I'm tempted by Nigel Farage !

The party that encourages people like this?

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=707491772622596&set=a.101570366548076.2940.100000853400540&type=1&theater

(That first para was supposed to be in italics, sorry)

^I'm worried that with parties like the National Front being able to give Election Broadcasts on national TV, that this will make UKIP seem moderate and acceptable to some voters.

Aka - I thought the BNP Party Political Broadcast was very positive for UKIP and more likely to make people vote for them. An own goal for the BNP (thank goodness) I thought.

Thanks for the link, durhamjen. I thought that UKIP were the lunatic fringe but now it's clear that even they have their very own even more lunatic fringe. Wheniwas, I noticed a strange proliferation of these parties when my ballot paper arrived. It would be nice to think that they would take votes from UKIP but somehow I doubt it.

it was encouraging to see on DH's postal vote ballot paper that there are several anti-EU parties standing here, some of which I had never heard of. Just hope they split the right-wing vote amongst them!

I'm worried that with parties like the National Front being able to give Election Broadcasts on national TV, that this will make UKIP seem moderate and acceptable to some voters.

Yes, DJ, the more I see of Farage and UKIP the less I like them. They are a very nasty bunch playing on people's fears.

www.politics.co.uk/news/2014/05/13/strip-public-of-the-vote-says-ukip-candidate

Do you still want to vote for UKIP?

mollie65 I agree with you.

Love your way of thinking JessM.

Cos the pay is great and nobody asks you in for a little chat if you don't turn up at work for months on end. Just possibly.

I am not for one moment suggesting that this is the right way to be DebNCreme but maybe the belief is that, in this climate of electronic information, the various parties think people who are remotely interested in the policies will go out and do research online.

Mollie65 Who was 'bullied off the forum'?
Some people may not have liked the way the conversation went, but to say they were bullied is ridiculous.

feetlebaum
it was not that 'the anti-gay marriage' opinions voiced were anti-gay but those of us who are fine with gay people just not the 'marriage' bit were bullied off the forum so don't say we were all in favour of it.

Normally I would wholeheartedly agree with you smiter but for the European Elections no one is giving me the info I need: names of individual candidates would be a good start; individual policies (relating to where I live) would also be useful. The Green Party have done this but the Conservatives have sent out a cover all leaflet with David Cameron surrounded by 8 Prospective MEP's who could be 'for' anywhere. No Labour or Liberal leaflets at all yet; are they standing 'down south'? I agree with what you say about UKIP smiter

for the first time in my voting life I am tempted not to bother.

If UKIP want no part of the EU can someone tell me why they are putting forward candidates to be elected to the EU Parliament?

Maybe because the UK is still in the EU?

That was a silly comment from Farage and he won't have done himself any favours; maybe trying to appeal to the older and the die-hard religious possibly. I would hate to think of things taking a backward step.

Can't answer that one smiter but I do agree with you comments about voting - I vote every time, including council elections. I understand in Australia it is compulsory to vote, not sure I would want that. I think the problem is that people have become disillusioned with politicians and don't think there is much difference no matter who you vote for.

Just remembered I have a question.

If UKIP want no part of the EU can someone tell me why they are putting forward candidates to be elected to the EU Parliament?

I have read all of this thread with great interest. It is interesting to read and see the way the discussion has developed.

I have nothing of great interest to add except for this.

If you have an entitlement to vote, make sure you go out there and use it. Don't expect others to do it for you. If you don't vote then you leave yourself without the right to complain about what happens. When you consider what our forefathers/mothers went through to ensure that everyone is entitled to vote, it's sad that a vast majority are so apathetic they just don't bother.

Oh and for the record, I will be voting Green.

Notice that he produces no evidence to back up his assertion about people over the age of 70 - he's just pulled it out of his backside...

And even if people don't agree with single sex marriage, that's fine: they shouldn't then do it. But neither should they prevent others from doing it.

He has a cheek, talking about being tolerant...

I'm over 70 and worked amongst gays in many areas of life, industries and professions most of my life without any problems whatsoever, at a time when the law was rigid. In those days people tended to conduct themselves responsibly in public and conduct their private life privately. It wasn't perfect but it worked. Farage is just peddling his own prejudices and is certainly not speaking for me. By the way, I am not gay.

Absolutely agree with you sun seeker - I laughed when I heard this comment from Nige. Most of the folks on this forum will have lived through the discussions that accompanied the legalisation of homosexuality.
Poor old Nige, surely he wants to encourage young people to support Ukip but I don't suppose this latest comment will do anything to encourage that.

Anybody read the latest from NF, he has apparently said that most of those "over 70" are uncomfortable with homosexuality. I'm not far off that age and I don't have any problems with it and from what I have read on this forum most other GNs feel the same. I do resent him, or any other politician, trying to speak for ALL more mature people when we are as diverse as the younger generation. It may be that some older people in his party are anti-gay but that isn't the majority of us. I find the older I get the more tolerant I become (although I have never had a problem with homosexuality - you can't help who you fall in love with).

Exactly!

Good luck with that search Joan, it's something we need in the Uk also. Nothing wrong with lawyers or union execs, but something wrong when almost all MP's share similar backgrounds