Introduction

 
The new Task ahead

The United Kingdom may not yet be free of the EU, but the corner has been turned. With every day that passes, more and more people are concluding that the project is not only bad for the UK, but is itself fatally flawed. The EU's lies,
corruption and elitism will be its own downfall. In the UK, the single currency is already a dead letter and it's only a matter of time now before we leave the evil empire altogether. The battle is far from over, but, thankfully, the end game is now in sight.

 

The United Kingdom Independence Party has played no small part in this; indeed, there is no doubt that, as a real threat to established politicians, we have been the decisive element. We have growing power and influence, and we must continue to use it wisely. Thus the question now is obviously, 'Where do we go from here?'

 

UKIP clearly stands for far more than just anti-EU sentiment. As the euro-realist movement has grown and matured, it's become obvious we face far more than just 'foreign' interference in our governance. The real threat to the United Kingdom comes not from Brussels, but a Quisling class within the UK's bureaucracy, that readily puts personal advancement above service, patriotism and the welfare of British citizens.

 

For it is British life that we care about. UKIP members typically resent the destruction of long held beliefs and values, and the turning upside down of both public morality and justice, and successive governments who seem to believe that the best thing about our culture will be its elimination. We have children and grandchildren, to whom we would pass on our Britishness – the lifestyle laws and principles that have influenced civilized society across the globe more than any other. We want to restore pride in our achievements, and national self-confidence, and we want our culture to prevail in our own land.

 

This isn't because we're jingoistic or 'little Englanders' but because we believe the traditional British way of life is inherently good, and should be promoted for its own sake. It's clear then, that UKIP has a role beyond that of anti-EU-agent, in mainstream British politics. There are wrongs to be righted, and a nation to be returned to a true and safe course.

But where should Britain be headed? What are the values we espouse? What can UKIP offer to the nation?

 

What UKIP stands for…

 

Our Core Values

National Self-determination

This goes without saying: unless we can make our own laws in our own land, we are not a nation, but a vassal state. Whilst we may agree to co-operate with many nations on many things, it is wrong for the country's government and laws to be determined by others.

 
Freedom of expression

Free speech and the robust criticism of ideas are the lifeblood of an open society. This means the right to oppose, to criticise, to reject and to revile, just as much as to propose and to support. An individual should again have the right to hold any view they choose, and to express that view, even if it is anathema to the majority. Thus UKIP rejects all current and proposed 'thought crimes,' including attempts to 'protect' religious views of any persuasion. Indeed it is precisely that right to persuade – by robust argument – which is so precious in a free society. Any
religion or philosophy should stand on its own merits, and not need to hide behind the law for its defence. The same is true of politics and political ideas.

Cultural continuity

We should be a colour-blind nation, but not a culture-blind one. The United Kingdom's uniquely pre-eminent influence on world affairs, history and culture should be recognised and celebrated, not denigrated and ignored. Recent and future arrivals to our shores add to our diversity and cultural richness, but foreign cultures should not dominate our own indigenous one. Since time began this has been the 'freedom cry' of every nation seeking self-determination, and it is no less than our birthright too.

 
Individual responsibility

We must end the 'rights' culture. Exercising my 'rights' inevitably means suppressing the 'rights' of others, so 'rights' ultimately and inevitably lead to conflict. The honest and fair approach is to encourage a culture of social
responsibility instead: When we feel and have responsibility for the welfare of our fellow citizens, it threatens nobody, and encourages community and involvement. The welfare state should return to that which was originally intended – a safety net for those who need it, rather than an all-enfolding, controlling behemoth. Community should be restored to the centre of British life.

 
Public Probity

It is axiomatic that a person's character cannot be separated by the boundary between public and private life. Politicians at all levels seek power over society, and it is right that they should be subjected to whatever scrutiny is required by their electorate. The idea that private and public morality can be different leads to bad laws made by bad people. We stand for greater openness and scrutiny, both of individuals seeking and exercising public office, and of the organisations they manage. Openness only hurts those with something to hide.

 
Individual privacy

Private lives of ordinary people should not however be the business of the state. We stand against powers of surveillance and intrusion that give Orwellian control to unnamed officials.

