UKIP closing in on the Tories.

[Aces]

UKIP closing in on tories
http://news.sky.com/story/1241625/uk...-support-falls


UKIP are closing in on the tories and now just a few points behind them according to latest polls, they appear to have somewhere near or more than 20% of the vote when you look at most polls

Lib dems may as well pack their bags and forget about it


Great to see the Lying Lib/Dems are on their way out, they sold their souls for 30 pieces of silver to join up with the Tories and they knew then this would happen, good riddance to them I say.

[Aces]

Just in case the link disappears again, here's the main part of the story.

Nigel Farage's UKIP has been given a boost in a new poll which puts support for the party at 20%, four points higher than last month.

It comes after he was said to have come out top in the head-to-head clashes with Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg over Britain's future in Europe.

It is UKIP's highest rating in a ComRes survey, while the Conservatives have scored their lowest rating so far this year at 29%, down three.

In the new poll for the Independent on Sunday and Sunday Mirror, the Tories are six points behind Labour which are unchanged on 35%.

The Liberal Democrats have fallen to just 7% - a dip of two points and their lowest since they went into coalition with the Conservatives in 2010.

Mr Farage's personal rating also appears to have received a boost after the recent debates.

[Nic]

I guess they'll get excited and expect it to reflect in the actual election. These type of protest votes in polls usually fizzle out by then.

[Aces]

I guess they'll get excited and expect it to reflect in the actual election. These type of protest votes in polls usually fizzle out by then.

I hope not mate. It's all over the news today that average wages have gone up recently more than inflation, don't get excited it's only an average of 1.9% I think! the Tories are crowing, the cretins they are, there's been no real increase in people's pay for nigh on 5 years and in that time, inflation peaked at about 5%. Not to worry though, the rich are still getting richer, their average pay rises far out strip the working man and on average families have £1,600 a year less to live on.

[Austin91]

I guess they'll get excited and expect it to reflect in the actual election. These type of protest votes in polls usually fizzle out by then.

Definitly, UKIP are a fringe party at best. When it comes to the actual election people are not stupid, they vote for main parties with strong policies. Who could even name any of UKIP's non-eu policies? I believe one that was banded about was a flat tax rate of 25-30% (going on their 2010 manifesto), so i dont think they have the policy to appeal to the wider audience that feels there are more important issues than EU membership. However hteir new manifesto will be out soon so we'll see.

I also think you have to taek these polls with a pinch of salt. They are done on a representaive sample of Britian, yet cos we only have a voter turnout of around 60%, large numbers of those polled probably wouldnt even vote. And considering the demographic of people UKIP aim at and seem to attract id think its fair to say UKIP suppport amongst active voters is probably less than the polls suggest anyway

[Aces]

My vote for UKIP is a protest vote against the other corrupt lying parties. Does anyone really vote for a party on it's policies, when they rarely follow through with them. It's time for a change, it's been time for a change for decades and whether UKIP are the change we want, I don't know, there's no other alternate party at present and at least they will put Britons first and not let Europe rules us, like the other weak parties have let them do.

[Austin91]

I think thats quite a dangerous outlook to have. I found this on TUSC's website: (i know i previously said to take polls with a pinch of salt and id say the same here)

Support for UKIP is clearly not primarily related to its views on Europe. The State of the Nation poll also asked potential UKIP voters why they would consider voting for it. Just 15% said it was because it had the best policies for Britain, 27% said it had the best policies for Europe, but more than half (56%) said they would vote UKIP as a means to 'protest against the mainstream political parties'

In doing so, these protest votes could instead result in the election of a party we're people have no idea, or no confidence in what the party can acheieve. Im all for the concept of a protest vote, but in your protest vote you should back the ideals of the party, not just the party you feel would make most waves. Farage has a carefully sculpted public image but would his EU policy result in a better deal for us normal brits? he wiould still be a slave to big business just as any party leader would be, most of his party doners are ex tories who run banks and other financial insitutions.

