UKIP

guttenberg

Thoughts on these? do they really stand a chance at creating much upset to DUP/UUP? Weirdly I hear that they have been quite active in canvassing parts of Derry, they've posters up along Craigavon Bridge/The Diamond area. I say weirdly, as the more "moderate" DUP/UUP don't seem to try bother promoting themselves in mixed/nationalist parts of the city.

sin_city

I like what UKIP stand for in Britain.

The North is a bit different...people don't really vote outside their tribe so don't know how they will do.

I think Farage is correct when he says we used to have masters in London and now our masters are in Brussels

Richard

They try and portray themselves as moderates, then they say the union flag should always be flown from every government building (a more extreme view than the UUP/DUP afaik).

It will be interesting to see how they poll, but I don't think any seats are under threat from them. There are too many parties, particularly unionist ones, standing for them to pick up loads of 1st prefs

valor rorghulis

Saw an interview with Farage, he was basically saying the difference between UKIP and the hardline unionists; UUP, DUP, TUV are that UKIP can appeal to both sides of the community.

That said the people running all seem to be hardliners. He reminds me a bit of Matt Baggot, despite genuinely having the best of intentions he just doesn't really get Northern Ireland.

Richard

valor rorghulis wrote: »

Saw an interview with Farage, he was basically saying the difference between UKIP and the hardline unionists; UUP, DUP, TUV are that UKIP can appeal to both sides of the community.

I don't think they're going out if their way to appeal to Catholics in their Party Election Broadcast.

flazio

Richard wrote: »

I don't think they're going out if their way to appeal to Catholics in their Party Election Broadcast.

There's a difference between Catholics and Nationalists these days.

Richard

flazio wrote: »

There's a difference between Catholics and Nationalists these days.

I know, but I chose "Catholics" on purpose. Catholics who favour the union are much less likely to be Union Flag-flying patriots than Protestant Unionists are. If UKIP had adopted a sensible policy (or at least less extreme than UUP/DUP) then they may have attracted euro-sceptic Catholic votes.

Tramps Like Us

UKIP is chock a block with bigots n the north like their candidate in Portadown David Jones, who is in the orange order and was a major player in the Drumcree dispute

When Farage came to Belfast a short while ago he was rubbing shoulders with known extreme loyalists and paramilitaries

petronius

Oddly i think a lot of UKIP policies resonate with many Unionists - in Brussels it is hard to see a difference between DUP and UKIP or indeed UUP.

Yes the Ukippers up the North need to be wary of attracting the loony fringe of loyalism and unionism. McNarry seems a reasonable bloke and should be sensible enough but like the NI Conservatives have found most unionist folk rather stay within their tribe.