County Council Election Results

[spring hall convert]

What the UKIP vote is showing, is a big swing to the right of the UK voting public.

If the Tories are sensible, they will hoover up these votes at the next GE

I would politely disagree and suggest that it reflects the Euroscepticism rather than something right wing, they don't neccessarily add up to the same thing.

A lurch to the right will not get the Tories a majority at the next general election.

 

[vegster]

The Lib-Dems have retained their seat in my ward in Worthing, Tories pushed in to 3rd place behind UKIP though. Could be a real bun fight here when we get to the General.

 

[spring hall convert]

I don't think you can doubt that UKIP comes from a right wing perspective, however, what about the plan to remove tax on the minimum wage? It's a right wing liberal philosophy (low tax, anti- state intervention, pro-private industry, anti minimum wage) but should appeal to vast tranches of the country. There's something very Thatcherite about it.

In fact, I think it's a very clever piece of work & whilst I would never vote for them personally, demonstrates a degree of thought that seems fairly alien to the 3 main parties at the moment.

 

[Pavilionaire]

In fact, I think it's a very clever piece of work & whilst I would never vote for them personally, demonstrates a degree of thought that seems fairly alien to the 3 main parties at the moment.

I agree with this view. There is a lamentable lack of passion, inspiration and creativity across the 3 main parties, and UKIP are cleaning up in this regard. The Tories philiosophy seems to be "if you build it they will come", i.e. reduce taxes, keep interest low and, er, wait for the economy to right itself. Getting the infrastructure right is half the battle - the other half is to help small businesses, high streets, cutting red tape, support local Chambers Of Trade etc? I see very little evidence of this.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Another UKIP councillor elected in Bexhill King Offa ward (together with a Conservative).

Final result, after all East Sussex County Council seats declared:-

Conservative 20 seats (2009: 29 seats)
Liberal Democrat 10 seats (2009: 13 seats)
Labour 7 seats (2009: 4 seats)
UK Independence 7 seats (2009: 0 seats)
Independent / No Description 5 seats (2009: 3 seats)

No overall control
Turnout: 33%

 

[Napper]

It's not though, Labour in the 80's was against the EU and the trade unions have stated that membership of the EU has driven down wages. How is that right wing ?

Look at ukips policies on tax .

 

[Westdene Seagull]

Look at ukips policies on tax .

Agreed - so it's a mixture of right wing and left wing.

 

[Gwylan]

I don't think you can doubt that UKIP comes from a right wing perspective, however, what about the plan to remove tax on the minimum wage? It's a right wing liberal philosophy (low tax, anti- state intervention, pro-private industry, anti minimum wage) but should appeal to vast tranches of the country.

But they haven't really thought out at a tax policy. The policy at the last election was to increase taxes for most people, which wasn't really a vote winner. They now want to reduce them but, as someone pointed out earlier, allied to this reduction in tax and accompanying revenue (and there are plans to cut indirect taxes too), there are lots of commitments to spend more - big increase in defence, more people sent to prison for longer, education vouchers, student grants etc - and no indication how the shortfall between income and revenue is going to be tackled.

If it wants to be taken seriously as a party, it does need to look at this because now it's made this push, it's going to be taken more seriously.

Personally, I'm sceptical. I remember the panic in 1976 when the NF started polling double figures, or when the BNP did in the early noughties, there was talk of an electoral breakthrough then and it didn't happen. UKIP has a better, more charismatic leader but I can't see them becoming anything more than an irritant, with Farage destined to go down in history as nothing more than an English Poujade.

 

[Hotchilidog]

But they haven't really thought out at a tax policy. The policy at the last election was to increase taxes for most people, which wasn't really a vote winner. They now want to reduce them but, as someone pointed out earlier, allied to this reduction in tax and accompanying revenue (and there are plans to cut indirect taxes too), there are lots of commitments to spend more - big increase in defence, more people sent to prison for longer, education vouchers, student grants etc - and no indication how the shortfall between income and revenue is going to be tackled.

If it wants to be taken seriously as a party, it does need to look at this because now it's made this push, it's going to be taken more seriously.

