“ I agree with you on Europe, but what else do you stand for, why should I join you, or vote for you?”  so said one of my oldest friends, a former Tory Party Agent at a recent reunion. “You were right, Heath lied, but I’m stuck with the Tories, aren’t I” another friend of forty years at the same reunion. This one had been an unsuccessful Tory Parliamentary candidate on two occasions.  Others admitted they’d been wrong to laugh at my predictions at Tory conferences all those years ago, but until our other policies are understood, we won’t get their votes.

In order to build on the excellent results at Oldham and Barnsley we need to be seen to campaign positively on our other policies. The neo-socialist government of Camerlegg is adopting OUR policies in an attempt to appear Conservative. A single uniform benefit payment, a single uniform pension, elections for Police Chiefs, et al: and now proposals are being mooted for a combination of NI and Income Tax. All of these and more were in our manifesto last year. We should shout this from the treetops. That way we’ll make converts, because people are ready to listen.

We are faced in the summer with an internal debate on whether or not to join a pan-European party. This must not become an exercise in navel gazing and introspection. I understand the reasons for it, but the electorate will not; we are on the cusp of power. The next twelve months are vital. Let us not fail.

Nigel Coghill-Marshall

Chairman, UKIP County Durham