And i think a lot of voters do vote for a party based on policy. Look at the LIb-Dems massive gain last election, that was chiefly down to their policys which gathered a lot of support i.e tution fees. The fact they u-turned after still doesnt detract from the massive support they gained through the strength of policy.

Im trying to tred carefulyl so i dont turn this into a pro/anti EU debate, but i think all the major parties are in favour of a renegotiation of the european agreement to some extrent which would hand certain powers back to the UK Govt. However, with such a large proportion of our economy so reliant its a careful balancing act. One i dont belive Farage or UKIP have the skills to manage. You also need to take into account we can only grow so far with localisation, we need to be an exporting nation to make any sort of econmic headway, With the EU being our biggest trading partner by a long shot.

[Aces]

I think any new party has to start off somewhere, I hope they eclipse the Lib/Dems and they become history which is all they deserve. Labour almost bankrupted the country and are a disgrace, not fit to govern and that's from me who voted Labour for almost 30 years. This leaves the money grabbing toffee nosed Tories, who are out to line their pockets and their Rich list friends pockets. While they keep getting richer, the poor keep getting poorer, no pay rise for 5 years, families £1,600 a year worse off and I don't see any decent pay rises in the future. The choices are bleak, that's why people are going to protest vote and I hope millions vote for UKIP and that they become a mainstream party. Is it a bad thing a British political party, supporting the British people? I say bring it on.

[Austin91]

Thats a fair enough point and to a large extent i do agree with you that British prioroties should come first, however like i said i don't belive UKIP are the party to do that, and for them to be a mainstraim political party IMO opinion they need to move away from their single policy.
If you are looking for a party with the interest of the averge working man most at heart. I would highly reccomend the Trade Union and Socialist Coalition (TUSC). this is not a party int he traditional sense, but a loose affiliation of a lot of parties that all have to agree to certain overall priniciples.

. Chaired by David Nellist, the ex-labour MP and also supported strongly by the late Bob Crow who co-chaired for a while, they are contesting a record number of seats for an alternative party in the local elections (they only contest their first seats in 2010), then hoping to carry this on to the General. Not only this they are getting increased support within Unions. For example, Unite the largest union which was always traditionally Labour, now have several high ranking members openly support TUSC and we could see a further and more dramatic shift with more trade unions leaving their labour support.

You can also take example from the way that Crow and other unions such as NUT have done well in facing the Government down in recent years despite the constant attempts to minimize their influence. This should give any voter confidence int heir ability to stand up to the bigwigs both at home and in brussels.

These by far would offer greater support to the every day man compared to UKIP, who are still effectivly a tory party (huge amount of ex-tory membership, bourgious donors) , they also have strong policy ideas on all aspects of the country, not just the EU (which they are actually for leaving as well)

Apologies if i brought this too far off the topic of UKIP closing in on the Tories, i just wanted to highlight that there are other parties on the peripherals that would probably be much better for the average man. Watching politics recently it seems to me people think UKIP are the only alternative to the big 3 (well 2 in reality) , and are will to compromise their views on other issues as they feel there is no other option. That simply isnt the case.

[Aces]

No need to apologise mate, I find your posts to be really interesting and I agree with most of it. I've been in a Union for over 30 years and I've seen first hand just how badly employers treat the working man. It's hard to assess just how good, or bad a party will perform, like I said Labour nearly bankrupted the country, with a lot of help from the feckless Banks. Then the Tories come in and rob the working man, making them pay back the deficit, whilst reducing the top rate of tax for the high earners by 5%. I'm just sick to death with the lot of them TBH and do I believe UKIP will be any better? Well the answer to that is No' But the others need a kick up the backside and losing votes and seats and hopefully in the case of the Lib/Dems their actuall existence of being a mainstream party, will hopefully stop them from lying, fiddling and taking us for mugs as much as they have for years.