UKIP Bradford calls on George Galloway to withdraw his comments on banning Israeli people from Bradford

As an anti-war party we have sympathy for the plight of the Palestinian people but we totally reject George Galloway’s call of banning Israeli people from Bradford.  UKIP Bradford’s stance is that we welcome all communities, students and tourists to our fabulous city.  We find George Galloway’s language offensive and call on him to withdraw his comments.


UKIP Bradford Chairman Jason Smith says: “Whatever Mr Galloway’s opinion of the Israeli government it is not for him to decide who is welcome in our city. While Mr Galloway and indeed Mr Ward may have a hatred of the Israeli government it is wrong for them to tar every Israeli person with the same brush. MP’s David Ward and George Galloway’s seem to be in a fierce competition to see who can be the most offensive which is bringing our city in to disrepute.”

UKIP Bradford Statement on Bradford Council’s flying of the Palestinian flag

UKIP Bradford has sympathy for the plight of the people of Palestine but we feel it is wrong that Bradford Council should be taking sides in this conflict and flying the flag of Palestine.

UKIP Bradford Chairman Jason Smith says: “We are all horrified with what we see happening in Gaza but we feel it is not Bradford Council’s place to take sides on this matter.  This seems like a move by the Labour run council to garner support in the Asian community in the light of increasingly hard-line comments from MP’s Ward and Galloway.”

UKIP Bradford pledges support for the National Media Museum

UKIP Bradford Spokesman Jason Smith announced Monday that the UKIP Bradford & District are officially coming out in support of the cities National Media Museum, UKIP Bradford want to see funding available for the Museum to stay open and continue with free entry.

UKIP has been at the forefront campaigning to save other Bradford landmarks; they were the only Bradford political party to support the retention of the landmark former Odeon cinema and in 2007 called on Bradford council to give local people binding referenda on the buildings future.

UKIP Bradford also announced that its slate of candidates for the 2014 local elections will all stand on a ticket of protecting both the Odeon building and the National Media Museum.

Spokesman Jason Smith said: “As the UK’s ‘City of Film’ it is unthinkable that we could see the closure of our National Media Museum. This fine museum is one of few remaining landmarks that exist to draw people in to Bradford. All our candidates will campaign vigorously to highlight the plight of the Museum and safeguard this important local attraction.

UKIP do not accept the government argument that we have no money to fund our fine museums, why is it that our government claim we have no money to protect our museums and local services yet they can find money to pay £53 million per day to the EU and £23 million per day in foreign aid?  It is all a question of priorities and we believe their priorities are wrong.

As the nation’s fastest growing party, we ask all our supporters to sign the Telegraph & Argus petition to highlight this issue and bring pressure on the government to safeguard the future of our museum.  We have so far succeeded in protecting the Odeon and now we aim to help Bradford people raise awareness to protect our media museum and ensure it stays free to the public.”

Bradford Labour want taxpayers to cough up for failed policies

The Labour Council leader appears to not want new tax holding powers for business rates and believes that taxpayers should subsidise their failed policies.

Interesting.

Of course, holding on to business rates would cut a whole swath of bureaucracy and help make national savings (Which we desperately need, lest we end up like Greece) - not to mention simplifying the whole system.

But thanks to successive Labour and Tory councils, our city has been destroyed and businesses driven out.

And who is to blame for that? - Not so much the coalition Mr. Greenwood.

Although UKIP would go further - We support either an enterprise zone for Bradford or giving total control over the setting of business rates, to the council.

The less you tax small business, the more it will either grow or move in to the area, bringing jobs and extra tax revue for public services.

That is one way to create jobs.

Residents protest at developing of Greenfield site and the handling by Bradford Council

As usual Bradford Council is building on Greenfield sites, no one wants it, and they are ignoring the opinions of locals.

Same old stories I'm afraid.

"Campaigners are angry that a major decision on a 400-home development on green fields near Bingley will be made in Bradford rather than the Aire Valley.

Greenhill Action Group (GAG), which is fighting the proposals, said there had been assurances from the Council that the “hugely important” decision would be made at Bingley Arts Centre."

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/9103746.Anger_at_venue_for_Bingley_planning_decision/

This is exactly the sort of thing that we at UKIP Bradford have been saying for years. "Consultation" efforts are generally pathetic, and there is very little input allowed from concerned local people.

We would revolutionise the planning application process and put power back into the hands of the people.

UKIP would give local areas a vote on major housing schemes and big developments.

This would then force the Council to actually communicate their ideas to local people in an open and frank way, and not hide like they are doing with Bingley.

