I'm tempted by Nigel Farage !

I am sure that Gove is a politician of conviction - whether those convictions are right is a moot point!

I thought the Teflon label originated with Blair years ago - 'Teflon Tony'. We have always called him that anyway, and he continues to be slippery.

Gove is also part of the Teflon coated gang! More applied to politicians of convenience than conviction I think..though I bet someone will find an example to prove my assertion wrong!

I like the 'concrete crutch' too, even if it that might be old hat, I wouldn't know.

At least it's buggered up those who think I am a know all then.

I think Clinton also had the 'Teflon' label applied to him. It's obviously becoming a cliché.

He's been called Teflon Tony for years. You obviously haven't been reading the right newspapers.

www.leftfootforward.org/2014/05/10-things-you-should-know-about-ukips-new-meps/

Some of Nigel's cronies

Teflon pollies reminds me of one down this end of the world (can't remember who) who was called 'concrete crutch' - from always sitting on the fence.

I'm surprised you haven't heard it applied to Tony Blair, POGS, although to be fair it's often used to describe anyone, especially a politician, to whom no criticism or accusation seems to stick!

Ana

Never heard that of Blair.

Let's face it the nickname applies to them both. Chilcot, ummm.

Thought it was Teflon Tony Blair...

Tegan

Surely they go cap in hand don't they?. Might be me.

Is voting for UKIP as simple as turning from a Left wing Labour voter to a right wing Tory voter over night?

I just think UKIP have crossed the political divide we have been accustomed to, other countries too looking at the recent results.

I think that's why it is so confusing as to where UKIP sits politically and what it say's about the mentality of the voter at the moment. People seem totally uninterested in UKIP's policies. As I have said before Andrew Neill got it right months ago when he called Nigel Forage the Teflon Man.

I don't think it's the people who vote for a party that make it right or left wong but rather the actual policies of that party ?

Jess

Why is UKIP still seen to be right wing?

Didn't the results from last weeks elections prove UKIP are taking votes from 'all' parties.

If it is to be believed that UKIP are only taking votes off the conservatives then the seats gained by UKIP added to the conservative seats could possibly point to a right wing majority at the next general election. I don't believe that is the case.

It's just easier to blame the right of politics for evrything rather than accept the left of politics have had just as big a kicking in some areas of the UK.

Thank you petallus

Absolutely spot on HollyDaze.

JessM

I didn't say that YouGov are a final arbiter of anything. The chap on BBC news was asked about UKIP and that is how he described them - unless you have suspicions that he is a secret UKIP supporter, I see no reason to disbelieve him.

I don't recall hearing or reading anything about Farage wanting to send all Romanians (but not Germans) home - I have heard him say that the UK needs to be selective in which immigrants are allowed into the UK and with that, I agree with him.

Your comment about him saying 'and not let any more in' is at odds with what he has said numerous times: he would rather have a doctor from India than a labourer from (and I can't remember where from) - I also agree with that.

'Random', 'ranting' and 'motley' - I take it you prefer to use emotive words rather than rational dialogue?

Of course they have a right-wing flavour to them and that may not suit hard line left-wingers but I would imagine it suits those who share the same concerns.

With regard to turning up to vote, that has already been addressed: Farage has a better attendance record in Strasbourg than many MPs do at Westminster (if we take into account those who turn up, sign the book and then leave again without actually taking part in anything and they've only had to travel within the UK).

Tegan

As I don't live in the UK, there would be little point in my being a UKIP supporter. I'm very pleased that they have won so many votes for the reasons I have already given.

I don't so much support them - it's more I oppose the misinformation and knee jerk reactions against a legitimate party that are trying to address the concerns of the population of the UK.

If I have stated something in favour of UKIP winning the general election, then please, by all means,point that out to me and I will see where my posting became skewed.

Hollydaze Yougov are not the final arbiter of anything. They are a market research organisation. We don't actually know what UKIP stand for other that against Europe, and for sending all the foreigners that we don't like (e.g. Romanians but not Germans) home and not letting any more in.
NF tore up the last manifesto and has not written another one. We only have the random rantings of a motley bunch of candidates/MEPs/councillors. These have a right-wing flavour to them. We don't even really have the voting record of the current MEPs as they so rarely turn up to vote, just take the money and enjoy the lunches.

My bet is that after all the drama the UK will still have the 2 main parties - Conservative and Labour.
UKIP, LibDems et al have their day but won't last. The electorate are too lazy and/or too complacent to change .
France is nearly the same - once they realise the threat from the right they'll get scared and retract. (hopeful icon). As in 2002.

HollyDaze; I'm finding it very hard to understand how you are coming at this from a neutral standpoint when you are arguing so much in favour of UKIP . If I defended Labour as much as you defend UKIP I'd assume that I was a died in the wool Labour supporter. Alas, the alternative vote used to be for the LibDems who were always the voice of reason [easy to be when you're never likely to be elected]. That alternative has now gone, but I much prefered it.

You've got to laugh haven't you Ana - it's a bit like 'stop ruining my strop by pointing out the facts'

It'll never happen, Holly!

I would never trust UKIP because they are a hard right party.

Apparently not; according to YouGov, they are centre-left of right and classed as 'non-toxic'.

I wonder how many times I'd have to post that before people stop saying they are a radical right wing party

Oh dear - it all sounds so damn confusing. I always preferred to stick to the soft left - no raging idealists. I thought the Lib Dems fitted that description, but from what I read, they are imploding. In any case, after the last election they made that dreadful deal with the devil. If I were in the UK I'd probably stick with Labour, and hope they had people-friendly policies and kept the books balanced.

I would never trust UKIP because they are a hard right party. They have successfully tuned into the Zeitgeist against too much immigration, and too much interference from Brussels, but that is just a couple of issues.

Meanwhile here in Australia the population is finding out the hard way that the conservative party, ie the Liberal National Party (LNP) has moved to the vicious right. In the May 13th budget, which may well fail to get through the Upper House, the burden has fallen on the very poorest and most vulnerable, while the rich lose hardly anything in comparison.

The Labour Party was on the nose, with the enthusiastic help of the Murdoch press, and people wished for change.

Well, they should have been careful what they wished for!!