TO ALL MEMBERS OF UKIP

In the current UKIP Leadership election, because of an oversight in the drafting of the Leadership Election Rules which fail to deal with a multiplicity of candidates, we face the prospect of electing a leader with less than 50% of the vote (possibly as low as 20%).

This could lead to the dictatorship of the Party by a small minority, and the alienation of the majority, and the end of the Party.

If you would like the next Leader to be elected by more than 50% of the votes then an additional Rule can do it. The NEC cannot change the Constitution, but it can, and often does, change the Rules made under the Constitution.

 

The proposed new Rule would be:

In the event that no candidate in the current Leadership Election receives more than 50% of the vote there will be a runoff between the top 2 candidates to be conducted by the Electoral Reform Society

 

However, that will involve expense, so the following alternative is proposed:

In the event that no candidate in the current Leadership Election receives more than 50% of the vote the 7 candidates shall be invited to a meeting at which only the candidates ( or a representative of a candidate who is unable to attend) may be present and vote secretly for the Leader of their choice (a candidate may vote for him/herself).

Each candidate will write the initials of his/her preferred leader on a slip, fold it and place it in a vessel. On completion of the voting the vessel will be emptied, and the votes counted by the candidates.

If a candidate receives 4 or more of the votes cast that person’s name shall be put to Conference for approval or not. If approved, that person becomes Leader of the Party.

 

(7 candidates represent an average of 14.2% each, so that 4 of them will represent at least 56% of the total.  This note is explanatory, and not a part of the proposal)

 

If not approved there will be a run-off between the top 2 candidates in the Primary Ballot to be conducted by the Electoral Reform Society.

 

For this to work in legality the NEC will need to pass the Rule, essentially before the result of the Primary Ballot is known in practice, in respect of the first part a majority of the candidates will need to approve it and the conference itself must be willing

 

In creating this Rule the NEC can  overcome the deficiencies of the present Rules, for which the present NEC is not responsible and facilitate the outcome we all want:

that we end up with a Leader who has overwhelming support.

 

I hope this helps.

 

Hugh Moelwyn Hughes

UKIP Founder Member.