A major development, especially on a Greenfield site, would be very open to a referendum petition under a UKIP Council. All a local group (or an individual) would have to do is officially sign up 5% of the electorate in the local area (and have the names and addresses confirmed by the authorities at the Council) and that would trigger a local referendum.

We are sick to death of seeing people ignored with planning decisions, and we in UKIP Bradford want to blow the whole process open.

UKIP 3rd party in the North

Over at the Yorkshire Post, it is reported that UKIP is beating the Lib Dems in the north of England. Good news going for forward for the local elections next year - hopefully we can make more big gains in our target seats in Bradford!

"THE UK Independence Party is now more popular than the Liberal Democrats among voters in the North, according to a stark new opinion poll.

The YouGov poll also gives Labour a commanding 24-point lead over the Conservatives in the North, giving little to cheer for the coalition partners. Nationally, the poll put Labour on 42 points, with the Tories on 37, Lib Dems on eight and UKip on five.
But among Northern voters, Labour is on 53 with the Tories on 29, UKip on eight and the Lib Dems on seven.

The Tories won a string of seats across Yorkshire at the General Election, while the Lib Dems won Bradford East but lost Harrogate and Knaresborough.
However the results of the opinion poll suggest Northern voters are less happy with the coalition than people elsewhere in the country.

Godfrey Bloom, UKip MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “This poll means we are now the third Party in the North and it also demonstrates that the UK Independence Party is way ahead of the Greens and other small Parties.”

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/at-a-glance/main-section/ukip_overtakes_lib_dems_in_north_1_3506419

Fed up with U-turns?

Although welcome, news that the Coalition is shelving its plans to halve sentences for the most serious criminal offenders marks yet another U-turn by the government.

First a hike in VAT provided taxpayers with an unexpected bombshell. Then we find out the Government tried to keep quiet its amnesty for a quarter of a million failed asylum seekers.

On law and order the Government has become a national embarrassment.

Justice Minister Crispin Blunt has bent over backwards to put the rights of prisoners first. Whoever would have thought a Conservative (sic) would dedicate time and resources to organising prisoner parties, IVF treatment for those inside and votes for some of the most dangerous people in the UK?

After only a year, the gulf between what the Conservatives say and what they do has become clear for all to see. No one can safely know where the Conservatives stand on anything these days.

With UKIP you know precisely where we stand, our principles abide by what works best through letting the British people have more money in their pockets, more choice in services and the freedom to live in a safe, democratic society.

For example, UKIP believe in letting families have the choice of sending their children to a grammar school as well as giving communities across the country the option to create new grammar schools. But the assault continues in Tory heartlands to phase out the best tool for social mobility the UK has ever seen, with only UKIP committed to defending the institution.

On law and order, UKIP would unravel New Labour’s Human ‘Rights’ legislation that puts the interests of offenders ahead of those who abide by the law and form the overwhelming majority of our society. UKIP would not let a single foreign court or institution instruct a sovereign parliament on what it should or shouldn’t do.

No prisoner votes. No soft sentences. Not difficult, is it?

Finally there’s the pound in your pocket. Britain is in unsustainable levels of debt. But the Coalition is sending more of your money abroad each year and chasing away job creators by hiking taxes.

Over this parliament, we will have spent more on foreign aid and EU membership than the entire government cuts package. In return, the British people get higher bills and more taxes.

A vote for UKIP is a vote to end wasteful spending and a start to digging Britain out of the trench of debt we find ourselves in.

Fed up of U-turns? Vote UKIP and make a real difference.

UKIP backs call for Bradford "Enterprise Zone"

"Business leaders in Bradford have thrown their support behind the city’s bid for enterprise zone status.
Bradford Chamber of Commerce said an enterprise zone could be the catalyst for major investment, creating jobs and regenerating the city and wider region." - Which can be found in the T&A here and here.

With the farce of regeneration in Bradford and the lack of businesses investing in the city, thanks to the policies of successive Labour and Tory run Councils, Bradford has been left to decay. What we need is to give the local economy a kick start; with so few jobs around we need to make Bradford a place to do business!

According to the reports in the T&A, 5000 jobs would be created and £1 billion could be added to projects in Bradford.

Reducing the costs for business to set up in Bradford will mean new ventures being created and current ones will be able to grow. Both of these result in more jobs.

The Guardian reported that:
"The chancellor also said he would consider enhancing capital allowances for plant and machinery in the zones and announced that, for at least 25 years, all business rates growth within the zone will be retained by local authorities to support their economy."

