Nic Coome (LPUK Acting Party Leader)I suppose it was on the cards, but still rather dispiriting news.
May 18, 2011 at 11:19 am
"Final closure: de-registration papers have been received by the Electoral Commission this morning. When they have been processed, LPUK will cease to be a political party."
So what now, then? All over to UKIP?
41 comments:
Shame.
Still think the police should be involved though.
Well, the whole thing stinks to high heaven and the leadership clique seem to be determined not to be open (even if that means destroying the party) so yeah, a police investigation might be the only way to actually get any sort of transparency.
I hope somebody is still going to call plod in to get to the bottom of where the money has gone. Surely NC doesn't think he just closes the party down and that draws a line under possible theft?
I must admit to being surprised at why de-registration is being considered. Requests are being made to look at the accounts, and this is the response it would appear. Why?
Yes, over to UKIP, same as me and Witterings.
I cheerfully admit that they have a Home-Owner-Ist/authoritarian wing as well as a proper small government libertarian wing, but hey, the more of the latter the better.
I wouldn't put too much faith in UKIP if I were you. Anna and I saw what their "intentions" were quite clearly when raising funds to release Nick Hogan from prison.
Take my word for it, do what you do and leave political parties well alone.
Well, that's the end of that.
No UKIP for me, of course, but good luck to all you guys.
Except Andrew.
What do you expect? They might have started out as libertarians but they morphed into politicians, if the reports of Withers' behaviour are anything to go by. Vicious, egotistic twats the lot of them.
There is only one party you should belong to. The party of you. I've been anti-party politics for a while, for various reasons.
They all have one thing in common, they were all started with the best of intentions but all end up in the same sorry state we see our major political parties. Corrupt, dishonest and full of shit.
Have your Libertarian beliefs. Use those beliefs to do what you feel you need to do, but if you ever want to become political stay independent!
Sir O
What an absolute and unmitigated tragedy.
And a waste of so many good people's time and energy.
The only good thing to have come out of this is it acted as a rallying point and enabled so many of us to meet one another.
Yes I'm off to UKIP too. Let's create a serious Libertarian contingent within the party.
Whilst I sympathise with what OH is saying, perhaps more than he might think, I do believe changing UKIP from within is doable by us, unlike the prospect of changing our entire political farce of a system from within (or - god forbid - sit in the Tories and have fantasies about them all suddenly showing Eurosceptic, Climate sceptic and libertarian colours...)
Maybe libertarians shouldn't be in any sort of party anyway.
I understand the isolationist line, but it really doesn't do much to change anything, does it? In fact, I'm sure mainstream politicians would be brillinatly happy if we all did that. Less chance of interference in their plans if we all just metaphorically barricade our doors and grumble to ourselves. Sadly, the electorate don't go for independents on general policies, only for single issue campaigns.
It's a shame as there are strands of libertarian thought in UKIP, the Tories and even the Lib Dems (ie Lib Vision) so there is definitely a large section of society less than gruntled out there, and with little or no voice.
Katabasis: Last year, all round Essex Tory good egg MP explained to me (over a pint, gloriously) the more practical approach of being a libertarian on the inside, and with at least a slim chance of influencing those with real power, rather than outside with no hope of ever getting elected and changing things. He made his point very well, I remember thinking.
Unfortunately, there are a max of about 20 odd in parliament who are like that.
Dick: It's not just about the libertarianism either, but also the EU, energy and climate change policies.
Those three things could easily decimate us regardless of our politics and - with the demise of LPUK, UKIP is the only credible party taking the issues seriously.
"I understand the isolationist line, but it really doesn't do much to change anything, does it? In fact, I'm sure mainstream politicians would be brillinatly happy if we all did that."
Yup - that's why I went over to UKIP. The only way to make it the people's party is for the people to join, stand as a candidate if there isn't one in your area and help make policy as I have done on the smoking issue.
UKIP is evolving and because of the massive increase in membership, I say it's premature to dismiss it because of what happened with Nick Hogan whatever that was. He can't be too bothered about it as he is still in UKIP. Didn't F2C also play a part in the pressure piled on OH and Anna which was nothing to do with UKIP?
