Farage is getting frightening now

Getting frightening? The sorts of things he comes out with has always frightened me -or would do if he wasn't such a clown!

I worry that it is precisely that "clown" persona which could mask the fact that he is (surprisingly) a very clever, calculating and therefore dangerous quantity.

Very interesting item yesterday on Radio 4's PM programme. It included the response that NF gave while speaking on the "Today" programme earlier, plus examples of NF flatly denying making various comments, then playing back the clips that proved he had said them.

Perhaps the part I found most interesting was the section illustrating how good NF is at not only manipulating the media, but how he also has a certain ability to make some people think that he is representing their views, a sort of "common man" approach.

If anyone wants to hear it, it should be on BBCi player, and I think the relevant part was roundabout 5.30, give or take 5 mins or so.

I know some people who voted UKip in the last lot of local elections, and they have said they intend to vote that way again Very worrying.

Have to agree with Jane - I have always found him frightening. In my opinion the people he appeals to and the way in which he does that is so Hitleresk. The one thing is that, although we have some very right wing press, we do have a strong democracy ... at least that's what I tell myself as I go to sleep at night.

The last forecast I heard was that they could get between three and five seats and I do see a glimmer that the parties have realised out UKIPing UKIP is not going to win people over.

I've heard him more than once saying that he want's people employed according to their ability. Well that's the whole point of the legislation: ability not skin colour!

If that's indeed true Phoenix (and I've no reason to doubt you) he is in fact a rather stupid man. Calculating probably, but not clever enough to remember what he has said previously and too stupid to remember the programme was recorded.

I think I read somewhere that he is making things up on the hoof. So no wonder that he cant remember what he said a few weeks ago.

I heard that programme on Radio 4 yesterday Phoenix and I was astounded at how easily NF was able to wriggle out of things even after the recording are played back to him. he is very frightening, not the clown that many people think he is. He has, as the interviewer said yesterday, the ability to say what people want to hear, even if it is different from something said previously. He manipulates people, many who live with little prospect of an improvement in their living conditions, and then convinces them that it is all the fault of Europe/immigrants, the same tactics as other nasty people have used in the past to demonise Jews. The sad thing is that he likely despises the poor and disaffected who make up a lot of his potential supporters, and will let them down after they have done what he wants i.e. returned him as an MP.

much as we all may dislike the man - I do think comparing him to Hitler and his ilk is a little OTT.

Playing the devils advocate here. Why didn't anybody kick up a fuss when Gorden Brown said "British jobs for British people"
And the same again, in Wales, where jobs are being advertised where it states that: speaking Polish would be an advantage.

much as we all may dislike the man - I do think comparing him to Hitler and his ilk is a little OTT

Far from being OTT I think the frightening thing is how many people don't see the comparisons Mollie65.

Why didn't anybody kick up a fuss when Gorden Brown said "British jobs for British people"

I wondered that at the time.

We'll continue to import labour and export jobs as long as we're much richer than the rest of the world, because it's the wealth difference that drives the process. Even if the little Englanders succeed in pulling up the drawbridge it won't prevent the loss of jobs.

OK GG where has NF threatened ethnic minorities and enrolled a force of gestapo storm troopers. You know UKIP will not control any policies in the upcoming government of whatever colour - be more afraid of the SNP who will enter into coalition with whomever they feel will be biased towards their particular ends.
get a grip please - immigration from wherever is putting a strain on our infrastructure and welfare system - not to mention the NHS - to be concerned about that is not the same as supporting UKIP

I don't think there is any evidence that immigrants put our NHS or infrastructure under strain. In fact the immigrants pay more in in tax than they take out. They do jobs that need to be done and most work hard.

Mollie65 get a grip please is not really any sort of discussion. I do not agree with you. I do not believe ^immigration from wherever" is a problem. Not taking account of it may be but, in my opinion, it is helping our country at the moment.

I have said nothing about people who are concerned with immigration. I would not have done as this was about Nigel Farage and UKIP. I believe Nigel Farage's views and the way he appeals to those who feel disenfranchised has shades of Hitler - that is my opinion. It is as reasonable to have my opinion as it is for you to have yours. I have already said I feel we are more democratic than in 30s Germany so do not expect storm troupers currently and have never said I did.

Please read what I write not what you wish it to be so you can be negative about someone else's honestly held opinion.

It depends if money going in keeps pace with sheer increase in numbers. It doesnt with the NHS does it?

I meant sheer increase of numbers using the service, nothing to do with the ethniciity of anyone.

Eh?

I can understand people feeling worried or concerned about Nigel Farage but frightened??

We're not living in pre-Nazi Germany.

mollie65 I think the speeches blaming Jewish people and other minorities for problems in Germany was how Hitler started. It was a gradual process of rabble rousing that enabled him to eventually build up a solid body of support for his policies, by which time it was too late for detractors to speak out against them.

In the "Meet the Ukippers" programme, it was absolutely clear that when UKIP told its supporters and candidates not to use "emotive" or "controversial" language It was really telling them not to make racist statements. The candidate who was sacked obviously thought it was acceptable, and not at all racist, to say that she didn't like "negroes" and wouldn't attend a dinner party if a negro was going to be present.

What is putting a strain on our infrastructure and welfare system is a government that has used the 2008 crash to implement its oft-stated wish to shrink the role of the state and replace public service with private profit.

And don't forget the shortage of GPs and general tendency to go to A and E for relatively minor ailments. Also the proliferation of new treatments now available leading to higher costs all round

If there was a "like" button Eloethan it would have been ticked.

Merologran the good people of Germany did not think they were living in a "pre-Nazi Germany". They thought they were backing someone who - ok - sometimes seemed to have extremists behind him but he was a good guy. He conjured the Germany they all thought they should get back to and a Germany for Germans (whatever that might mean).

Thanks for the history lesson, gracesgran

Exactly Gracegran- my mother was studying in Munich in 1933- and that is exactly how it was- people had no idea of what was to come. Mum had to leave when she witnessed jewish shops being smashed and their owners hit, beaten and himiliated in the street.