ATTENTION!
The site will got into lockdown from 12 noon Sunday Feb 25th to 12 noon Monday Feb 26th, to deal with the various issues which have cropped up.
As the dust settles on the Bolton saga, as it might be known to future generations, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at the winners and losers that have inevitably emerged. Just a personal point of view; others are available!
I’m going to start with the losers first, as I always like to finish on a positive.
Losers
Henry Bolton – They say, if you put your head over the parapet, you should be prepared to be shot at. Henry, alas, found a lass, which, while a little unedifying, wasn’t such a problem. Sadly for him, once his beau’s genuinely unedifying Facebook comments were found and laid bare, a MSM sh*tstorm was soon unsurprisingly quickly whipped up.
Most people can juggle two skittles, but three takes practice. 
Henry quickly found himself negotiating his on/off/on relationship with Jo, losing a vote of confidence from the NEC and, perhaps the killer blow, the discovery that some aspects of his past that were – how can I put this – a little embellished.
It was all too much, of course. However, I’m not sure if we’ve seen the last of Henry. He’s a wounded animal alright, and they can be very dangerous. Hopefully, though, he’ll reflect, dust himself down and learn from the experience.
Nigel Farage – I will start by saying that Nigel should be knighted for his services to his country. Without him, we would not have had a referendum never mind bloody well winning it. Nigel’s historical role can never be airbrushed away.
When Nigel resigned as leader, he said he wanted his life back, and who could begrudge him that. However, he has been pulling a few strings since and I think his backing of Henry, especially in light of his ‘troubles’ coming to the fore, was misplaced. I also think his suggestion of a second referendum was misguided.
I still have the greatest of respect for Nigel but his decisions and direction of late has been a little troubling.
Winners
The NEC – “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing yours … you’ll be a man, my son!” to quote Rudyard Kipling. Despite all the slings and arrows, the NEC held firm, kept its integrity and only had to stand back and watch Henry implode at the AGM.
Yes, there needs to be a change to the constitution to realign the ‘checks and balances’ at the UKIP top table, but the NEC have already acknowledged this. I think the NEC played a blinder.
The Grassroots – Now, I need to be careful here because a 63% victory isn’t a whitewash; there’s a significant minority who wanted Henry to stay. However, the good news is that, in the main, the losing side appear to have accepted their lot and are back in the fold, ready to fight the common cause we all share – that’s a Kipper for you! Unlike another faction whose name escapes me for a moment … ah, yes, the Remoaners.
UKIP Daily and Kipper Central – The good folks that run these top-two independent UKIP sites have been instrumental in ensuring democracy in action, unbowed by unreasonable threats. An oasis of respect and fair play, the editors can rightly be proud of their diligent service to us all. Take a bow, Viv, Reece, Darrell and Co.!
Jo Marney – She could well be a winner. Infamy is still fame, and she has that now. For those TV shows that need a ‘baddie’ to spice up the mix, she could be just the ticket; shows like Big Brother, I’m a Celebrity and others. This is the world we live in; like it or not; that’s what I think will happen!
So, what about UKIP itself?
Well, our party has been battered alright. It’s not been good. A lot of credibility has been lost; after all, as the wise Chinese proverb states: “A fish rots from the head down” and that’s been how the electorate would have seen us lately.
But there’s the flipside. UKIP has been ruthless in dealing with the situation with an EGM quickly organised and situation resolved.
That’s the message for the doorsteps: yes, we weren’t happy with our leader and so he was replaced with a steady pair of hands until we find someone permanent. (Best not dwell on that!)
Certainly, UKIP is back in the news and we need to ride this publicity, such as it is, as we take our message to the streets: We want the Brexit that was voted for and will make damned sure we hold the government to account.
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30 Comments on “The Bolton Saga: Winners and Losers”
Chris,
Such as what though, do you mean as a spokesperson or press officer or something along those lines?
I took it as read that the NEC would be one of those couple-few people.
Chris,
Hopefully Gerard will make sound choices, he has been around UKIP long enough to know where the snakes in the grass are!
Why not give Luke Nash-Jones a little credit?
Foxhurst,
Luke Nash-Jones sounds like a country and western singer IMO.
Luke Nash=Jones deserves a lot of credit and should have a major role with UKIP.
Now that Bolton has gone and some of us were called ‘Fagaristas’ have we now become ‘Battenbergs’?
Hear Hear!
The best way to attract members is to actively campaign for our objectives. Henry was more Admiral Byng than Admiral Lord Nelson and was removed accordingly.
“Engage the enemy more closely”!
Thanks for that PB,
I also seem to remember one of Nelson`s that went something like this.
“It is never wrong to lay your ship alongside the enemy”
Just as a matter of interest,
I wonder what Lady Hamilton would have been “tweeting”
so he was replaced with a steady pair of hands until we find someone permanent. (Best not dwell on that!)
If the hands prove as steady as they appear then the safest thing to do is to elect them unopposed.
We need members.
Get recruiting.
Get active,
Write letters, post comments…
Emily,
Loyalty works both ways, you know. When the newly elected leader infers you’re a Nazi because you voted for someone other than him you’re expected to just suck it up, are you?
And, anyway, I think you’re being wise after the event. If it hadn’t been for Marneygate, Bolton could have remained leader for years with Gerard Batten having the most minor of roles. Good luck to that if you’d stuck around..
Thomas,
Don’t take us for fools, we would have found out about Bolton sooner or later, as for me I was just waiting for him to trip up as I never trusted him from the start. Give us some credit where it is due please.
I’m inclined to agree with Emily and DD on this.
DD do you agree that Emily should also be on the small cabinet mentioned earlier.
Bav somewhere on here I attempted to cost the egm per person based on £50 average travel & out of pocket expenses for food coffee tea carparking etc and 10 hours time spent with guessed 1400 attendance.
1400 x 50 70,000
1400 x 10 14,000 hours
cost of venue
cost of head office staff time and materials.
Cost of delay to UKIP operating as a political party for 2 months.
cost of the factions and strife created by HB. First AMW supporters. Second HB supporters versus members agreeing with NEC decision.
Seems an expensive do, it all adds up.
Chris,
Yes, but it was worth every penny!
Too true DD,
Worse than that Chris as there were 1604 ballot papers issued (Interim Leader email) so that must be the number of attendees. Doing your maths again:
1604×50 = 80,200
1604×10 = 16,040
As you say expensive but worth it to ‘Bin Bolton’. I hope that the majority of those members who supported Bolton will now get behind Gerard as we need all hands to the pump.
Thanks Alec, the hours spent is quite staggering. Based on an 8 hour working day it is equivalent to several years of work, seven or eight years approx. £80,000 to £100,000 plus could’ve been saved had HB spent ten minutes typing a simple resignation letter to the NEC, bought a stamp and posted it.
Mr. Bav,
It is a terrible reflection on the party that someone like her could ‘climb’ through the ranks like she did, it shows weakness and poor judgement at it’s worse.