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Members say 'No' to PEP

Thursday, 18th August 2011

The results of UKIP's Pan-European Party ballot have been announced by Returning Officer Steve Allison.

After the votes had been counted, the result was announced at 4pm on August 16 with the following results:

Total valid votes cast 7,696
Turnout 49.2%

Yes 2535 (32.9%)
No 5161 (67.1%)

Party Chairman Steve Crowther said:

"We have had a clear statement of the members' opinion, and can now move on. This has been an excellent example of party democracy in action, and I would like to thank all the participants, on both sides, for the civilised way in which it was conducted. I would also like to thank the Vice-Chairman, Steve Allison, for running the thing so smoothly.

"It is important to remember that we are all, fundamentally, on the same side. We may disagree on the tactics, but we all share the same goal and can be enormously proud of what we have already achieved.

"Our message is now not only the mainstream view in this country but, increasingly, the view of ordinary people across Europe. As we will see at Conference, it is now attracting increasing numbers of influential people to our cause. Let's put this debate behind us and show the world that we are a powerful, unified force."

Leader of the 'Yes' campaign Stuart Agnew said:

"I would like to congratulate Trevor Colman and his team on an emphatic outcome. As a team player I would never want to go against the wishes of the membership, especially those in the Eastern region, and will abide by the result, as I pledged during the campaign.

"Longer term we may have to consider what will happen if the Duff Report is passed and we face a second, Pan-European, ballot paper in the European Election, or indeed a Referendum.

"In the meantime, however, I'm glad we have a clear result."

Leader of the 'No' campaign Trevor Colman said:

"I have been asked to comment on the significance of Tuesday's ballot count where UKIP membership roundly rejected involvement in a Pan European party by more than two to one.

"The result indicates how far the Party has moved from the grassroots and is a timely reminder that further continued entanglement in EU structures will not be tolerated and rightly so.

"Britain should be where the Party concentrates its greatest efforts with EU parliamentary activity cut to the absolute minimum. It is here, in the streets and meeting places of Britain, that we will eventually win this fight, not in the committee rooms and chambers of Brussels. Future Party strategy should reflect this. The members have spoken. They must not be ignored."

Party Leader Nigel Farage said:

"In the light of this result we must hope that the Duff Report does not pass in the European Parliament this autumn. If it does, we have just disqualified ourselves from 50% of the ballot papers to be issued. That makes winning rather difficult."

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Your Comments

Posted by John Beney on 07/09/2011 at 09:05

A clear cut majority against, based on the two proposals. I also am disappointed at the negative qualified remarks from the party leader at this time. If democracy is to work within our small party, no time for sour grapes. Come on, let's all pull together and wholeheartedly support majority decisions.

Posted by Liz on 07/09/2011 at 09:07

As a longterm supporter of UKIP and a new member I was extremely worried about the outcome of the result. I personally felt that voting yes would result in the loss of a lot of support with voters turning to other parties such as BNP. I was against joining the PEP as I felt it would be (and would look to voters) a sellout. Obviously I can see the temptation but it is completely against the foundations UKIP was built on and would have destroyed the whole image of the party being for the British people. United Kingdom Independance Party - its there in the name.

Posted by Russell Hicks on 24/08/2011 at 07:20

The lesson the 'yes' camp must draw is that a calmy presented, well argued case won the day.

Posted by Edward Huxley on 22/08/2011 at 19:13

A clear result. Pity Stuart Agnew who led the yes campaign and Nigel Farage had to voice fears about what might happen about the Duff report. They should have accepted the result without qualification

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