Of course, this has been UKIP policy for some time as detailed in our local manifesto this year:
"Let councils control their own finances by keeping half of local business rates"
"Replace VAT with a Local Sales Tax, with a proportion going direct to councils"

This proposal would reduce costs for business, simplify planning laws and create jobs across the district. UKIP wholeheartedly supports it.

UKIP Polling 3rd in Bradford

A breakdown of the EU results has been posted on the Guardian website, listing results by local authority.

The article is here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/table/2009/jun/09/european-elections-elections-2009
The Spreadsheet: http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/table/2009/jun/09/european-elections-elections-2009

UKIP are polling 3rd in Bradford!

To say we don't have any councillors or MPs in the area, it shows that there are plenty of voters willing to vote for us. All we have to do is go out and get them!

Bradford Results:

Electorate: 328,345
Votes: 110,869
Turnout: 33.77%

1. Tory 27,233 - 24.56%
2. Labour 24,884 - 22.44%
3. UKIP 16,401 - 14.79%
4. Lib Dem 14,771 - 13.32%
5. BNP 10,330 - 9.32%
6.Green 9,725 - 8.77%

UKIP Come 2nd Nationally and Advance to 3rd in Yorkshire!

Well it was a very good night for UKIP, beating Labour into 3rd place and picking up new MEPs in Wales and the West Midlands.

More closer to home, Godfrey Bloom retained his seat in Yorkshire coming 3rd and UKIP wasn't that far away from taking a second seat in Yorkshire.

Congratulations to the UKIP national, regional and local teams in rallying such good support and taking one further step towards UK Independence.

Now the long hard work starts towards the local and general elections!

Full Results for Yorkshire:


Conservative 299,802 votes 24.5% (-0.2) 2 MEPs (+0)
Labour 230,009 votes 18.8% (-7.5) 1 MEP (-1)
UKIP 213,750 votes 17.4% (+2.9) 1 MEP (0)
Lib Dems 161,552 votes 13.2% (-2.4) 1 MEP (0)
BNP 120,139 votes 9.8% (+1.8) 1 MEP (+1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Green Party 104,456 votes 8.5% (+2.8) 0 MEPs (0)
English Democrat 31,287 votes 2.6% (+1.0) 0 MEPs (0)
Socialist Labour Party 19,380 votes 1.6% (+1.6) 0 MEPs (0)
Christian Party 16,742 votes 1.4% (+1.4) 0 MEPs (0)
No2EU 15,614 votes 1.3% (+1.3) 0 MEPs (0)
Jury Team 7,181 votes 0.6% (+0.6) 0 MEPs (0)
Libertas 6,268 votes 0.5% (+0.5) 0 MEPs (0)

Pub Campaign Update!

Well we were back round the pubs today, picking up lots of full petitions!

We did a re-run of the previous group of pubs around Royds and Wyke area.

We've had new "UKIP Save the Pub" A3 Posters printed and were well recieved, with some publicans putting them up right infront of us! Also the new beermats were given out, which pubs snatched our hands off for.

Chatting with some pubs, we found that since we'd been round before, a few of the pubs were going to close down, obviously we were a bit too late for those pubs with the campaign.

Still, a very encouraging day, many of the landlords/landladies remembering us from last time and had a good chat about the trade and UKIP.

Pubs we Visited:Prince of Orange, New Furnace, Beehive, Waggoners, Kings Head, Drop Kick, Junction, The Crown, Oddfellows Hall, Oddfellows, Brown Cow, The Royal, Mail Coach (closing), Northern (landlady leaving the trade), Cap and Bells* (1st visit), The George (1st visit)

*When we visited Cap and Bells for the 1st time, they had already heard of the campaign and had petitions because a pub we previously visited had passed on our campaign!

UKIP Pub Policy: http://www.ukip.org/media/pdf/pubs.pdf
UKIP Pub Campaign Website: http://www.savethepub.co.uk/

UKIP Speaking at Freedom2Choose Meeting

UKIP line up for Freedom2Choose Meeting

Members of Northern England Freedom2Choose will be meeting this Saturday 11 April at The Painters Arms Public House, 35 Bradford Road, Drighlington, Bradford, West Yorkshire.

This regular event attracts visitors from throughout Northern England who are concerned with the erosion of civil liberties and choice, particularly in relation to the smoking ban.

MEP Godfrey Bloom (UKIP Yorkshire MEP) will be amongst the speakers attending the meeting, which commences at 2pm, along with Jason Smith (UKIP Bradford) and Nick Hogan (UKIP Chorley) to offer support for the Freedom2Choose national campaign to amend the smoking ban. Godfrey Bloom MEP is expected to speak at 4pm.Pro-choice group Freedom2Choose hold regular meetings throughout the country and now boast over 4.5 million supporters.