 

Key Objectives

Regaining independence from the EU

We will see this through to its safe conclusion. We will attain an 'amicable divorce' and the creation of the trading partnership we were originally told we were joining. We reject absolutely the old-fashioned, hegemonistic world-view of regional power-blocs, as they are damaging to trade and ultimately a serious threat to world peace. The European Union may be beyond reform, but we respect the sovereign rights of other EU members to remain or leave as their citizens see fit.

 

Positive discrimination toward the nuclear family

We intend there should be a firm and constitutionally enshrined commitment to positive discrimination toward the nuclear family. This should acknowledge that good parenting represents investment in the nation's future, more than any other single activity, and that, consequently, nuclear (and extended) families living as a single unit should enjoy privileged tax and benefit status. The recent economic pressures, which split parents, break up families and impoverish those contributing most to society should be dealt with. To this end, we will restructure the taxation system and family law.

 

Restoring the supremacy of Common Law

Re-entrenchment of Magna Carta, the Bill of Rights and the Acts of Settlement and Union

We already have a written constitution, battle hardened and robust. It protects the individual, limits the powers of the government, the monarch and the courts, and proclaims that to be British is to be a free person in a free society. Change is not needed nor desirable, instead we need the constitution to be re-emphasised and strengthened. These things need to be properly taught in our schools, and restored to their correct place as guiding principles in our courts and parliament.

 

Statute Law Repeal Commission

The law only has strength when it is clear, simple and readily understood. Furthermore, no legislation can cover every circumstance and every relationship between individuals, and it should be deemed foolish to try to do so. Our Common Law, as long established, declares the principles by which a civilized society should behave, and it is on those principles our nation was built. We will thus establish a Law Repeal Commission, to systematically inspect statute law, and simplify or repeal it wherever possible, so that complexity is removed, and the principles of Common Law are restored.

 

Teaching the constitution and common law fundamentals in schools
We will ensure that the tenets of our Constitution, together with English and Scottish law, are taught to all children in our schools, so that, over time, the basis for our free society becomes well understood by all. Never again will a
government be able to consign sovereignty to a foreign power by stealth, relying on the people's ignorance of their rights.

 

Separating local and national government

Britain today has a sham of local democracy. In reality, the vast majority of supposedly 'local' government powers have transferred to central bureaucracy, where they are wielded by unnamed and largely unaccountable bureaucrats. Not only is this expensive and inefficient, it is also undemocratic, and the demarcation lines have become so blurred that departments even fight amongst themselves for power. We will restore true local democracy, including revenue raising and expenditure, so that local councils are once again properly accountable to local people. We will separate and clearly define what is a local council's responsibility and what belongs to central government, with the guiding principle that central government should be no larger than is absolutely necessary.

 

Preservation of our environment

We have little choice in this regard: once our countryside and historical towns and villages are gone, they cannot be replaced. Our island is overcrowded. The landscape is poorly protected and prey to developers. Yet we are a rich nation, and do not need the wholesale destruction we see in present planning decisions. We will stem the tide of urbanization, and protect our natural heritage.

 

Conclusion

These values are shared by the vast majority of the British electorate. They represent the justification, not just of UKIP's continued existence and success, but also of the pressing need for reform of British public life. UKIP is unique in offering this worldview, and we look forward to an enthusiastic response from the electorate over the coming months.

 

UKIP was founded in September 1993 at the                      London School of Economics by Dr Alan Sked and several members of the Anti Federalist League (AFL). Who had stood in the 1992 General Election opposing the Maastricht Treaty. Following the 1997 Election and the sad death of Jimmy Goldsmith, many members/candidates of the Referendum Party joined UKIP.

 

UKIP has grown to have constituency branches around the country and now has its HQ in Birmingham.  In 1994 UKIP contested its first European elections scoring a respectable 167,000 votes . Ten years later UKIP obtained over 2.6 million votes coming third, beating the Lib Dem’s and winning twelve seats.

 

UKIP followed this up in September 2004 coming third in the Hartlepool by-election relegating the Tories to fourth. UKIP conclusively demonstrated that it has the potential to establish itself as a significant force in British politics.