate say to Trade Unions.
- although he had every right to do so, to come in and challenge your own brother (a man who had been groomed to take over for years, a man who was touted as the clear front-runner by all observers) leaves a sour taste. This was further compounded by the low-blow that Ed employed in citing David's backing in the Iraqi War vote. This was low because a majority of Labour MP's voted for the war. Although given hindsight, perhaps many shouldn't have been strong-armed into doing so, who is to say an ambitious young Ed would not have made the same mistake had he been an MP at the time? Hence, it seemed wrong of him to use this in order to win votes for the contest.
- Ed lacks the charisma of a natural born leader. Although this shouldn't be the case, a large minority of swing-voters can often be swayed by more superficial factors than they perhaps ought to be. I think come the General Election, this will count against Ed, regardless of the unpopularity of the parties in government. This partly explains the fact that the personal ratings of Ed in recent polls are no better than those of Cameron. For an opposition leader not be ahead mid-term, in what are difficult times of austerity, is unprecedented.
Come the general election, if Labour win a majority, I'll be pleasantly surprised. If they come back as the largest party in a coalition, I'll be relieved. If they get neither, I'll come back, find this thread, and write I told you so.
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Topic: UKIP ahead of Lib Dems in local elections