John Baron MP says Party leadership must learn key lessons from UKIP showing

MP thanks Councillors and says it was not their fault

With early election results indicating UKIP has done well both nationally and locally, John Baron MP has stated that the Party leadership needs to take on board key lessons.

John said,

“We were always going to lose seats, given 2009 was a high-water mark. But the Party leadership has made two key errors. First of all, it has written off UKIP simply as a protest party full of cranks. Secondly, it has underestimated the extent of public mistrust when people hear politicians making promises about the EU – too many have been broken in the past. We need to learn from these errors.”

“This is why our commitment to an EU referendum needs to be believable. David Cameron should therefore heed the advice of the 100 Conservative back benchers who signed my letter, and support legislation in this Parliament for a referendum in the next. This would show serious intent. Why, then, bother voting UKIP?”

“We have lost some very good Councillors today, who have worked hard on behalf of local residents. Our thanks go to them. It was not their fault. The Party leadership now needs to square up to UKIP, address the issue and support legislation.”