Nigel Farage has today decided that he will not stand for his United Kingdom Independence Party in the forthcoming by-election in Newark, Nottinghamshire. As I ponder going to a local beer festival this coming Friday in Warrington, it really does hit home that a love for Real Ale is probably just about the only thing I have in common with the UKIP Leader.
Farage believes that most English people consider themselves to be English first rather than a particular affiliation to an English region, and that an English Parliament would be desirable to address constitutional imbalances as a result of Scottish Devolution. My own devolution perspective could not be more different. I believe that the economic dominance of London and the South East is one reason why England needs Regional Assemblies to counter balance this dominance.
Nigel Farage has gone on record about his belief that British Overseas Territories should have representation in the House of Commons. Any regular readers of my blog posts will know very well what I think of this viewpoint. On the main issue of UKIP's existence, I am a believer on balance that there are more reasons for the UK to stay within the European Union than depart. Although, I do also support a national referendum at some point in the future to resolve the EU issue.
As much as I hope UKIP does not do as well as they hope in May's European elections, Mr Farage has made the right calculation in not standing in the Nottinghamshire by-election. It would have distracted his message nationally in relation to the forthcoming European elections. I would not go as far as saying that to stand would earn him unwanted comparisons with the Monster Raving Loony Party. But the size of the Conservative majority along with his lack of connections to the East Midlands, would have made him look just a little silly.
So credit has to go where credit is due. WELL DONE NIG! IT WAS THE CORRECT CALL. GIVE YOURSELF A PAT ON THE BACK!
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