What's the alternative if we don't vote UKIP - be like some smoker turkeys and keep voting for Xmas - or lifestyle eradication under the ghastly NuConservatives and therefore give them the message that they can continue to treat us like shit, impose green shite policies on us, control and dictate to us in almost every aspect of our private lives?
Taking the moral high ground by not voting may be noble but it won't change a thing. I'm so desperate for change I don't see any alternative but UKIP.
Libertarians should get back to dominating the blogosphere - so that the ideas spread through the general population.
Yep. UKIP for me too. I feel it is preferable to be a Libertarian in a Libertarian faction in a party with designs on Libertarianism and have the opportunity to expand the ethos within an established party than it is to be part of a wholly Libertarian yet dysfunctional, incredible and deeply flawed party.
And yes, I'd like to see plod get involved as well.
It's been a while since I blogged or posted anything online. Woke up today to all this business.
Needless to say, Mr B and I have been forewarning about certain issues connected with this tragedy for years. I'm not here to gloat though, only to say "I share your pain" as a fellow libertarian, and I also actually wanted to say a general all round "well done" to Anna Raccoon.
I think she had guts doing that big piece back in April, blowing the show wide open, and fair play. She must have known the comeback would be tough to deal with but she had the bollocks to do it anyway.
Good effort, I say.
Come and join me in UKIP, but just remember you never have to bin your own principles. If you run as a candidate, run on your Libertarian platform. Help other Libertarians in the party get into positions of influence. Fight with the Traditionalist Tories in UKIP on issues we agree with, ignore them on issues we don't. The system is stacked against people like us, we have to work on a way to turn their system against them.
To all those dropping by from the UKIP message board ... why do you make it so damned impossible to register and have a shufty at what you're talking about? ;)
For me this whole thing has soured the idea of being a member of a politcial party (for now), am going to help groups like the Freedom Association and Taxpayers Alliance.
Hopefully after the coalition will be a realignment of the parties and a new classical liberal group will form
The statement that papers have been filed to dissolve are either inaccurate or, if true, they will be rejected by the EC.
There are those of us who are determined to have due process, transparency and reform and no sinking without trace, for that is unacceptable.
If the party is buried we same will dig it up and conduct a post mortem in broad daylight, if necessary, but the aim is to rejuvenate with new officers voted in by the membership ASAP and a reform agenda along with full transparency.
I hope every one finds a place that suits them (party or not).
UKIP is broadly libertarian - its membership does include old school eu-sceptic conservatives, also eu-sceptic old-labour members but also many with no previous affiliation.
It is too big to be hijacked - so don't try (it will just waste everyone's time and effort!), but if you have common ground do take a look!
I wouldn't touch this lot with the proverbial bargepole. No siree.
I joined UKIP at the end of last year and was (ironically) thinking of moving over to LPUK at the start of the year. Personal events overtook and I didn't - lucky escape.
Personally, I'm fighting on different fronts. Until (if ever) the Tories start being proper Tories then my vote will go to UKIP as it clearly demonstrates to them what support they are losing.
Generally, I have little faith in our democracy or Parliamentary system, which I believe to be broken and corrupt; only the EU is worse.
In the meantime, I signed a permanent overseas contract yesterday and I have no intention of coming back until things change and will pursue Lawful Rebellion and, perhaps, Freeman activities from the safety of foreign shores.
(Well done TPTB - you've just lost a middle to high earning married couple with two children to another economy.)
As for a new LPUK alternative. What I've learnt is that there is a bunch of intelligent, passionate people out there willing to rally together to fight and keep our ancient freedoms. Don't give up.
Cheers,
FAV
How about giving Richard North's "Referism" a look? (see EUReferendum)
UKIP has a decent tinge of libertarianism but for my money, and with reference to their last manifestos, it's more populist than it is libertarian and is merely the least unpalatable party left. Even if it became throughly libertarian it'd still be worth having a proper Libertarian party just so a candidate could stand as "Independent Libertarian" and get the idea of libertarianism out there. Even if it became thoroughly libertarian being labelled "Independent UKIP" on the ballot wouldn't have the same effect.
Thanks people but UKIP aren't into herding cats.......
http://www.ukip.org/content/latest-news/2306-ukip-welcomes-libertarian-party-members
We have been hearding cates for quite a while, but in the spiriot of brotherly love and all that sort of stuff, here you go
Right decision! Congratulations UK friends from the USA.
