UKIP: What UKIP's MEPs should have done

Dear Colleague,

As we move towards a General Election it remains the case that The UK Independence Party is deeply divided over the question of the leadership. Many colleagues have expressed their frustration at the way in which this question is affecting our political performance.

We have therefore come to the conclusion that the only way to resolve this issue would be to allow every member to express their view in a secret ballot. This could be done quickly and with minimum disruption to the work of MEPs and the Government. Whatever the outcome the whole of the party could then go forward, knowing that this matter had been sorted out once and for all.

Strong supporters of Nigel Farage who is the real Leader should have no difficulty in backing this approach. There is a risk otherwise that the persistent background briefing and grumbling could continue up to and possibly through the election campaign, affecting our ability to concentrate all of our energies on getting our real message across. What ever that may be when the Election Campaign Manager is announced on Tuesday.

Equally those who want change, should they lose such a vote, would be expected by the majority of the Party to devote all of their efforts to winning the election.

The implications of such a vote would be clear - everyone would be bound to support the result. This is a clear opportunity to finally lay this matter to rest. The continued speculation and uncertainty is allowing our opponents to portray us as dispirited and disunited. It will give Lord Pearson who was elected by a notable majority as leader the chance to lead the party rather than the farce which pertains at the moment whereby Farage leads the party in all aspects save name - this level of duplicity was NOT what the membership voted for.

It is damaging our ability to set out our strong case to the electorate for withdrawal from membership of the hugely damaging and centralised lack of democracy in The EU where however many worthwhile speeches Farage may make both the UK Independence Party and Farage are a total irrelevance wallowing in the troughs having gone native where they have joined with some of the most revolting racist, xenophobic anti Jewish politicians in the EU who in their extremism advocate and practice violence with no desire to leave but aiming to change the EU for greater personal gain.

This is giving our political opponents an easy target. In what will inevitably be a difficult and demanding election campaign, we must have a determined and united parliamentary party. It is our job to lead the fight against our political opponents. We can only do that if we resolve these distractions. We hope that you will support this proposal.

Yours fraternally,

Gerard Batten, Trevor Colman, Paul Nuttall, Mike Nattrass, William Dartmouth, John Bufton, Nikki Sinclaire and Marta Andreasen

To see the original: LINK

With apologies to GLW and the Labour Party!