LAST YEAR, 4,169 Thurrock voters put their cross next to the words UKIP. In some wards, it did not make much difference: Ockendon, Grays Riverside, Tilbury etc.
But then you turn to the east of the borough: Stanford East and Corringham Town: 487; Stanford West: 374 and the Homesteads: 485.
The candidates may not be familiar names but there is no doubt that Roy Jones, Peter Prendegrast and the others quietly but effectively go from door to door and not only strike a doorbell but also strike a political chord with certain voters in the east of the borough.
It must be annoying for the Conservatives, whose vote is eaten into and one could say that they would have a fair chance of retaining SECT and Stan West if it wasn’t for those pesky UKIP’s.
The UKIP talisman in Thurrock is Clive Broad. Yes, he can be bombastic and opinionated but his heart is in the right place. He was born in New Road and he has no truck with, dare we say, here today, gone tomorrow, council officers, who do not share the same passion.
Of course, Clive was once a staunch Conservative and it is fascinating that he now counts amongst his flock, former Thurrock Conservative vice-chair, Amanda Redsell and her partner and former Conservative councillor, Stuart St-Clair-Haslam.
UKIP were greatly buoyed by the People’s Pledge coming to town. It obviously had synergy with UKIP and, the all party support has given Clive’s team greater credibility.
With Tuesday’s polls illustrating that UKIP have now taken over from Lib-Dems for third place, it will be interesting to see how they progress on May 3rd. We still think that their vote will increase by 50 votes here and there and might just annoy Labour as well but they may be the ones who let Terry Hipsey and Richard Speight and even Liam Preston (long shot) in.
Why is it that residents vote for a party that has two policies, Europe and Immigration. Local Government is about children and older persons services, roads, bins, street cleaning and grass cutting, planning, housing, libraries and public safety. There is no mandate for Local Councillors to set any policies on Europe whatsoever.
Oh, maybe they will dissolve the Town Twinning with Plock. That should satisfy their existence. Pathetic, small minded, intellectually challenged UKID.
Some of what you say Santa is valid hoever you then shoot yourself in the foot by reverting to what has become the norm with regards to political comments on this website by making a crass final statement re the character of UKIP candidates.
And the Labour party haven’t turned this into a pre general election launch for Sister Polly have they. Perhaps UKIP should be asking why the planning permissions granted for hundreds of houses on green belt land, passed by the Labour and conservative councillors, were actually needed. Wait a moment, immigration.
I agree with Santa in that there doesn’t seem to be a real reason to vote for UKIP in local politics as their main policies can’t be enacted at local level. However, I think that UKIP’s reason for fielding candidates in local elections is to raise their profile nationally. It would reflect well on their chances in national elections if they can win a raft of seats on local Councils.
I really do not see what UKIP would do to enhance the area. I understand what they stand for nationally but am stumped as to what they will do on a local level.
Bernard87, surely that comment could be levelled at all the major parties that have representation in Thurrock 🙂
It could… but there is one party with a local manifesto, containing 40 pledges for how they’d run the council.
ben should that read “containing 40 pledeges for how they’d run the council, until they get into power then that will be thrown away” that is what normally happens after all.
None of the hapless councillors that are currently in local government seem able to run a bath without arguing the toss between each other and then delivering very little.
Apologies Ben, should have a capital on your name……
Lambo – you got a point! All parties with more then two policies (that discounts UKIP) have to make sure that they stick to their policies, and if they cant, explain to the people of Thurrock why they are diverting from them. I find honesty is the best policy in local politics.
What we do know is any more of the current party and we’ll be on the fast train to Inner London. Hold on tight!
Your cynicism is understandable Lambo, as politicians (on all sides) have, at times, struggled to make good on 100% of their promises. But to suggest it’s all just a stunt and they are completely discarded after is harsh. I know a lot of work went into the manifesto and I think the ideas in it are worth following through on.
In any event, at least we actually HAVE a manifesto…