WITH the advent of the European elections much of the spotlight, both good and bad, has been placed on UKIP which is expected to do well. UKIP have cleverly portrayed themselves as the anti-establishment party and it would be unusual for the establishment not to fight back. We have had stories of racism; abuse of expenses and even live TV debates yet nothing seems to diminish their poll ratings.
I have never been of the opinion that UKIP can be so easily dismissed. For the Conservatives, they have always represented a real danger to electoral success at the next election in that they could split our vote by letting in Labour by the back door. It is for that reason that we need to understand why so many voters, the majority of whom are Conservative, find it such an attractive proposition and respond to them accordingly with the facts.
The first fact is that UKIP is a one man band, regularly changing its tune on key issues – they say one thing, then another. They also make it up as they go along and have no really credible policies. They simply can't deliver anything they promise. There are huge contradictions for example in its spend-more, tax-less policy agenda. Then there's Mr Farage's personal addiction to the EU gravy train. As for UKIP's MEPs they care so much about Europe they fail to turn up to crucial votes in the European Parliament even when the UK's interests are at stake!
But let's look at their concerns in a more generous way. There is a real anger from within UKIP at globalisation. The changing nature of the world economy meant wages for low-skilled people were depressed even before the crash. This was where Ed Miliband could have made inroads but his permissive attitude to welfare and immigration alienated Labour's traditional support and UKIP picked up the working class vote. Mr Farage is being particularly anti-business to keep this vote on board. But evidence now shows that manufacturing, textiles, software production and call centre work are coming back to the UK which means more jobs and higher wages are on the way. This is being driven by a strong and stable economy, competitive corporate tax rates, a good regulatory environment, strong legal frameworks and a dynamic labour market.
UK Trade & Investment and the Manufacturing Advisory Service are joining forces to launch Reshore UK, a one-stop-shop service to help companies move production back home.
Large scale immigration is another UKIP concern because they connect it to low wages and inflated housing costs.
We understand this and that is why the Government's Help to Buy scheme is helping to increase the supply of new homes as well as helping people afford them. It is also building an immigration system that is fair to British citizens and legitimate migrants, tough on those who abuse the system, and which ensures people come to the UK for the right reasons – to work hard and contribute to our economy and society. These things don't happen overnight.
UKIP think David Cameron is too soft on Europe and want to cut its ties with it. But when their MEP's refused to turn up for important votes, David Cameron was busy securing a cut in the EU budget, saving British taxpayers hundreds of millions of pounds; vetoing a new EU treaty that would have given more power to Brussels; and refusing to spend British taxes bailing out the euro.
UKIP want a referendum but as Nigel Farage has admitted he 'cannot change a thing in Europe'. Crucially only the Conservative Party can give the British people a say on our relationship with Europe. Labour and the Lib Dems will not and UKIP can't. Even if UKIP were to win the European elections in May they would be no closer to being able to deliver on any of these promises. UKIP currently have no MPs, and would need to win 326 to be in a position to act.
Politics often stir the heart, and UKIP have certainly managed that! But we need to keep our heads over what it really can or cannot deliver.
