A little time with... UKIP's Hammersmith PPC, Vanessa Crichton (A 'Talking Clock' exclusive interview)

Following our recent exclusive interview with UKIP's Westminster North PPC Jasna Badzak, we're delighted to welcome a second UKIP PPC to The Talking Clock. So, come join us on the sofa as we have a good old natter over tea and biscuits with the lovely Vanessa Crichton.

Vanessa Crichton is the UKIP PPC for Hammersmith. It's a constituency that has been, in this case, 'revived' through recent boundary changes. Theoretically, the incumbent MP is moving to fight a 'next door' seat and another serving Labour MP - currently representing Ealing, Acton & Shepherd's Bush - is partially side-stepping in to fight for this seat. It's a complex local picture that has the political pundits debating likely outcomes at length.

Vanessa is also the Chairman of UKIP West London.

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Welcome to The Talking Clock, Vanessa...

Hello and thank you for giving me the opportunity to talk to you.

1. Now, before we get down to our main questions, we have to mention having seen a recent email from you. At the end of that email, you sign off 'Chairman, UKIP West London'. Hatty Harperson is not going to like you describing yourself as a 'Chairman', is she? Aren't you supposed to be describing yourself as a 'Chairwoman of the Divine Sisterhood' or something, now?

Yes, I do describe myself as “chairman”. I don’t like this politically correct mangling of our language. Mankind describes all human beings and therefore chairman describes the position of someone who is at the head of an organisation. I have never been a feminist; men and women have their roles in life and I pride myself on doing my role to the best of my ability.

2. So, what does the 'Chairman of UKIP West London' do in her role?

UKIP West London was set up in September 2007 and membership has been growing steadily over the last 2 years. We have monthly meetings in a pub to keep members informed and to have a drink or two! I also send out information on the EU from various websites which I think will interest them.

3. How are UKIP doing in London? What are the local successes and breakthroughs that you are hoping to build upon?

Because UKIP has been seen as a one-issue party – leaving the EU – we have not won any places on local London councils in the past. Now UKIP’s policies on other issues are getting wider coverage we hope to do well in the local and general elections and give the other parties a shock.

4. Now, you're the UKIP PPC for Hammersmith. How well do you know the constituency that you're hoping to serve?

I know the constituency of Hammersmith reasonably well as I have lived in the borough for 20 years. I am involved with volunteering for a community group for the elderly which allows me to chat and hear their views. New legislation has had a damaging impact on small businesses in local areas and needs to be amended to encourage more people to start up businesses and therefore create jobs. If I am elected I would make it a priority to listen to my constituents and try and help them.

5. It's obviously very important to tell the good people of Hammersmith what you represent, above and beyond the known UKIP policies on the European Union. How do you achieve that local communication when UKIP lacks the huge fighting funds of the three established parties?

To get our message out locally we call on a large band of members to hand out leaflets at tube stations or put through people’s letterboxes and campaigning to get the UKIP message out loud and clear. I often find people come up to me while I am leafleting and we chat about what I am doing and what the EU means to them. We also have a number of members who are active in writing letters to newspapers.

6. So, if we take your position on the European Union as given for a moment, what other local and national policy areas are important to you? What would you be telling local constituents about your understanding of their daily lives and about the changes they would like to see?

Now that the Lisbon Treaty has been ratified the EU tentacles reach into every aspect of our lives and it is difficult to talk about local issues without mentioning the EU. Bearing in mind the cost of membership being £45 million per day, UKIP would like to see matrons brought back in charge of hospital wards to take responsibility for cleanliness; grammar schools built to give the poorer child a chance of a good education; the Human Rights Act scrapped which is shown to be very biased towards the criminal and ignores the victim and our police released from the mountain of paperwork for stopping someone just to ask questions; all common sense changes.

7. Now, on the specific question of the European Empire, as this blog unaffectionately refers to it... The three main parties all seem to agree. We're in it and we're staying in it forever, no matter what the people think. You've really got it easy in terms of representing the views of people opposed to the European project, haven't you?

Yes, you are right that we are the only mainstream party representing people who are opposed to the EU. However, we still need to work hard to get our message out to the public and show how corrupt, dishonest and undemocratic the EU is and persuade them to vote UKIP.

8. Back to the London question, with so many European people living in London, are you going to have to work harder than other UKIP candidates to explain that it's not the people of Europe that UKIP is opposed to? Or do you think that those Europeans living and working here in London might positively embrace the UKIP message on the European Empire?

I agree that we have to differentiate between Europe, the continent and the EU, the government. There are many Europeans who are opposed to the EU; you only have to look at the “no” vote in France, Denmark, Ireland and the Netherlands to know that we are in good company. It is the media who insist on calling it the “Europe issue” on purpose to make us look more insular but it is the governing by unelected and unaccountable bureaucrats that we oppose and I am sure there are many Europeans living in London who agree with that.

9. When we look at the three main parties and the way their MPs vote in the House of Commons, a lot of the passing through the lobbies appears to be subject to the decree of party policy and to the enforcing party whips, rather than those MPs actually voting to represent the views of local people. What do you think of that and where does UKIP stand on the issue of whips and making it's politicians adhere to centrally imposed policies?

UKIP is a party which attracts many independent thinkers and as we do not have a showing in Parliament, yet, I cannot answer this question from experience. What is clear is that the political process has to change and politicians have to be more in touch with what the voters think. We will wait and see what happens but looking at the calibre of UKIP candidates who are businessmen with experience of the real world, the Palace of Westminster would be a very different place were UKIP voted into office (not power). An MP, after all, is elected to represent the views of their constituents and not the party.

10. Getting slightly more controversial, a lot of people opposed to the surrender of British sovereignty believe that the current Government had no right to sign the Lisbon Treaty. Amongst many other actions, quite a few even wrote to Her Majesty The Queen about the issue but - from what we've seen - their letters were passed to the Foreign Office. Have you seen any of that conversation on the internet and would you care to comment?

You may not be surprised to know that I was one of those people who wrote to Her Majesty about signing the Lisbon Treaty and, as you say, my letter was passed to the Foreign Office. Her Coronation Oath was modified but still states that she govern her subjects. As she is now a citizen of the EU we are no longer subjects but citizens of the same State. It makes me very angry that since the Lisbon Treaty came into force we are no longer a sovereign nation with the power to make our own laws.

11. We've noticed on the online comments pages of the Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail a large number of people saying they are transferring their allegiances from the Conservatives to UKIP. What would you say to those former Conservative supporters? Is UKIP attracting solely disaffected Conservatives or are you attracting support from across the political spectrum?

Yes, I have seen some of those comments – I, myself used to be a Tory voter. I would say to those people “welcome on board, common sense has prevailed” The expenses scandal angered many loyal voters and the broken “cast iron” promise angered even more. I believe UKIP is attracting support from right across the political spectrum and, as well as Conservatives, supporters of other parties are also choosing to change their voting habits.

12. So, we've asked some very heavy questions in this interview. We'd like to end on a fun, very light-hearted note. A Hollywood producer calls and casts you as Scarlett O'Hara in a remake of Gone With The Wind. You can cast anybody you like as Rhett Butler. Who would you cast as your leading man and why?

This is a difficult one! I have always had a soft spot for Omar Sharif, I think it is the accent and the smouldering black eyes! But perhaps on this occasion I will choose Peter O’Toole, as he was in Lawrence of Arabia. He is wickedly mischievous, sexy and elegant.

Thank you very much indeed for your time, Vanessa! We wish you well and will be keeping an eye open for news of your progress in the election campaign.