Personally, I'm sceptical. I remember the panic in 1976 when the NF started polling double figures, or when the BNP did in the early noughties, there was talk of an electoral breakthrough then and it didn't happen. UKIP has a better, more charismatic leader but I can't see them becoming anything more than an irritant, with Farage destined to go down in history as nothing more than an English Poujade.

According to senior figures in UKIP at the weekend haven't really thought out any policy. The moment they become serious challengers for seats they'll come unstuck, they are not credible as a party of power. They are however a significant party of protest.

I only hope that when it comes to the general election the Labour party challenges the myths that they peddle rather pander to them. (they won't)

 

[Lord Bracknell]

The other thing that we will now have the opportunity to learn about UKIP is how their elected representatives perform in office. To speculate only about the one UKIP councillor that I know personally, I don't expect him to impress.

The downfall of the BNP in electoral terms isn't only attributable to their unpleasant policies (or lack of them), but also to the total incompetence of those BNP councillors who managed to exploit a particular protest vote in the few areas where they did manage to win a few seats.

Council elections aren't just about winning votes, they are about putting people into public office, where people who haven't thought beyond election day often find that the responsibilities are beyond them. The electorate soon realises what it has done and learns not to do it again.

 

[Hatterlovesbrighton]

According to senior figures in UKIP at the weekend haven't really thought out any policy. The moment they become serious challengers for seats they'll come unstuck, they are not credible as a party of power. They are however a significant party of protest.

I only hope that when it comes to the general election the Labour party challenges the myths that they peddle rather pander to them. (they won't)

I hope you are right, but there are millions of people out there (probably quite a lot of them natural labour supporters) that only care about immigration and Europe.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

I hope you are right, but there are millions of people out there (probably quite a lot of them natural labour supporters) that only care about immigration and Europe.

Indeed. But they've just elected people who will have no responsibilities for immigration or Europe, but who do have a duty to run adult social care and children's services and manage waste disposal and libraries.

 

[Gwylan]

I hope you are right, but there are millions of people out there (probably quite a lot of them natural labour supporters) that only care about immigration and Europe.

But when people are asked what are the big issues facing the UK, Europe never features in the top five. And that's been consistent for decades now - immigration does, but Europe never.

Here's the latest Ipsos monthly index on political issues
Ipsos MORI | Poll | Economist/Ipsos MORI March 2013 Issues Index
no Europe in top 10 ... again

 

[Westdene Seagull]

I only hope that when it comes to the general election the Labour party challenges the myths that they peddle rather pander to them. (they won't)

Go on then - what myths are they then ?

 

[bravohotelalpha]

Bloody hell!

UKIP win the ward I live in (Ouse Valley East) - previously LibDem (and, once upon a time, Norman Baker's stronghold).

I've known the new councillor for years. He's a complete idiot, with not a clue about anything.

Oh dear, dear, dear - my ward too ....

 

[Westdene Seagull]

I only hope that when it comes to the general election the Labour party challenges the myths that they peddle rather pander to them. (they won't)

Duplicate post for some reason !

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

however, what about the plan to remove tax on the minimum wage? It's a right wing liberal philosophy.

It's a right wing libertarian philosophy isn't it?

 

[Milton Keynes Seagull]

Meet one of the new East Sussex UKIP councillors:-
Ukip Candidate Laurence Keeley Jailed For Burning Pig Heads And Spinal Cords Wins Council Seat

Interestingly, one of the criterias for membership of UKIP is that you have not belonged to the BNP/EDL/NF and other extreme right wing parties, have serious mental health issues or have a criminal record. Spot the inconsistency!

 

[Gwylan]

Interestingly, one of the criterias for membership of UKIP

Criterias!

Don't like nitpicking on spelling or grammar but that's just horrible

 

[Milton Keynes Seagull]

Criterias!

Don't like nitpicking on spelling or grammar but that's just horrible

You missed out a full stop at the end of your sentence. Not that I want to be nitpicking. By the way what is the significance of the pretentious French quotation?