UKIP News Round Up

So, unless you're a UKIP member who finds it easy to get to Torquay and/or an avid internet surfer able to source lots of different websites looking for UKIP news, there's been a lot happening over the last few days which you may not know about.

No small thanks for this go to almost all of the establishment media who have not given the UK's fourth biggest party much in the way of news coverage.

So, as you possibly do know, UKIP's conference took place on Friday and Saturday.

Perhaps the best account that we've come across thus far is on the Derek Bennett blog - a good read from someone who was actually there.

We've already mentioned that Nigel Farage is to stand for the leadership, and the mainstream media - when ordaining to give any coverage to UKIP - seem to approach Nigel as their commentator of choice. He is someone who knows how to play the media, so that's not at all a bad thing.

However, there are other contenders for the leadership who offer alternatives - some of whom are of a very high calibre.

We have been wonderfully impressed with the national constitution points we've seen conveyed by Gerard Batten, so - as far as this blogger and UKIP member goes - we're not certain to give Nigel our vote automatically as some might think the case; much as we do appreciate the huge amount of work Nigel puts into the party and the indisputable presence that he has.

Gerard Batten's conference speech can be found HERE.

Another strong contender for the leadership is David Campbell Bannerman. He provides another alternative direction and he has already hinted at some of the changes he would like to see in his conference speech which can be found HERE.

Michael Heaver, the elected Chair of Young Independence - UKIP's 'youth' wing - was also a conference attendee, unsurprisingly, and there is more on the leadership hopefuls on the blog of this very promising, intelligent young voice HERE.

The interim leader of UKIP, Jeremy Titford, put out a statement today explaining: "[Candidate statements] will be posted to all Party members with the ballot paper and return envelope, week-commencing Monday 11th October 2010. The closing date for receipt of ballot papers shall be 5pm Thursday 4th November 2010. The count and declaration of the result will be held on Friday 5th November 2010."

November 5th, Jeremy..? Doesn't that have a special significance in this nation's history? No doubt the UKIP media team will be playfully working on that one already... we hope so.

There are lots of changes seemingly taking place with UKIP at the moment.

Not only is there a leadership election following the surprise stepping down of Lord Pearson, but Paul Nuttall has also announced that he is stepping down as Chairman.

The clearing of the decks by Paul Nuttall really surprised this blogger. A bright, articulate, youthful and very positive contributor to the UKIP - and national - cause, we were very taken aback at his announcement, though we understand his reasons which seems to be about dedicating himself more to his regional and local focus and commitments.

While this is a period of great change for the party, it is also an opportunity.

An unlikely source of recognition for UKIP's powerful message was Green Party MP Caroline Lucas who wrote in The Independent yesterday: "To [the Conservative Party], AV is more acceptable than a genuinely proportional system because it minimises the risk of Ukip winning any seats at their expense."

With David Cameron, William Hague and Theresa May all being dreadfully disappointing on matters relating to the European Empire, it is only a matter of time before backbench discipline amongst rank-and-file Conservatives breaks down.

However, having seen the disappointment from the Conservatives on the issue, will the public now be prepared to wake up and turn to UKIP..?

With a good combination of national heritage and values of freedom - coupled with a forward thinking vision for an Independent Britain - there is great potential.

This blogger contends that a balanced mix of wise elder Statesmen and youthful, forward-looking energies are important to attracting that wide base support.

UKIP cannot allow itself to be characterised - wrongly - as a party of dusty old, disenfranchised and disgruntled men.

That balance - of representing the finest of our national traditions and heritage while looking forward with the aspirations of the next generation of young UK folk - is something that could offer great promise.

For our part, we will be looking for UKIP to continue developing a broad range of policies; having a wider array of spokepersons in the public eye; promoting the nature of our written national constitution so that the public are better informed, educating the people on our historic and lawful rights and freedoms, and spelling out a vision for generating opportunities for future generations to grow, prosper and succeed in an independent, sovereign nation which we call 'home'.