UKIP MEP suspended on ‘financial issues’ – what’s this new game?
Amjad Bashir and Nigel Farage in happier times. The man in the background may be UKIP deputy leader Paul Nuttall, but it is hard to tell for sure.
UKIP’s leaders must know this move makes them look very suspicious indeed. What are they trying to achieve?
The party has suspended MEP Amjad Bashir, hours before he was to announce his defection to the Conservatives, according to the BBC.
The allegations against him include claims of interference with the candidate selection process, and UKIP’s website stated that one of the reasons Mr Bashir has been suspended was his “continued affiliation” with Mujeeb Bhutto, who was involved in a Pakistani kidnapping gang.
A UKIP spokesperson has said the evidence will be forwarded to the police.
Mr Bashir has rejected the claims as “absurd and made-up allegations”. He said they were historical claims over which UKIP leader Nigel Farage had appeared on TV to defend him, adding, “these are just dirty tricks to try and discredit me.”
He had previously been a Conservative Party member, and became involved with UKIP three years ago. He has said his decision to return to the Tories is in order to carry out the policies he supports, including holding a referendum on EU membership and control of immigration into the UK.
He claimed these are “not achievable with UKIP.”
On this evidence, the public can only think that UKIP is in the wrong. If these allegations are old, if Nigel Farage spoke against them, then UKIP’s move can only be interpreted as the “dirty tricks” Mr Bashir claims they are – even though Mr Farage is now saying there are “extremely serious” questions that have gone unanswered.
The evidence means either Mr Farage was wrong to defend Mr Bashir in the past, or he is wrong to cast suspicion on Mr Bashir now.
Meanwhile, the Tories are suddenly smelling of roses.
Not only do they get a new MEP for free (Mr Bashir has refused to step down and trigger a by-election), but they benefit from his claims that they are the only party that can achieve his referendum and immigration aims, and from the fouling of UKIP’s name.
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I think I am right in saying that had Mr. Bashir stood down it would not have caused a by-electıon but the next UKIP candıdate on the lıst ın hıs constıtuency would have taken the seat. I belıeve Roger Helmer dıd the same thıng ın reverse some years ago when he fell out wıth Baroness Warsı and denıed the next conservatıve on the lıst from tkıng hıs place. Open to correctıon on that.
Whatever the truth ıt all sounds to me like something of a rift withın the UKIP ranks
I was paraphrasing what the BBC article stated, so I’m quite open to correction too.
before UKIP went round and tried to delete all prior statements that revealed UKIPs true intentions earlier last year from all UKIP councillor websites, Bashir said on his own website that he wanted these following things removed from workers rights,
Maternity leave.
Paternity leave.
3. Holiday entitlement.
The working time directive.
The flexible working directive.
The Minimum wage
Unfair dismissal tribunals.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/ukip-business-spokesman-shows-how-3631826
here’s a link to the Internet archive which has taken a grab of the page from his website that had the statement on it http://web.archive.org/web/20140429214324/http://www.amjadbashir.co.uk/
Oh, it was him, was it?
It only says “employment policies which make it difficult to employ”, followed by that list. I dont see where it says anything about him wanting to remove them from workers’ rights.
Anyway, if he wants to go Tory, he’ll soon find himself strangled by Cameron. With all these ruptures, the shadowy PTB must be laughing themselves senseless, it’s all being timed to wreck the elections and steer people back to the main troublesome parties. Plain as a pikestaff. Doesnt fool me.
ah ok, I’m just going to cut and paste from his website, there’s no argument I’m just going to let this stand.
“I was drawn to UKIP by the pledge to cut EU bureaucracy and red tape. There are 120,000 E.U. Laws and counting. The top 100 E.U. Regulation ranked by their costs (The Governments own figures) cost the UK’s Businesses £18 billion per year. Cost of E.U. membership is independently estimated up to £120 billion per year. E.U. is behind most employment regulations, listed below are but a few.”
“1) Working time regulations.
2) Climate change act.
3) Energy performance certificates.
4) Temporary agency workers directive (not yet in place).
5) Vehicle excise duty (reduce pollution).
To list but a few.
E.U. regulations are costing the U.K. economy around 5.5% of its GDP.
E.U. regulations depress the output of the U.K. economy by around £80 billion.
Employment policies which make it impossible to employ.
1) Maternity leave.
2) Paternity leave.
3) Holiday entitlement.
4) Working time directive.
5) Minimum Wage
6) Flexible working directive.
7) Unfair dismissal (tribunals).
There is too much government. Only massive CUTS in taxation and REGULATION can grow the economy.”
I’ll just let the above stand as it is
(btw the employment policy points 1 to 7 are legally classified as ’employment rights’ in law)
here’s the legislation from 1996 declaring what are ’employment rights ‘ – http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/18/contents
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/11750440.display/
AND NOW, ANOTHER ONE GOES DOWN!!!
Just a few bad apples, right, Farage?