£1.5Million For Ukip..... From Eu!

[Gromit]

Should UKIP take the money ?
Or would that be hypocritical?


// UKIP has secured £1.5m in EU funding by forming a pan-European political party, despite party members having voted against the idea three years ago, it had emerged.
The Eurosceptic party is to be awarded the money by Brussels through the formation of the Alliance for Direct Democracy in Europe (ADDE), of which its MEPs account for 21 of the 27 registered members.
The BBC’s Newsnight programme reported that the European Parliament could announce the approval of the funds – usually reserved for parties that promote European integration – later this week. //

[BlackadderV]

Yes, they should take it, but please don't tell Mikey.

[janbee]

Yes of course they should take it.

[ChillDoubt]

Of course they should take it. Farage enjoys with relish the irony that the EU pays and paves the way for him to go about his goal, which is to ultimately take it down from within.

[Gromit]

Are UKIP not against the EU Gravy Train?

Looks like they just hopped onto it.

[lady-janine]

yes of course they should take it. sounds like a good idea on everyones' part except ours and we are ultimately paying for it.

[Booldawg]

They also have MEPs as well. Everyones happy to feed from the trough.

[ChillDoubt]

Just hopped on? They've been on it since they got there, just like the rest.
Sometimes you need to be on the train in order to pull the communication cord to get it to stop.
Farage has never made any secret of it, but you already knew that.

[Gromit]

Chill,
So it is acceptable for the EU to waste taxpayer money, as long as they do it in an 'ironic' way?

[ChillDoubt]

Plenty of taxpayers money gets micturated away by the EU already.
£1.5 million is a piffling amount in light of the fine....sorry, 'levy' we have got to pay for having a half-decent economy, as well as foregoing our rebate so we end up paying the 'levy' in full, despite the BS from Osborne that day.

And if the EU are going to PAY Farage to take it down from the inside then it just goes to prove what a totally failed experiment the whole thing has been, what with one bailout or another, ironically that WE always seem to making the biggest contributions to.
As I said, Farage has never made any secret of his intentions, nor the irony behind it all(as you've known all along) so I can only surmise the thread is for mischief making, but hey, knock yourself out.

[Gromit]

£1.5million is admittedly piffling.

Perhaps Farage is going to do what the Commies do in Cuba, and not cash the cheques, and stick to their principles?

[ChillDoubt]

What, like all the other politicians who 'stick to their principles' by telling the electorate we're all in this together, cutting budgets and wages whilst as multi-millionaires still taking an 18% pay rise?
Admittedly some won't but the majority will, especially the more affluent who won't need it.
If the EU are going to pay Nige to take them down, why would he refuse?

[Gromit]

// If the EU are going to pay Nige to take them down, why would he refuse? //

On Principle?

Do you not agree that this seems like an own goal, and for a piffling amount?

[ChillDoubt]

Do you not agree that this seems like an own goal
-----------------
No, not even vaguely, he's always made his intentions quite clear, which is why it won't come as a surprise to his opponents and detractors, despite their feigned outrage. You're not stupid, you've known his stance all along.
I say good on the EU, more power to his elbow!

[mikey4444]

It was announced this week that Farage has been given a considerable sum of money by the pornographer, Richard Desmond. So it appears that UKIP will take money from anyone and anywhere it likes, without questioning its provenance. The issue of hypocrisy seem not to bother the Party one little bit.

[youngmafbog]

So, judging by your pious stand, you along with Gromit the other day are telling us you have never enjoyed an art pamphlet or two or an alternative cinematographic feature Mickey?

[youngmafbog]

Of course Farage should take it.

The way things are in this country you have to get funding wherever you can. Labour are funded by the Unions and labour luvvies, the Tories have some serious cash from the wealthy so, unless you are trying to strangle a fledging party by cutting off all sources of income (I'm sure there are some on here who would love that) I see no alternative unless we fund Political parties by their popularity (share of the votes not seats Mickey).

[Gromit]

Ymb,
I was careful to select one by that nice Karen Brady's dad.

[Old_Geezer]

Stand on principles to an extreme extent and one simply cripple one's ability to do what is required. Sometimes for pragmatic reasons 'ends' justify 'means'.

Similar arguments have been used before to mock individuals or parties that act within the system, simply because those same individuals don't believe the system should be as it is. And yet have the sense not to allow their opponents advantages that would otherwise be denied themselves. For sure it allows the opponents to mock, but no sensible individual fails to see through that.

Whilst a system is in place all may take advantage of whatever is available regardless whether one thinks it should be on offer. Once the system has changed no one may take advantage of that which is no longer offered. That's the rational way it works.

[Old_Geezer]

A little surprised at your stance Gromit. Should we detour the thread to speak of left wing politicians that send their kids to private schools maybe ?