Standing up to the UKIP threat

There are signs of panic among some Labour politicians in the face of UKIP’s European election results. Triangulating towards UKIP’s policies, such as they are, or “apologising” to UKIP voters, are initiatives guaranteed to bleed Labour’s electoral support.

Such panic fails to address the fact that UKIP plays upon, and promotes, prejudices dangerous to the future of our society. Doubtless some readers will be wagging metaphorical fingers to point out it’s insufficient to call UKIP racist.  Insufficient perhaps, wrong, definitely not.

Nigel Farage in his keynote address to UKIP’s Spring Conference said:

“In scores of our cities and market towns, this country, in a short space of time, has, frankly, become unrecognisable… In many parts of England, you don’t hear English spoken any more.”

Either the good citizens of Leeds, Lincoln, London, etc are waking up saying “Where are we?” Or this is racism. Perhaps the same citizens are no longer permitted, or able, to ask that question in English? Or this is racism.

The brave politicians in this debate are not those saying “we need to debate immigration”, and “UKIP has a point”. The brave politicians are those like David Lammy and Diane Abbott who are nailing this racism.

Now, let’s debate how to defeat UKIP.  We can already see the bandwagon slow at Newark, and slower again as the most recent Ashcroft poll has them down to 17%.

Indeed, the very detailed analysis of the Ashcroft poll of 24^th May showed how vulnerable their votes are. 60% of the voters were “sending a message” to other parties. Already 20% said they would return to the Tories at the General Election, 10% will vote Labour, and 14% are “uncertain”.  Are these really the voters who will define the agenda in 2015?

According to Ashcroft UKIP’s votes were composed of 50% ex-Tories, 20% ex-LibDem and 14% ex-Labour.  This demonstrates the folly of stampeding towards the conclusion that Labour is losing huge numbers of votes to UKIP.

In the run-up to the General Election UKIP are getting weaker not stronger. We must toughen up our opposition to them while they are vulnerable.

We are “at our best at our boldest”.  So let us face facts about the issue of migrant labour. The future of our economy is dependent upon its open connection to the EU. We are against withdrawal from the EU because it will lead to a collapse in living standards.  It will not lead to the independent, post-empire Empire that UKIP dream of.

Equally, the multiculturalism, which terrifies UKIP, is one of the great productive forces of our society. This is not just about being enriched by different food, different music, different cultures, etc.  This is about our diverse population, giving us a competitive advantage in the globalised market.

We have a polyglot population – many of whom have direct or family ties to the most rapidly developing economies in the world.  They can address the decision makers of these countries in the language of these countries.

We can be successful if we incorporate our people, “our most precious resource”, into our future planning in business, diplomacy, cultural exchange, etc.

UKIP’s policy is not only morally wrong. It is also deeply damaging to the future development of our political economy. Labour is best equipped to fight them, and must do so.

As a small step towards this, I would encourage Labour List readers to take part in the conference “After the Euro Elections: Stand up to UKIP, racism and fascism” on Saturday 14^th June, 10am – 4.30pm at the TUC, Congress House, London.

Billy Hayes is the General Secretary of the CWU