Last Christmas, no one could have possibly imagined what awaited us all in 2020. This year has presented many challenges for the British people. Some directly from Coronavirus and others, self-inflicted, from a Government that has imposed draconian restrictions on our fundamental liberties and rights.

Yet, despite the hardship, the pandemic has shown that community spirit and selflessness is still strong throughout the UK. This Christmas provides an opportunity to reflect and give thanks to those who have put others first – from health workers to small business owners, going above and beyond in their communities.

Thanks to the unwavering commitment of many UKIP members, the party is back to a position of strength, beyond what we could have hoped for 12 months ago. Unified, up in the polls and with a growing membership, UKIP has much to do in the New Year.

While the Brexit trade deal is yet to be examined in detail, we can celebrate that Britain enters 2021 a free and independent nation. After a 27 year battle with the political class, this is UKIP’s first of many victories.

Thank God the tortuous negotiations are over, after nearly 5 years! It's too soon to judge what 2000 dense treaty pages of dense legalese mean. Key questions are:

(1) What did we concede? Did we surrender on fish, level playing field, dynamic alignment etc?

(2) Did we concede more than Canada on freeing ourselves from EU over-regulation. What won’t we still be able to do, and what penalties if we go it alone?

(3) What can we now do that we couldn’t in the EU? How far can we diverge? Can we free ourselves from 'precautionary principle' sclerosis? Can we slash taxes to boost Wales, Scotland, the North or Northern Ireland? 

 

I relish the opportunity to lead our party into 2021 – ready to fight elections throughout the United Kingdom. In a year that saw the collapse of law and order, the erosion of individual freedoms and the cancelling of opposition voices, it is clear that UKIP’s role in British politics is far from over.

The British people are crying out for a long term, patriotic force – a real alternative to the Lib/Lab/Con. UKIP is unafraid to say the “unsayable” and stand up for the silent majority. We must not allow anti-British and anti-freedom dogmas, engrained deep within the established parties, to flourish.

UKIP is primed to return as an electoral threat. If we start the New Year as we have ended 2020, then Ukippers in the English Council, Scottish Parliament and Welsh Parliament Elections will be elected next summer. 

Best wishes,