Where now for UKIP?

It is undeniable that UKIP are currently in the doldrums. The party must have been very disappointed to have only one MP after the general election. Their national share of the vote at 13% was a big improvement on the previous election but was less than half what they achieved in the 2014 European election . In the recent Oldham by election they polled 23% of the vote, but were still a long way behind Labour and some way off mounting a serious challenge in the seat which some were predicting. Another cause for concern is the spat between the leader Nigel Farage and the party's only MP Douglas Carswell. Unfortunately UKIP have form on this, witness the unedifying slanging match amongst those at the top of the party immediately after the general election. So UKIP has to get its house in order if the party is to be seen by the electorate as a credible contender for government. Some pundits are suggesting that UKIP are no more than a protest vote, or that they are just a one issue party. So it is important that with the Euro referendum coming up they present themselves to the electorate as a serious political party, with attractive policies on a wide range of issues.

So what should these polices be? Firstly, of course, is withdrawal from the European Union and the European Court Of Human Rights, allowing us to reclaim our national sovereignty, return the country to parliamentary democracy and restore the right to run our own affairs as a nation. Secondly, there will need to be severe restrictions on immigration, particularly of unskilled labour which has prevented the lowest paid workers from increasing their living standards. This is the true reason for the 'cost of living crisis' about which we have heard so much recently. Thirdly, UKIP will need to promote more vigorously their policy of reintroducing grammar schools, since they will enable intelligent children from disadvantaged backgrounds to better themselves, both culturally and through enhanced employment opportunities.

The above appear to be the policies for which UKIP are best known. It is to be hoped that in addition they will promise the repeal of the so called equality laws, which in practice compel employers to discriminate in favour of vocal minorities, against their likely better judgement. Similarly there should be a speedy removal of recent 'hate speech' legislation which is nothing more that a mechanism to stifle political debate, and which is incompatible with a nation founded on the liberty of the individual and free speech. There should also be an end to the obsession with meeting 'climate change' targets since they are based on nothing more than the leftist political hoax promoting non-existent global warming. UKIP should also distance themselves from the current nanny state outlook which attempts to micro manage citizens lifestyle choices on matters such as alcohol and supposedly unhealthy foods, which these days seems to include just about everything except vegetables. They should introduce marriage reform, by making divorce more difficult for couples with younger children and end the meaningless yet pernicious 'marriage' between people of the same sex. Finally measures should be taken to reign in the campaign by strident feminists (who are unrepresentative of most women) to use the law to stigmatise all men as potential sex offenders, rapists and/or paedophiles.