Ist UKIP MP

UKIPers are currently trolling Richard Howitt MEP who is one of the hardest working people I know.

We need to make UKIP angry because that brings out their frothers who will then make statements that (1) show them up for what they really are and (2) will force the party into a support or deny position.

When it comes to how people are shown in the press I think they all get about the same level of distrust and ridicule although some papers are biased more one way than the other but they make no secret of that. If you find you are feeling one leader is attacked more than another it probably says more about your own political leaning than anything else.

However, I do think the journalism lacks depth. Far better to know what someone really stands for than just producing headlines. We do occasionally get interesting longer articles, but not often. I think the BBC is also falling well below what they once produced. I watched all the conferences and Andrew Neil is as arrogant as many of the politicians - if not more so. Anyone taking the trouble to watch the conferences wants to know more about what the parties stand for not a ranting man asking the same (unanswerable) question over and over again.

I have found that Channel 4 news gives a far more considered and in depth view than the BBC who, I think, are a bit "tabloid" these days.

I agree jamsidedown. I often prefer to watch Channel 4 for the news as well these days.

The BBC are so appallingly biased it takes my breath away. I have given up going to them for any kind of sensible reporting.

If Farage gets to be interviewed along with the main party leaders, the Green Party should be in there, too. They have an MP as well.
Here are some interesting facts about the NHS and immigrants.

nhap.org/a-handy-factsheet-about-immigrants-and-health-tourism/

It isn't bias that bothers me TheMillers Tale but the arrogance of their questioning. Most of this seems to come from journalists from the GWM (great white male) group - a very similar group to the senior politicians in all parties. They seem to be playing the "I'm cleverer than you" game.

To be honest I would like to see them actually elucidating what each politician believes, not challenging them over the minutiae all the time. That discussion can be made without the politician there. What we seem to have is either a fight set up between two politicians or the journalist arguing from the other side as if they were a politician from another party.

I would rather, having laid out what they think, we have good and knowledgeable journalists given ample time to present an analysis. The BBC still does this on the radio at times and some papers do too as do publications like The Economist. BBC TV seems to have given up even on their longer programmes like the Daily Politics and Newsnight.

I have found that Channel 4 news gives a far more considered and in depth view than the BBC who, I think, are a bit "tabloid" these days.

I might give Channel 4 News a go as I tend to agree with that comment about the BBC over the past couple of years (and given the 'threats' from governments to withdraw funding via the licence, it does make me wonder if the licence is retained just so long as certain views are put forward).

On Question Time last night, from Clacton, a man in the audience pointed this out and said that, as far as he could see, Carswell had not made any forceful representations on behalf of the very deprived area of Jaywick.

To be fair to the man, after that was said, several audience members did state that he had sorted out problems for them and they were very pleased with him as their MP - the people of Clacton must have been very pleased given the overwhelming majority of votes he got.

I tend to agree with that comment about the BBC over the past couple of years (and given the 'threats' from governments to withdraw funding via the licence, it does make me wonder if the licence is retained just so long as certain views are put forward).

I can't say I've noticed the BBC lurching to the right over the past couple of years, HollyDaze!

I hope Nigel Farage and his party do well in the elections - I can't say that I see much reason for any of you to vote Labour or Tory, they haven't exactly improved your lot have they (in fact, over the past 20-30 years it seems to have definitely declined).

Watching the public being interviewed about Nigel Farage, the one comment that seems to get repeated is that he actually answers questions instead of fudging around the question like nearly all MPs do. Like it or not, people relate to him.

Every political party will have trade-offs in their manifesto so it's up to voters what they are prepared to trade (no manifesto is going to be full of everything you approve of).

I'm glad they are doing so well - I hope it continues. It's about time a rocket was put up the complacent rear-ends of the Westmister gang.

I can't say I've noticed the BBC lurching to the right over the past couple of years

I don't think anyone has accused them of 'lurching' anywhere Ana but they do have a tendency to go for sensationalism now (if it bleeds it leads) and very definitely biased reporting in some areas. I prefer the BBC that gave impartial news reporting and left the decision of what to make of it to the viewing public but just like the tabloids, they've developed a tendency to tell you what you should be thinking.

