Life of a European Candidate can be full of surprises

George Smid accepted an invitation to attend the AGM in Northampton on 20 November 2013 as a Euro-Candidate and performed a totally unfamiliar role of a Returning Officer!

After the Elections: Brian Hoare announcing the results, exhausted George Smid gulped half a pint in one draw and Michael Torpy smiling silently - job done!

Thanks to the understanding of a helpful audience the Officers, six Executive Members, four Federal Representatives and three Regional Representatives were elected without a major hitch.

"Thank you, Northampton for giving me this unique experience" says George.

Having discharged his duty as a RO, George returned to the more familiar role of a Euro-candidate.

During his short address he reflected on the recent announcement by Paul Sykes where Mr. Sykes committed himself to single handedly bankroll UKIP's Euro 2014 election to the tune of 4.5 million pounds, the maximum allowable expenditure any party can spend.

George then gave a short overview of the Euro campaign and highlighted the need for fundraising as the most important activity of today. The Chair, Brian Hoare, informed George that Northampton agreed to contribute additional £700.00 to the already committed £300.00, making it an impressive £1,000.00.

"Thank you, Northampton for giving such a generous donation." says George.

A short question and answer session followed, with an interesting challenge coming in the form: How would you discharge the accusation that the Liberal Democrats are just poodles of the EU?

George responded that if 'being a poodle' refers to being led (dragged) by Europe without resistance then it is the other three main parties who are 'poodles':

• UKIP is absent from any activity in the European Parliament allowing anybody and everybody to have their say apart from the British Representation. So UKIP is the willing poodle.

• The Tories do not know where they stand; they form alliances with far right groups, groups which would not be acceptable in the UK, showing that the Tories do not have a clear political direction. So the Tories either abstain or vote against - the Tories are the dragged behind poodle.
• Labour adopted an opportunistic approach with 'Britain needs a new EU policy for a new era" saying contradictory things at Westminster and in Brussels. Labour is therefore the lost, sniffing poodle, running behind.
• Only the Lib Dems have a clear pro-European policy: In Europe, In work.

The consensus of the audience was that we must not be shy about our European stand. More people would 'vote for Europe' than might be voting for the Lib Dems. We need to get the European voters to vote for us.

"Thank you, Northampton for challenging questions and expressed Euro-enthusiasm." summed up George.