Name a misnomer
8:10am Tuesday 26th April 2011
Telegraph & ArgusSIR – Re Councillor Cole’s claims (Letters, March 30) that we, the UKIP are getting ahead of ourselves in prophesying that we will oust the Liberal Democrats as the UK’s third party.
Should Coun Cole consult recent opinion polls on the electorate’s preferred party, he will find UKIP just a fraction behind his Lib Dems and more popular than his party with younger voters. Personally, I struggle to understand how the Lib Dems have not been forced to change their name as they are neither Liberal nor Democratic – they support the extradition of British subjects to foreign countries without any evidence, they support the introduction of a foreign legal system which states we are guilty until proven innocent and rejects Habeas Corpus, they are committed to transferring powers from the UK to undemocratic unelected institutions in Brussels. They should be renamed illiberal anti-democrats!
The councilor continues that his party is broader and more coherent than UKIP. That is difficult to justify as 75 per cent of the Lib Dem manifesto is copied and pasted from EU policies, whereas UKIP’s manifesto is the broadest of all parties because we can make laws in every area. People on the street are increasingly asking me, “what is the point of the Lib Dems?”
Jason Smith, chairman, UKIP Bradford, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury
Our defence stance
8:23am Tuesday 26th April 2011
Telegraph & ArgusSIR – Many thanks to John Illingworth (Letters, March 31) for correcting my punctuation on a recent letter regarding defence cuts.
Phew, it’s a good thing we’ve got people like Mr Illingworth around checking the T&A for grammatical errors – I mean it’s not like we have more serious issues to comment on, is it? Good job we’ve not just got involved in another war when the Tories have just scrapped a massive chunk of our military and our servicemen are being delivered back to us in body bags from other wars we are fighting! Hang on, that’s happening isn’t it?
We, the UKIP, shall double defence spending – mark that, Mr Illingworth.
Jason Smith, UKIP Bradford chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury
Two major shifts
8:12am Thursday 31st March 2011
SIR – Certain days will go down in history as turning points. I believe March 3 was one such day in political terms. On that Thursday, there was not one but two major shifts in British politics. The Liberal Democrats finished a humiliating sixth in the Barnsley by-election, even being beaten down by an independent candidate, although their demise should have been predicted after they slapped young people in the face with increased tuition fees and all of us with increases on VAT, both of which they pledged not to do.
Then there is the Lib Dems pro- prisoner rights stance, our local MP David Ward telling us many criminals are actually ‘victims’; not sure if the actual victims would agree with that one, David!
The Lib Dems have gained power, well sort of, but they may have lost much more as it is now apparent to people that they do not actually have any policies, but then how can they if you don’t have any principles?
The other major story which was somehow overlooked by the BBC was the party who finished in second place; it seems common sense is now becoming a popular concept.
Jason Smith, UKIP Bradford chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury, Bradford
Yes to democracy
8:50am Thursday 17th March 2011
Bradford Telegraph & Argus
SIR – AV or not AV – that is the question, but it really should not have been the question as electoral reform was a Lib Dem red line – seemingly, their only one! Bradford Telegraph & Argus
While I agree with Councillor John Hall (T&A, March 14) that AV is fairer than first-past-the-post, the Lib Dems have always advocated Proportional Representation, so why did they agree to this compromise, or are they incapable of fulfilling any promises?
First-past-the-post is supported by our old parties’ MPs simply because it serves to shackle the people in a two-horse race forever, a race where the leading horses are seemingly ever more similar.
AV will do one thing for sure; it will encourage people to vote because their vote will count. For example, currently it’s all a bit pointless voting for anyone other than Labour in Bradford South, as they have such a large majority.
The other important issue is that if the people reject AV, then we will never again be afforded future reform and maybe a proportional system as MPs will say we the people rejected it.
If you believe in democracy, then it must be YES to AV!
Jason Smith, UKIP Bradford chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury, Bradford
Membership ‘benefits’
8:09am Tuesday 15th March 2011
Bradford Telegraph & Argus
SIR – I would like to respond to Elaine Neale (T&A, March 1), who asks for somebody to clarify what we have gained from our membership of the European Union. Bradford Telegraph & Argus
It might surprise Ms Neale to know that we have gained many things from the EU! For starters, we’ve gained more than one million European immigrants; we don’t have many jobs for our children, but at least those Europeans are okay.
Then there are the thousands of business regulations which have primarily put small businesses out of operation, but again, don’t be too concerned as the huge multi-nationals are doing very well, thank you. Finally, one of my personal favourites is the new EU legal system which suggests we are guilty until proven innocent and doesn’t care much for trials by jury.
All these benefit for just the small daily membership fee of £48 million. Lucky EU!
