Listening to Henry Bolton’s press conference yesterday, I felt compelled to try to set the record straight on the subject of the UKIP National Executive Committee (NEC). Mr Bolton has sought to blame the NEC for the current problems in the party, and says that he will ‘reform’ it, should he remain as Leader.
Mr Bolton said:
“The NEC, as presently constituted, is unfit for purpose and has severely handicapped the Party’s progress and political delivery for some years, as all recent UKIP leaders will attest.”
Well, I won’t!
I don’t know Paul Nuttall’s position, but he was my predecessor as Chairman of the Committee. Diane James blamed the NEC for her early bath, despite not even having turned up to meet it. Steven Woolfe didn’t like the fact that it wouldn’t cheat him onto the ballot when he failed to file his papers on time.
Certainly Nigel Farage wants rid of it. Quite understandably, after 25 years of campaigning, he finds it an irritating impediment to doing whatever he wants, whenever he wants. But Nigel himself created the NEC, to remove power from a previous rogue leader and put it in the hands of the party’s members.
In the six years I served Nigel as his Chairman and chaired the NEC, it was an enthusiastic and loyal supporter of his outstanding leadership, a thoughtful and conscientious guardian of the party’s principles, and a dogged defender of the rights of the members and the unheard pleas of the people of this country.
For six months of this time, the NEC was used as a battle-ground, to try and disable Nigel and keep him out of the Referendum campaign, as those who have read Douglas Carswell’s valedictory interviews can attest. It was a tough time, but the NEC majority held firm, and we managed to prevent Nigel’s team being stripped away, leaving him vulnerable to those who wanted him taken out of the game.
It is true that some members brought sandwiches to meetings. That was because they wanted to save the party money. In fact, in 2013 Nigel complained about us buying a sandwich lunch for the NEC, at meetings lasting from mid-day to 6pm, to which members had travelled at their own expense from all parts of the country.
Let’s be absolutely clear. When the party leadership spends more than it raises, it is the NEC that has to pick up the pieces. When someone wants to do something that goes against our party’s core philosophy, or political sense, it is the NEC which reins them in. When people disgrace the party, it is the NEC that kicks them out.
The 15 members of the NEC comprise twelve who are directly elected from among the membership, two who have won election to legislatures in our name, and the Party Leader.
Every year, NEC members are elected promising to ‘drain the swamp’ and ‘sort out the hierarchy’. Then they arrive and discover that the Committee is comprised of fine, committed, well-intentioned members, like themselves, who are trying to keep this ramshackle, anarchic, glorious party in some sort of order.
The narrative that the NEC is not fit for purpose has been built inexorably over a period, but I would ask members to consider what they would see it replaced with. Today, Nigel writes that he wanted a more ‘5-Star’ style organisation. Which one, though? The one in which all decisions are made collectively, over the Internet, by people who cannot have been involved in any political party previously? Or the one which has only one member, Mr Grillo, who decides whether those decisions fit with his preferred agenda?
Nigel has written in today’s Daily Telegraph that, to paraphrase, he thought Henry was a pretty poor leader until the NEC said so. Now, he thinks he is a splendid chap, and will help him get rid of the bee in his bonnet that is the accursed NEC. The fact that Nigel still has this bee buzzing, after all he has achieved and having gone on to a whole new career outside the party, is really rather sad.
The current NEC is not a bunch of numpties. It consists of three retired entrepreneurs (successful ones), two practising London barristers and a London solicitor, a former international film industry executive, three health professionals (two still working in the NHS), a chartered accountant, a young marketing professional, a member of the European Parliament and a member of the Welsh Assembly.
And Henry Bolton’s attempt to make the NEC responsible for the current fiasco, rather than his own lack of political acumen, is nothing short of breathtaking. Now we find that he and Nigel intend to use this opportunity to remove the mechanism by which the members exercise control over their party (and the Leader).
Henry Bolton has said that
“it is now time to put an end to the factional infighting within the Party and to remove those who have been a part of that.”
That is absolutely correct!
