There have been a couple of items in the national press today about Nigel Farage, the leader of UKIP. I do not care to repeat these allegations, as I am not in a position to comment on their veracity, but this is nevertheless a good opportunity to inform the reader of a few basic facts.
Politics can be a very dirty business, as I know from my own first-hand experiences. Time and again I hear stories about politicians - usually famous ones - being bullies or womanisers or even crooks. I cannot know for certain whether or not specific allegations are true, but they do not surprise me.
For most politicians, nothing matters more than winning elections. Winning puts you in power, and can often be lucrative for the person who is lucky enough to be elected. Councillors nowadays often receive salary-type allowances, while MPs and MEPs are paid large salaries and also have access to expense accounts.
When you are the leader of a political party, you are under pressure to achieve results, and it is only to be expected that occasionally you will be tempted to cut corners, cheat, lie, cajole, threaten - or indeed do all of the above. The general public are unlikely to object, because the general public are unlikely to find out what you are up to.
Of course the allegations about Nigel Farage are all part of an ongoing smear campaign against UKIP in the run-up to the elections in May. I confidently expect that UKIP will poll well in those elections, regardless of what is printed about them in the meantime. I expect also however that their support may not last long. I may be wrong, but I do not expect that they will win a single seat in parliament in next year's general election, and I expect also that their support will largely evaporate thereafter.
For many people, a UKIP vote in May will be a protest vote, and that is perhaps the main reason why the smear campaign against UKIP is unlikely to dent their support.
Looking ahead, there will doubtless many times in the future when rumours circulate about politicians being crooks or bullies or whatever. When you hear such rumours, do not rush to believe them. They could be malicious. Equally though, do not be surprised. Even outwardly friendly people can behave badly at times, and politics is an occupation which has an uncanny ability to bring out the worst in people.
Update: in case any reader of this site is having difficulties with regard to membership of a political party which is poorly led, then the most helpful thing I can do is to point out that the last line of accountability in any party is to resign if you are unhappy with the way things are going.
Time and again when writing this blog I have urged readers to join a political party, but I am careful never to recommend a political party. This is intentional. Maybe the best political party for you to join is one that does not yet exist.
Related previous posts include:
Demon words aimed at UKIP
Nigel Farage is still a coward
A tale of two scumbags
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