So what do you expect us to vote for, Holly?
UKIP do not have a manifesto yet. I've just checked on their website.

This came up on Radio 4 question time today and UKIP was represented by its Deputy Chairman, Paul Nuttall. A very loud, aggressive and ill-informed young man, I thought, who continually tried to shout-down his fellow panelists, but is quite willing to take his MEPs salary, expenses and benefits for doing nothing but criticise the EU. What an utter hypocrite! I suggest that if UKIP wishes to prosper they will have to recruit much more reasonable leaders. Bar-room bullies with no proper plans will not solve the nation's problems, neither will ranting neo-nationalists. They are a very dangerous breed indeed and should be locked up securely in the dustbin of political obscurity.

There seems to be a school of thought that Farage wants this country to be a better place and wants to show up other politicians/parties for what they are but the actual truth is that he has seen a niche in the market and can smell power through it. He's not doing it for us; he's doing it for himself. He's very, very clever.

How do you know Tegan?

Even if you are right, does that make him different to other politicians?

Y'know; I'm not the most confident of people and usually question my own opinion. However, in this case I will state that, yes, I am right in my opinion of him but that some politicians do actually enter politics for the right reason. He isn't one of them. I even think [as a lifelong Labour supporter] that David Cameron has good intentions.

It seems to me that UKIP are a single issue party - anti EU, in much the same way that people run for parliament on a local issue, such as saving the local hospital. As such, they haven't really got any policies that relate to real day to day life. Farage has flounced out of interviews in the past if he doesn't like the line of questioning, and recently got very upset when comments he made about people who are HIV were repeated back to him.

I was wondering what you based your opinion on, that's all

I would like to have a proper discussion about UKIP and NF sometime and somewhere but it's diffiicult to get past the rhetoric.

I think people who vote UKIP should have their reasons at least considered with respect, otherwise it's more of the same for them and attitudes will become hardened and the situation will get worse.

As for confidence, i am guessing that many of us struggle with that one, even if we are not confident enough to say so.

It is a great pity that so many folk are disillusioned with mainstream politics, but no surprise. What with all the expenses frauds, unhealthy media involvement, political duplicity etc.etc., there just does not seem to be much difference between the major parties. Even the Liberals have done themselves no good by dumping manifesto promises purely to get their hands on a little bit of power. So what happens? Along comes UKIP with simple solutions to all problems and no track record of failure (yet!). Fortunately, their presentations are so paper-thin that they unravelling before our eyes as fast as they are trying to cobble them together. They have the staying-power of a burst of flatulence in a football-stadium!

I wouldn't buy a secondhand car from NF - would you?
He smiles too much.....

Support from me for Tegan and papaoscar, as well as whenim64 for their contributions.

Petallus, I accept your wish to have a proper debate about Mr F, but I don't see any rhetoric in the comments that question his integrity, motivation or morality. I believe he is a very clever politician, but other than his stance on the EU, I don't know what Ukip stands for.

I heard the Ukip spokesman on Any Questions. He was the worst kind of shouting, bullying, ill-informed young bloke, who believes in shouting the loudest. I was amused by David Cameron's description of Ukip, though his language was strong.

I also share BoredPanda's concern about the rise of the right in Europe. Many of our friends in other European countries feel the same. Austerity seems to lead to a swing to the right, for reasons that aren't difficult to understand, if not agree with.

I think Farage believes strongly in what he says. And in what he doesn't verbalise. He also think he speaks for the masses. Perhaps he does.

That's one of the scary things, jing, he does appeal to many people. I'm not criticising those people, because he does seem at first glance to be 'more like the average person'. He appears to answer questions more directly than other party leaders. I don't trust him at all, but I do accept he has an appeal. As so many posts state, we don't know Ukips policies. I hope NF is put under more pressure now they begin to appear like a potential threat. (to the country in my view)

NF (now where I have seen those initials before?) has all the appeal of a Home Counties saloon bar bore of the sort I hoped was dying out: the sort who says "What we need is a benevolent dictator". Oh no, that was a colleague at lunch in the City back in the seventies. NF is more clever than that; that's the danger.