Jason Smith, UKIP Bradford chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury, Bradford
Vote options available
Monday 14th March 2011
Bradford Telegraph & Argus
SIR – Finally the EU regulation chickens have come home to roost with a real criminal policy – votes for prisoners! The EU fanatics are quick to try claim that this is a European Court of Human Rights ruling and has nothing to do with the European Union. This is not correct, as under the Lisbon Treaty, anybody who is a member of the EU has to automatically subscribe to the ECHR, you cannot be a member of one and not the other. Bradford Telegraph & Argus
While our Parliament may have voted to reject votes for prisoners in principle, this was a non-binding vote. The Government still has to make a ruling on this. Option 1 is to reject the EU court and stop prisoners voting and get fined millions of pounds by the EU. Option 2, the default position, is back down to the EU and give prisoners the vote, and look weak and pathetic.
What is likely to happen is that Cameron will allow certain prisoners the vote in an attempt to appease the EU, while saying to the British people that ‘bad’ prisoners haven’t got the vote.
I’d prefer option 3 – leave the EU and allow our Government to make our own laws!
Jason Smith, UKIP Bradford chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queesnbury
Change of heart?
Monday 28th February 2011
Telegraph & Argus
SIR – I am afraid I cannot share many people’s excitement of David Cameron’s lambasting of multi-culturalism, which in my view was more a cry to the people that the Tories are still relevant (which, of course, they aren’t), rather than an actual change of policy. Mr Cameron’s sudden change of heart – or rather, language – is, in my view, in response to the rise of the pro-British politics in the UK of which UKIP is at the helm and in response to the growing EDL movement which has said ‘enough is enough’. Cameron can talk the talk – at least when the camera is on – but can he walk the walk? On the subject of reversing multi-culturalism, the answer is most certainly no! Jason Smith, UKIP Bradford chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury, Bradford
Split plea no surprise
8:21am Thursday 10th February 2011
SIR – What a surprise – MP Kris Hopkins has proposed that Keighley and Ilkley should separate from Bradford MDC (T&A, January 19). After all, Mr Hopkins has spent the last few years spearheading Bradford ‘degeneration’ – hardly surprising, then, that he doesn’t want to continue overseeing the wasteland that is now Bradford. What amazes me more, though, is the fact that anybody actually voted for him.
Lucky, then, that people have such small memories, or maybe he promised the people of Keighley he’d release them from the huge Bradford mess he created?
Jason Smith, UKIP Bradford chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queenbury, Bradford
Stock up on those bulbs...
Woodlands AvenueQueensbury
Many people may have noticed our traditional light bulbs being phased out; 75w light bulbs have already been banned with 60w to be banned by September this year.
Even though these bulbs have served us well since their invention it seems the EU has other ideas, EU Commission Regulation (EC) No 244/2009 outlawed the manufacture and import of incandescent (traditional) bulbs.
The EU claims this is because the new ‘energy saver’ bulbs are more efficient and environmentally friendly. Unfortunately this is not the case; in fact energy saving bulbs contain mercury, which traditional ones do not. Add to that the fact that energy saving bulb are known to cause migraines and skin irritation and burns to the skin if you are nearer than 30cm to the bulb – best not stand up in your living room then! You also are not permitted to put energy bulbs in your bin as they’re toxic, not very environmentally friendly really.
You will not be able to obtain traditional bulbs soon so my advice is to stock up on them while you can or life could become a bit of a headache, literally.
Jason Smith UKIP Calderdale Chairman
Lib Dem reality
Tuesday 4th January 2011Telegraph & Argus
SIR – The ‘Fib’ Dems have proved that they are no better than the Labour and Conservative parties, campaigning against tuition fees to woo the young voters and now voting to introduce them, effectively spitting in the faces of their young supporters.
The tuition protests proved that the Lib Dems’ only concern is for serving their masters, the Conservatives, rather than the people that voted for them.
Had this vote been just prior to an election, would the Lib Dems have supported this Bill? Of course not. The reality is all they are concerned about is holding on to power. Lib Dem votes have been in decline for many years, and I think 2011 could see them all but wiped out at a local level – that would be one protest they would take notice of!
Jason Smith, UKIP Bradford Chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury, Bradford
SIR – Stuart Baker is selective with his use of statistics (Letters, December 16).
If you believe the £6.2 billion “which the EU cost us this year” are the only costs, then feel free to do so.
But, if your subs for an angling club are £100 per year, does that mean, as a fisherman, that they represent the entire cost of your fishing for a year? With his kind of logic employed, that is what Mr Baker is implying.
Secondly, his claim that the EU generates some £120 billion of trade annually is disingenuous and factually incorrect.
This trade would still exist and without tariff barriers, whether a full member of the EU or as an associate like Switzerland and countless other nations.
The Taxpayers’ Alliance estimates the total annual costs to this nation to be £100 billion-plus, and possibly with good cause.
However, I generally use The Bruges Group statistics which estimate costs at more than £55 billion annually as these are easier to prove.
My £80 billion figure over five years was used so that not even the most dyed-in-the-wool Europhile could possibly take exception. On that,I was clearly wrong and humbly apologise. Mark Twain indeed, Mr Baker!
Jason Smith, UKIP Bradford Chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury, Bradford
