On Tuesday evening I was in Hampstead at a well attended community hustings in the Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel. My fellow panel members are on the poster below 
– five parties were represented in what at times proved a very lively evening.
The most obvious spilt between those on the platform was about race and immigration. UKIP, as you would imagine, were fairly openly racist. I even had one woman come up to me afterwards and tell me just how racist she found the UKIP representative’s comments. The Tories are little better. Their proposed five point system for allowing people into Britain is discriminatory, designed to keep people they see as undesirable out, surely a racist policy if ever there was one.
For me the most interesting arguments were between the Conservatives and UKIP, especially on attitudes to the EU. Although I find it hard sometimes to distinguish between Tory Euroscepticism and UKIP’s position of total withdrawal from the EU, the two panel members had no such problem. I have to say that UKIP’s pledge to take Britain out of the EU despite 35 years’ membership and all the benefits of the single market is at least a coherent, if ridiculous, policy. The Tories’ decision to leave the centre right political group (the European People’s Party which is the largest group in the Parliament) and seek alliances with parties such as the ultra right Polish Law and Justice Party has always struck me as getting out of Europe by stealth.
My thanks to the organisers of this event and to those who provided the wine and refreshments.
What pray did the UKIP representative say that was “openly racist”. Nothig I suspect.
You toss around epithets that are openly defamatory, but provide no evidence.
Intolerant of others oipinion, wish to just drive a difference of opinion into the ‘not allowed’ section. Or just lying, do tell.
If you have evidence rather than your overheated imagination I would be interested to hear it.
You ask what the UKIP representative said. I thought I made it clear that I felt the UKIP policy on immigration is racist as did the lady in the audience who raised it with me after the meeting
“The Tories are little better. Their proposed five point system for allowing people into Britain is discriminatory, designed to keep people they see as undesirable out, surely a racist policy if ever there was one.”
I think that is a good idea, in effect it is current Labour policy, is it not? There is the Tier1-5 system for highly skilled migrants. If you are not a European citizen and have no skills you are excluded. You and your party are racist.
Quite frankly 12 years of being called a “racist” for wanting a fair but firm immigration policy, using that term inaccurately has lost its ability to insult. 12 years of cheap shots, no wonder the BNP are doing so well.
“UKIP policy on immigration is racist”
Which race/s do you mean, one or two, a few, all? You obviously haven’t a clue about what racism means.
I was the young lady in the audience at the hustings. Thanks for a great discussion.. you have my vote, now I have done my research, especially given your record on women’s rights + secularism… (I’m Irish)
Thank you for your vote Suzanne. I appreciate that you take voting seriously.