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154 Comments on “THE NEC AND BOLTON”
Steve Crowther wrote “But Nigel himself created the NEC, to remove power from a previous rogue leader and put it in the hands of the party’s members.”
How many members feel they had power put into their hands? How powerful do you feel?
I regret having to remove retrospectively the comments of “Mrs Merton” .
While banter is acceptable, trolling and personal attacks are not.
I’m guessing ‘she’ didn’t answer my politely then?
*me
Dear Vivian
Thank you for this. It had been my intention, this afternoon, to email you in this regard.
Yesterday evening, I had to give up trying to read the (genuine) comments as the nonsense this person was posting was very distracting and hindered the flow of genuine debate.
I tried again this morning and noticed that ‘Mrs Merton’s’ comments were becoming abusive. I logged in this afternoon with the express intention of emailing you but, thankfully, you beat me to it.
Kind regards.
Brenda
Dear Brenda,
I think Mrs. Merton was a troll, with a name like that. That is why I was trying to catch her out, and her comments against Graham were malicious to say the least.
We are still in Europe.
They will not let us leave
@mrs Merton, can I ask what it was that first attracted you to the polite, thoughtful, and articulate contributors to UKIPD?
Well said!
Anne Marie and John Rees-Evans wanted the event to go ahead and said they would attend, if I remember rightly, Roger. Senior Members – Gerard Batten. Of course.
After Bolton had claimed he was finished with Jo Marney – he was seen dining with her at the Liberal club.
Does anyone know the criteria or the rules of dining in this club?
Does one have to be a party member?
Just asking……
And the simple answer to my question…?
I would appreciate it.
No you do not have to be a member of the party. It sufficient to declare support for liberalism as a philosophy.
Would Libertarian be a qualification?
The couple could also possibly got in on the “Libertine” ticket
It may be true that I don’t get out much but as a matter of fact I’m aware that he had claimed to have been ‘seeing’ this Italian au pair.
Just to be clear, I voted for Mr. Bolton once, a mistake I now feel disinclined to repeat should he fail to retreat.
Are we all swamp creatures? I wasn’t sure if the NEC was the swamp or all of us except the 4000 or so who voted for him. He is talking like a megalomaniac.
At no time has apologised for what he is putting the party through, or even said ‘I’m sorry, but…..’ . This isn’t how true leaders are. As a former soldier he should know how important morale and trust are. Henry’s main interest is himself, not the party.
Christ this is excruciating
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfwmjQEGVBk
He’s almost as unpleasant as Piers Morgan.
“Maintaining focus on the task in hand. That is leadership.”
Priceless! Got the impression that’s precisely what he didn’t do.
It begs the question, why did he agree to the interview? Did he not know he would be hung out to dry?
Good grief!
Thank God the NEC defenestrated him unanimously. Otherwise the general public might have thought UKIP were all utter nutters. It’s not often that I am lost for words, but watching this video, I am.
Well written, Steve.
I say, deriving no satisfaction at all from this whole fiasco, I could have written Steve Crowther’s letter myself. All of it.
In a way, I did so.
Over a week ago.
It was encapsulated in the very first line of a brief letter to the NEC.
It unfortunately found its way into the public domain.
Mrs. Cleo Merton,
What on Earth are you talking about, are you a troll?
Mrs. Merton,
Well, you are very amusing, I will say that!
Thank you for pointing up the letter from the gang of four. I was not aware it – why would I be if it was on Ben Walker’s facebook. It’s very revealing.
A previous gang of four received life sentences in China. A subsequent gang of four, the SDLP, enjoyed political irrelevance and eventual obscurity.
Just saying.
I tried to get Ben Walker up to speed on Islam.
Graham,
Crikey, Stuart Agnew is caught up in this as well, is this the notorious gang of four?
Oh, I see he is.
Alll because you all wanted someone else to be leader just like the treatment that President Trump has and is receiving Henry has done nothing wrong his personal life is his alone l did not vote for Henry but I defiantly will now
“He is perfectly entitled to delay telling his wife of his decision to dessert his family”
I guarantee you did not mean that.
