Could the Wheels fall off?

The Tory party has been able to be very smarmy as of late. They are pasting an incredibly unpopular Brown-led Labour government thanks largely to New Labour's utter incompetence and disconnection with the real world. However, when it comes to the European Elections, there are signs that things may not be as rosy.

Stuart Wheeler, who donated the Conservative party's largest ever donation of £5 million, has backed UKIP in the European Elections and given the party £100k. Wheeler has done so, rightly, because he recognises that a Cameron-led Conservative party - and potential government - does not give a toss about the EU subject. They regard it as an awkward, unapproachable topic which is best buried to avoid internal party disputes. Unfortunately, the very reason that the Tories face potential splits is because many people feel so passionately on the subject. That is with good reason: the EU greatly effects the way Britain is run, after all. That is true whether you are for a European superstate or against it.

So as we approach the European Elections, perhaps Cameron is going to made to sweat increasingly. He certainly does not deserve the backing of euro-realists like Wheeler who has shown himself to be a man of true integrity who puts country before outdated tribal politics. The question is, how many others will be brave enough to follow in Wheeler's footsteps and back, on the subject of the EU, the only anti-EU choice in town? Personally, I think we are about to see UKIP's strongest ever campaign unfold. Let the games begin.

UKIP will be the premier eurosceptic choice on June 4th.

Politics is a funny old game sometimes. While among many students and academics that I discuss UKIP with at University, the party is wrongly percieved as a small scale fringe party, when one looks at the eurosceptic wing of British politics with objectivity, the party is a giant and by far the premier choice for eurosceptics who are not blindly devoted to the Conservative or Labour parties.

Please, do not even try and sell me the notion of the Tory party being truly eurosceptic when it has David Cameron as leader. I've already discussed many times on this blog while I believe that to be an utter fallacy. So with that out the way let me explain why those who are eurosceptic really only have one sensible professional, realistic choice by giving you a taster of the alternatives.

The BNP seem to fancy themselves as the potential new anti-EU outfit and Nick Griffin is busy telling its supporters that he believes they will secure a number of MEPs in June. The BNP's politics of hate and bile musn't be allowed to prosper and it will not. Such extremist fringe organisations only have appeal limited to those who let their anger and desire to register a protest vote override the fact that they are voting for a party that puts emphasis on race, something that is simply not acceptable to the vast majority of decent Brits in a twenty-first century Britain. Many of the BNP's Councillors have shown to be completely incompetent which should come as no surprise. The average BNP official, when put in front of a camera, comes across as about as intellectual and informed as your average raving Jihadist. Ironic, I know. Eurosceptics with an ounce of sense will of course realise that the EU is a political insitution and that that is where out anger is directed, not towards our fellow Europeans who are - shock horror - ordinary people like you and I. That is a totally alien concept to this bunch of numb skulls who are just about organised enough to be a dangerous group of people, hence while I will hopefully be able to enjoy their hopes being crushed in June as they crash and burn as they did in the 2004 elections.

From Britain's far-right to the far-left as Bob Crow has just set up a group called No2EU which intends to have its name on the ballot of the Euro Elections in June too. Their introduction video puts across the groups left wing agenda, mainly objecting to the EU's support for capitalism. The group strangely doesn't intend to carry on as a party post June nor take up any seats it wins. Even more strangely, though entitled No2EU, it never actually talks about being pro-withdrawal, instead opting for the Tory-esque soft choice of criticising, criticising and criticising some more, and then following it up with no alternative way plan. As someone with a bit of a lefty background I do have a soft spot for Crow and his ilk. Unfortunately, this merry coalition of socialists and commies are all about ideological purism rather than forward measureable progression in taking down the EU project. Christ, if you think the right wing of fringe politics is fragmented, then the left is ten times worse. Lack of Respect I reckon. Suffice to say this lot, launched to zero media attention outside of the BBC, won't come anywhere near winning a single seat.

The last of the terrible anti-EU parties who will be totally outflanked by UKIP in June are the UK First Party, set up by former UKIP Chairman Petrina Holdsworth and Peter Cole, a staffer of disgraced former UKIP MEP Tom Wise. This lot are as nutty as a fruitcake and truly represent this year's Veritas: a bunch of wannabe Chiefs whose limited ability makes them far better left as Indians. Their lack of profile and momentum will probably be worth a chuckle or two as they contest two regions in the EU elections, though they will fail miserably. Even Robin Page and his ego haven't thrown their lot in with this group which tells you all you need to know about its chances.

So there you have it. Whatever accusations UKIP gets thrown at it, it is certainly not racist, has a decent group of professional people running it and is serious about getting Britain out of the EU rather than swanning around as a doomed vanity project. This makes it by far the best choice for those not ignorant enough to believe that the Tories or Libertas will help Britain resist being swallowed up whole by EU nationalism. UKIP is not perfect, but under Nigel Farage it has, and is getting, a hell of a lot better. As much crap as this determined anti-EU party has had thrown at it over the years, one only has to look at the alternative options above to realise why UKIP is such a positive, necessary force in British politics.