We Libertarians learned many years ago, our activism was better spent within the Republican Party.
Thus, the Republican Liberty Caucus.
Again, very, very correct decision. I applaud you all and urge every UK Libertarian to join UKIP!
Eric Dondero, Publisher
LibertarianRepublican.net
Houston, Texas USA
Just had a browse of UKIP's manifesto and there were a couple of times where I looked like I was sucking a lemon reading it. There's too much in there that is way too hard for a Libertarian to swallow (or any rational person for that matter). I wish you all the best on getting us out of the EU but that's about the only nice thing I can say about you guys. Do not join these guys, Libertarians. Wait and see what happens to the LPUK after the fallout or join no party. UKIP should come with a health warning
Ok, so,not a party then. We had a party, it hardly fielded any candidates and it got on the telly... once?
how about a pressure group? Freed from the constraints of electoral law and purely about campaigning. Things like the Rally Against Debt.
A convenient flag for us all to rally around, giving whatever time or money or whatever we can afford... based loosely on the things we can ALL agree on without getting bogged down in internal politics and dreary discussions about Rand and Rothbard. There ARE things we all agree on, right?
Think of the Tea Party movement in the US. A group of 'Ron Paul libertarians' gathered together in protest of the bailouts and general decline of principles in the Republican party. Sure, the movement has since then become diluted by neo-cons and attention seekers - but look at the effect it's had on the Republican party - they're now notably vocal of issues of big government.
UKIP will probably not be the answer to the continuing attack on the liberties of every man ,woman, and child in this nation.If we want our freedom restored we must be either prepared to go beyond the path of purely political activism or, simply remain a collection of literate, honest, but impotent writers.
wh00ps: I like that idea a lot! Where to start?
That's the question.350 people already made a start the other week, the thing is to keep the ball rolling.
http://www.ukip.org/content/latest-news/2306-ukip-welcomes-libertarian-party-members
Wot Ukip sez
I never thought a pure libertarian party likely to succeed. There are many issues on which the libertarian ideal will never be practical politics. It is like the Church influencing popular opinion (well it usedc to) but you wouldn't want the country tun by it. Better to be a movement with individual members in several parties (mostly UKIP obviously).
First, what an off putting name - 'Libertarian'; to the ignorant (ie most) minds this must conjure up the image of a sandal wearing weirdo with some sort of food or lifestyle fetish.
It doesnt help that every time a 'libertarian' is on the MSM he is goaded into coming out with some (to the unwashed) extreme, dangerous and impractical proposal to abolish gun control, legalise drugs or hack away at at the sacred cows of the welfare state.
The 'cheap satisfaction of the radical pose' is too tempting for some. It does the cause of individual liberty no good at all.
Libertarians are (AFAIK), in fact, Classical Liberals. Liberals as liberals were before J.S.Mill, Keynes etc appropriated the name and reversed the political direction of Liberalism. (to impose limits on free trade, to encourage foreign political intervention, fiat money and fractional reserve banking etc).
Since the libertarian party is no more, perhaps a future grouping could be the Classical Liberal Party, you may even get democratic socialists voting for you unawares?.
And FFS dont get corned into rants on gun ownership. Society would work better with less government, less tax and less regulation. Laissez faire laissez passer le monde va de lui meme
Anon may have something. Australia's libertarian party goes by the name of the Liberal Democratic Party, and it's at least partly because one of the main parties is the Liberals and the Australian Democrats were a minor party with Senate representation until only quite recently. Unfortunately the name is already taken in the UK, but because the Liberals whined about the similarity of the name (a hint that it might well move a few votes) the LDP was for a while known as the Liberty and Democracy Party. Perhaps something like that or just the Liberty Party?
As for policies, I don't think there's too much point in trying to hide what libertarians hope for simply because it's too well known and to easy for the MSM to find out. Also might be seen as a sell out and a reluctance to stick by principles. Better to be honest and admit that we see things like abolition of gun and drug laws - the things that might frighten some people - as something we think would be beneficial and should be done eventually, but maybe it'd be worth adding that these are things on the back burner and not something that would happen right away.
If Dondero is cheering this on something must have gone horribly, horribly wrong.
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