The extra ‘s’ was a typo from rapid key presses. Only a pedant would remark upon it and so clutter the thread with self-advertisement. Have some respect for the issues being discussed and don’t pollute the comments further with a reply please.
Hear! Hear!
Because, most likely, he has Nigel whispering in his ear that he can be UKIP’s Jeremy Corbyn.
Crowther, Oakley, Oakden and you should have a quiet word with Nigel.
It’s not his appendage at work. Oh that he were just a philanderer. If he was he wouldn’t fall in “love” and lose all perspective. It would seem that has adolescent or infantile ego needs. The next catastrophic misjudgement cannot be far off.
Because John, he’s a narcissist. Border personality disorder. (NPD or a ‘narc’ ) He’s a nutter.
Look it up.
Well you be defiant then!
But to vote you have to be a paid up member first!
If I had wanted someone else as leader then I would have voted for someone else. I voted for Bolton and what an almighty mistake that was.
Yes, it`s clear some Army and ex-Army are clearly incapable of accepting the definitions of obligations of acceptable public conduct that originated under Samuel Pepys in the Royal Navy (still the Senior Service)
Link to Daily Politics today, about 40 mins in. David Allan and Peter Whittle interviewed by Jo Coburn:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b09pqsnt/daily-politics-23012018
Oh dear , I suppose Dave Allen will be on about some Peculiar voting system again. Why can he not be an expert in something else. It made Lib Dem look ridiculous and now us.
snap. but I’m 85. But he seems a nice enough chap.
Perhaps we could interest him in bonobos ( what are they )
I don’t agree with your number, I make it six and a bit.
as for supply-demand all UKIPers should be conversant.
t g spokes,
Please see my reply to Freddy above, they are lovely apes and highly intelligent. One lady in America has taught some of them to converse with her and they have a great time together, they are so humanlike, much more than Chimpanzee IMO.
Sandwiches, of course, can never be a Proper Bonobo-Hobby-Activity Lunch ?
JF,
I agree with everything you say, some of the leadership candidates were farcical, but that did not stop the NEC taking their £5,000.
Freddy,
I like Bonobos because it is a matriarcal species of ape (females rule) males are just the bozos (Trumpism alert here), but they are terribly promiscuous settling disputes with sex instead of violence, perhaps UKIP should take note.
Freddy,
Just realised Henry has already tried that with a chimp, has not worked has it? That is because he is a Bozo! not a bonobo.
I agree with everything you say Chris and I despair. Some have suggested Bolton is a ‘plant’ which he may or may not be, but he couldn’t damage UKIP more if he was.
Chris,
I am not so sure about that have you seen ‘For Britain’s’ web page? It is excellent, well laid out and very informative, we do need something like that in order to compete, also I like AMW’s daily video logs. She comes across very well keeping all her members up to date, as well as treating them like adults and involving them at all levels.
A lot could be learnt from this, the videos are not very long just enough to say hello and report any news, excellent IMO.
I saw your comment only after I’d posted a reply to DD and it seems we are thinking along the same lines, especially n relation to the soap opera and the media.
Readers who stay on or bookmark this page should not overlook the latest letters
http://www.ukipdaily.com/letters-editor-tuesday-23rd-january-2018-part-two/
Come back on Saturday, we’ll let you know.
Roger,
I have said this all along, Bolton, Farage and Banks need to come clean and put some proposals on the table, and some members might like them, but this crafty approach of a takeover is not helping and will probably end with Bolton being sacked. What will they do then? Set up their own party I suspect, but as you say time is running out, just be honest and get on with it I say.
Who sets the venue for the EGM? It’s rumoured to be Derby. Bolton is thought to have greatest support in the East Midlands…
Best not be complacent.
With proxy voting, is location relevant?
Many members are posting on here their thanks to the NEC for the unanimous vote. Seems to me this presents an excellent opportunity for NEC and members to build bridges.
Regards
I agree Brenda and I also thank the NEC for their incredible, unequivocal, no confidence slap down of Mr Bolton.
