The Double Standard

Via DK I see UKIP have got themselves into more than a spot of bother with The Electoral Commission. In fact, they could be crippled owing to a technicality relating to donations. Of course, it is tempting to say that if they have earned themselves a major financial penalty through not following the rules then that is their own fault – even if it is a draconian punishment completely out of proportion with the alleged wrongdoing/crime.

Then you see the white-washing of the Liberal Democrats in spite of their acceptance of funds from a man who is a now convicted crook, and it all jars. I have tried to look at this from a number of different angles but from every perspective this sticks in the back of my throat. This does seem to be one rule for the main parties, and another for the smaller ones. I can’t help but feel that part of the reasoning behind this choice is that the Lib Dems – by sheer weight of numbers – can make more noise than UKIP.

UKIP have had their fair share of woes and have taken on people that they really, really shouldn’t have done in senior party positions. But it is the burden of small parties to be left wide open to hi-jacking by nakedly populist or high-profile figures. The fringe elements of a small party will seem to be shouting louder than the fringe elements of larger parties, but this is also inevitable given the sheer weight of numbers. So I support UKIP in their woes with the Electoral Commission, because I think they are being unfairly treated because of their public perception and because of their small size relative to the major parties in this country.

UKIP may yet come to play a major part in the political scene in the UK. I think they will only do so if they become the Independence Party and when they dump the Poundstretcher symbol as their logo. But I am sure of one thing – if they are strangled at birth by the Electoral Commission (who will simply dump the money with the Treasury*) then they will never achieve anything long-lasting in the national political scene. Which, given the utterly anodyne and spineless parties currently leading this country, could be a real tragedy.

*h/t: Mr E