Ist UKIP MP

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!

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 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).

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.

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/

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

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

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.

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.

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.

I am wondering what the Clacton-ers will do when they realise they have voted in somebody who will decimate the NHS and many of the support systems that keep this town going.

Carswell claimed 'not to be familiar' with the 'case' of Malala when asked if he agreed that she should not have received free NHS care in the UK after her shooting (in line with UKIP's own policies). Interesting amount of dissonance in his head I imagine....

Headlines in the Telegraph today about how many suspected terrorists there are under surveillance in London- that will stoke UKIP's boilers.

I think the more exposure Nigel Farage gets at present, the sooner the electorate will see through him and his empty promises. If all he can attract is Tory defectors, bring it on! Ed Milliband is starting to look more like the next PM than I had imagined.

lam64 I'm worried about the growing right in Europe, and the growth of extremism. Some of my relatives from Hungary have moved to the UK, partly influenced by the growing anti semitism they've experienced. And National Front, Golden Dawn etc doesn't make the future look that cheerful.

I'm sad about Clacton, I also used to live there, and have very fond memories. I don't live in the UK any more, I'm in the US, in a Republican stronghold, where I think if we were transplanted into the UK, would give you your first BNP seat.

NF- you know what it is short for !

It's good to see so many spot on posts about NF. A friend commented recently, he's relieved we don't have PR, because Ukip may benefit. He muttered darkly that's how Hitler began his rise to power, without PR it could have been different.
I'm not suggesting NF is a closet Nazi, but he's certainly pally with a lot of them in the European parliament. I hope Ukip is now put under the same pressure as other political parties to be clear what it's policies are, and how they'll be funded.

My feeling is that Carswell saw which way the wind was blowing and realised he had a better chance of keeping his job by moving to UKIP. As Mogette1 says, he had been the ConservatoveMP in Clacton for a considerable time so I don't understand why the people there have such faith in him. 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.

It certainly makes politics interesting!

I bow to the greater wisdom of those posters who obviously know NF much better than do I

How is it shaking things up by electing the same MP that has been failing you (I.e. Clacton) for the past x number of years?

Farage is even more of a media manipulator than the rest of them, and is prepared to say whatever populist thing it takes to get people to vote for him. He is just as bad, if not worse, than all the rest - in my humble opinion .

What happens in by-elections isn't usually carried through to general elections.
That's what I'm hoping, anyway.

Carswell is a very experienced politician and sounds very caring. Why then does he have the most deprived ward in the country in his patch? I was surprised to hear this statistic. What has he been doing for those people in Jaywick for the last 10 years as a Tory MP?

The tactics of the right wing and UKIP is to divide and rule. Set groups of people against each other, keep resources such as housing, jobs and wealth scarce and let the have-nots fight amongst themselves.

How did the poor of the world cause the financial melt-down? How is it that those same traders and speculators are back at the same game with apparent impunity?

Blame incomers when, actually, it is the accumulation of wealth in fewer and fewer pockets that is the cause of disaffection.

Agree with Tegan.

It will be interesting to see if UKIP attract any more defectors now the voters seem to be taking them seriously.