They listened to the membership.
Mrs. Merton,
Don’t forget the crisps!
Just watching Daily Politics. What is David Allen talking about … email systems – winning the EGM….??
Peter Whittle making a lot of sense and is clearly and quite rightly, p***ed off with the whole affair.
I’m afraid Team Bolton might believe that they’re in the Civil Service organising the paper clips and checking the inventory.
One very large donor said to Bolton before Christmas: I’m not interested in a business plan, I want to know how you’re going to increase our poll ratings and get UKIP back in the game.
IMO he’s done ‘nothing of substance’ since becoming leader
John, I remember a wonderful quote from Mike Tyson ” Everybody has a plan before I punch them in the face…..”
Mr. Bav,
May I have the pleasure of punching’our ‘enry’ in the mush!
John at the meeting in Tiveton on December 13th Bolton said, in answer to a question from a member, that he had secured the Party’s financial position with a large donor. Would this be the same person and to your knowledge is this true as I thought we were bankrupt.
MR. Bav,
Does even David himself know what he is talking about, let alone us?
Mrs. Merton,
I think you might be right there, and look how wonderful it all turned out>
I was getting tired. the last para.- It should be “throughout”… aand “thinking” not thing.
There is a critique to be made but allowance must be made for the lack of resources. Other parties, funded in millions of pounds, have sizeable back office and secretarial support. Ours does not.
Well said, Swampy! ?
Damn, you’ve rumbled me.
I am Swampicus !
Mr. Bav,
I too am Swampicus!
Mrs. Merton,
Who is J, is that his French lodger by any chance?
Henry’s resigned? ?
“About Steve Crowther (3 Articles)
Steve Crowther was the chairman of UKIP until 2016 and IS NOW THE INTERIM LEADER.” ???
Thanks for pointing out that we’ve not yet corrected that entry. Unfortunately, as you might have noticed, events have meant a rather hectic time for us editors here on UKIP Daily.
You do keep up a lot faster than ukip.org which still does not have a single correct version of the NEC available….
The Technical sub-committee is speed racing the Constitutional sub-committee ??♂️?♀️
Mrs. Merton,
Did you get this from Henry’s statement, no not possible it makes too much sense.
Yep. I’m one of the swamp critters – the ones which bite. You found me out.
Viv,
Yes, you too are Swampicus!
Here’s part of how the (then) proposed new constitution was described to the members on UKIP.ORG in Feb 2012:
“In our view – a view supported by the current Leader – a strong NEC enables a strong Leader to flourish. The NEC provides a powerful, well organised party for the Leader to lead; and works with him (or her) to deliver the best policies and political direction, which everyone can get behind.”
From memory I believe Diane James last night said something along the lines of how the current Constitution was not ‘fit for purpose’ because it was ‘ twenty years old or something ‘ ( that was the gist ).
My understanding is that the current Constitution is only a few years old and was recommended to the membership by………..Nigel ?
I thought that was a particularly stupid comment from her as e.g. the US constitution has survived pretty well. And Nigel’s snobbishness, his comment on how the ‘NEC weren’t qualified to make big politicial decisions’ sounded just like a remoaner!
I seem to recall US courts still cite Magna Carta as precedent, on occasion ?
Graham,
Nigel has a habit of looking down his nose at lots of people, he is a terrible inverted snob IMO.
Thank you for that much needed authoritative input Mr Crowther.
Fully agree with your summation.
Rhys – remember the 400-word-limit for comment posts, please!
?
Sorry ! ( I’m naughty but you know you like it ! [ Ooh Er Mother ! ? ] ) ~ sorry ~ too much binge watching of Alan Partridge’s Knowing Me Knowing Yule on Netflix……….
See relevant comment from JB below…
And Steve Crowther above! ?
Rhys,
Someone needs to gag David Allen and Nigel, they are both too fond of their own voices.
Brilliant Steve! Everything you say is spot-on, and readers here would do well to heed it.