Freedom2Choose are a non-political, unfunded, voluntary organisation seeking to demonstrate that suitable alternatives exist to accommodate smokers and non-smokers alike.

John Baker, Freedom2Choose Secretary and organiser of the event states, “The landlords are delighted that Godfrey Bloom continues to take an interest in the draconian smoking ban, as the ban has devastated the licensed trade.

They are interested in hearing the UKIP policy on the smoking ban and are expecting more visitors than usual at this gathering.

All new-comers and guests are more than welcome to attend.”The current smoking ban legislation in force within the UK is one of the most stringent within Europe and Freedom2Choose is campaigning for a reform to place the UK more in line with the majority of the other EU countries.

(Bloggers4UKIP http://bloggers4ukip.blogspot.com/2009/04/ukip-line-up-for-freedom2choose-meeting.html)

Save the Pub Campaign Update

We were out an about campaining in pubs today and were visitng pubs in Wyke and Royds among other areas.

Every pub was interested in our new pub policy paper, and we had some very positive feedback.We handed out two different types of beermats, the new posters, policy papers and loads of petitions that people were eager to sign on the spot!

Pubs we visited:
Prince of Orange, New Furnace, Beehive, Waggoners, Kings Head, Drop Kick, British Queen (where we sparked off a lively debate!), Junction, The Crown, Oddfellows Hall, Oddfellows, Brown Cow, The Royal, Mail Coach and the Northern

UKIP Pub Policy: http://www.ukip.org/media/pdf/pubs.pdf
UKIP Pub Campaign Website: http://www.savethepub.co.uk/

Pub Closures in Yorkshire

Yorkshire Post have a piece on the problems facing local pubs in Yorkshire....

The report suggets 300 community pubs have closed their doors in Yorkshire in the past four years.

"Campaigners have pledged to making saving the nation's pubs as big a political issue as the fight to preserve post offices last year as 36 close their doors every week."

This couldn't have been better news for us in UKIP as we have recently produced a "pub policy" which we will be kicking off a campaign with in Bradford.

"figures released by the Commons all-party beer group...reveal 311 Yorkshire pubs have closed since the last General Election in June 2005"

UKIP Bradford will be targetting it's campaign in Bradford South, as that is where sitting MP Gerry Sutcliffe is also "Licensing Minister" for the country. We hope to gather loads of signatures and landords/ladys support upto the next general election, to put real pressure on him to help out instead of persecute our declining pub industry.

Watch out for UKIP beermats, petitions, posters and pub policies in your pubs around Bradford in the coming months! We will be aiming to meet every Landord/lady in Bradford South and have a good chat, and hopefully roll the campaign out around Bradford.

See the Campaign Website: http://www.savethepub.co.uk/
See the UKIP Pub Policy: http://www.ukip.org/media/pdf/pubs.pdf

Branch chairman on local Radio

Tune in to hear Branch Chairman and MEP Candidate for Yorkshire Jason Smith on BCB Radio Friday 27th February.

The discussion will be the 57th anniversary of the abolition of wartime identity cards and other No2ID business.


Tune into 106.6 fm at 11:45am on Friday.

UKIP to help local Pubs

First of all, apologies for not updating the blog recently. Ive been helping in the redesign of the UKIP Bradford website, had uni exams over the last few weeks and been campaigning.

The national party has produced a policy paper regarding pubs.
Find here: http://www.ukip.org/media/pdf/pubs.pdf

I'm sure publicans and customers won't find any proposals more attractive than these from the other parties.

After the successful launching of a pub campaign last May in Queensbury, we distributed UKIP beermats, posters and petitions garnering much interest and response. Now with much more resources and help from the national party, we should be able to roll this campaign out around Bradford.

It is also interesting to point out the Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe is the licensing minister for the country. Some of his past comments can be found here: http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/news.ma/article/59415?Ntt=sutcliffe&Ntk=All&PagingData=Po_0~Ps_10~Psd_Asc

We've got a real chance to send Gerry a message that damaging legislation and rises in alcohol duty only costs jobs and much like the closure of Post Offices, destroying what can be the hub of a village.

Also worth of note is that the Queensbury BNP Councillors currently do not take their seat they can have on the licenscing committee, so there is only UKIP standing up for our local pubs!

The Campaign (Save the pub) website can be found here: http://www.savethepub.co.uk/