UKIP Manifesto
You can access the full UKIP manifesto here.
The importance of us having a full range of well thought out policies across all main policy areas cannot be underestimated. The UK Independence Party ( UKIP ) must appeal to a wider range of voters in order to build its electoral strength, and increase its political threat. Our Leader Lord Pearson has made it clear we must broaden our policy base.
UKIP's key aim remains to achieve independence and freedom for the United Kingdom from the European Union's emerging political superstate ( we do of course want to keep friendly trade deals, as Norway and Switzerland have done whilst retaining their own freedoms ).
But the reality is that the ordinary British voter is not being told the truth about the aims or the massive impact of the EU in our own affairs: the facts are that 75% of our laws now come from the EU, 120,000 regulations and directives, and membership costs us #50 billion a year in cash and red tape. 80% of British people, regardless of party, wanted a referendum on the EU Constitution ( Lisbon Treaty ), but were disgracefully denied one.
UKIP's policies must appeal to the ordinary voter, and show the relevance of the EU to matters they regard as being of greatest concern. Research shows voters will rank crime, education, health, immigration, the economy, for example, highest on their lists. So that's why UKIP policies must address all those areas directly.
Of course, we know just how much the EU ties our hands in all these areas, and strongly influences what we are allowed to do as a member state. For example, post offices are closing and the Royal Mail being decimated owing to EU laws and rules. Fortnightly bin collections are a desperate attempt by local councils to avoid EU-imposed landfill charges. The Human Rights Act, which so badly effects our ability to fight crime, is driven by the EU model of rights, which also threaten our basic legal freedoms of habeas corpus and trial by jury. EU police forces are already in the UK, and are immune from prosecution.
To this end, I have created, recruited and spearheaded a full range of 18 policy groups within UKIP, groups which also have strong links with other bodies such as think tanks, pressure groups and companies. Each of these groups is led by experts in their particular field. We have magistrates and prison governors and probation officers who've written our Law & Order paper. We have soldiers on the front line contributing to our defence paper, written by a Rear Admiral and former Commander of our nuclear submarine fleet. We have top professors of engineering disputing Global Warming and writing our Energy and Environment policy. Some very impressive people are dedicated to our cause.
We have papers now available on the UKIP website, all downloadable, for education, flat tax, energy & the environment, defence and law & order. Others are in the pipeline. See what you think, and let us know your thoughts.
Do please get involved in Young Independence - it is you, the young people of this country, who will save Britain. Our vision of a free, independent, Commonwealth-focused Britain trading with the EU, but not being part of the political United States of Europe, is a radical, fresh and exciting alternative to the failed old UK parties who have been left increasingly weak and irrelevant owing to ever increasing surrender of powers to the EU.
- David Campbell Bannerman
Deputy Leader of UKIP and Member of the European Parliament for the East of England
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