Can you also confirm that that it is practicalities of implementation, e.g. sending iut pins, and concerns about using a leadership as a testing ground, rather than the NEC which has delayed electronic voting (another of Nigel’s fatuous allegations)
Nigel personally recruited Neil and Christine Hamilton in (I think) 2003.
Well there you have it !
So they have been totally loyal members for fifteen years. ( I hope Neil keeps up his policy of not rising to Nigel’s bait. )
Something off topic, perhaps but it lightened my morning.
Doing some repair work at home and listening to my favourite radio station, Jazz.FM91 out of Toronto CA. The host played Ella singing Anything goes by Cole Porter and the lyrics include the following.
The world has gone mad today,
and good’s bad today, and black’s white today,
and day’s night today,
When most guys today that women prize today
are just silly gigolos.
For some reason I immediately thought of Henry Bolton, a gigolo!
In fairness, I understand that the purple comments on social media were private messages on Facebook which were exposed to the world through the auspices of some from another purplish oganisation, purportedly within UKIP.
I would like to ask what happened to the ‘Constitutional Reform’ committee under Michael Greaves. What recommendations did it come up with and at what stage of progress is it?
With Farage backing him, I don’t think you’ll be getting rid of Henry that easily……
It was meeting whilst I was on the NEC -Tomaž, of this larish, was a member. But there were always higher priorities, like general elections…
Well in the records where you are bade farewell from the NEC in January last year it was in existence. But nothing seems to have happened? And this is really what undermines the NECs defence. If you cannot reform from the inside, then eventually reform will be imposed upon you from the outside.
In honesty, compared to elections and bedding in a new leader and associated team, it wasn’t seen as the highest priority.
Graham, constitutional reform was underway with Paul Nuttall, then he fell. Before Christmas we agreed with Bolton to delay the NEC elections so we could discuss reform. So he’s making a mountain out of a molehill and desperately trying to distract members from the matter at hand.
A crystal clear explanation of the situation and one that rings very true. Thank you, Steve. I listened to Bolton last night on LBC. It is quite pathetic the way he is so brazenly trying to divert peoples’ attention to the NEC when the whole situation is due to his self obsessed, sociopathic failings. My dog has far better judgement than he does. For god’s sake GO, man.
I’m afraid Henry Bolton is the sort of fellow who blames other people.
Sorry, we DID have it checked out, and it was not realistically enforceable.
Dear Rhys,
The hold you have over elected reps is that you deselect them at the next elections. As there won’t be any more EU elections for the UK, allegedly they cannot be pressured into compliance. However, those that have not complied can be stopped from standing
in UK parliamentary elections.
Diane James was the standby, the plan B. She submitted at around 11.40am on the last day. So there she was nonchalantly reading the papers and glanced up at the clock. Oops must go online quickly. Pull the other one. Once it became clear candidate A was in trouble her phone rang ….
“Agreed?”! Good Lord they’re politicians. Still, I expect the NEC can rewrite this agreement to everyone’s satisfaction.
Gawain Towler is a journalist hired by UKIP. He’s well known and well respected. Quite popular/funny , he opens doors
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6-rYzp9vSQ
Mr. Bav above all HE GETS IT! He’s a keeper! (in reference to Gawain of course.)
Henry owns a flat in the hotel, but may have to sell due to substantial service charge arrears. Hence his bleating about no salary ?
I think the leader should have a salary. But not Bolton.
So are you saying the flat in the hotel is the marital abode ?
The one he stated in October his W was on board with selling to help fund his UKIP Leadership activities ?
Know any more about the service charges ? ( these can often be disputed for good reason, to be fair. )
AND he KNEW about ‘no salary’ before he applied for the job.
But lets be honest ~did he or does he have any income from any source anyway ?
Wasn’t that why his W ( still breastfeeding their latest progeny ) took up the comparatively well paid posting at an international organization in Vienna ~ to provide a family income where he was not providing any ?
https://uk.linkedin.com/in/gawaintowler
You’re right Mr Bav. He doesn’t care what damage he does. Good or bad attention it’s all about the fix.