Jason Smith's a "Desire 4 Freedom"

Trance-Formation of TNA: Hardcore Justice (2011)

2011-09-19T13:53:00.000-07:00

Dear Dixie,

Again this is meant to be constructive critisism, while the company is driving in totally the wrong direction it is very easy to turn around the bus - I am just here to try help you with the navigation. Of course sometimes you also need to change drivers, they might just be too tired, though it seems they are on the wrong road - whether by mistake or by design.

TNA Hardcore Justice

Knockouts tag title: Tara & Tessmacher vs. Sarita & Rosita

Not really much point in this one. There should be a reason for bringing a team together, can’t see one for the prior team. The Mexican girls are hard to care about, surly more could be done with their gimmick – I’m thinking a Shakira type look, The Mexican America thing just isn’t working, it’s proving useful to make one of TNA’s top prospects in Hernandez irrelevant – he doesn’t make a good heel.

Bound 4 Glory scoring (leader board) is shown.

All you need to know if that Devon (doesn’t even have a proper gimmick!), Gunner is joint 5^th, Scott Steiner is 8^th and Samoa Joe is last with it looks like minus (?) 10 points. This series could have been used to promote the top technical wrestlers but instead they’re being killed for the prelim talent – again this delavues all TNA talent. This could have been the precursor to TNA’s version of King of the Ring. It looks to me as though this ‘series’ does not have any proper format the the matches/stips are randon, again devaluing the whole concept which is essentially a good idea.

Bound 4 Glory match: Pope vs. Devon

Devon has what i would call negative charisma. On the oposite side of the charisometer Pope is so over, amazing behind the mic. Devon got a little heat from the “studio” audience. Pope rightfully got the win.

Knockouts title: Mickey James (c) vs. Winter

Mickeys attire looked real good here, much more marketable. Winter has got to be the most interesting women in TNA, her theme has/will become legend. Good decision to give Winter the title, might generate some interest in the women’s division. Winter could easily be utilised as a manager/valet going forward, lots of potential there for angles etc.

Thank goodness Austin Aries interrupted Kendricks interview. Aries has it all.

Bound 4 Glory match: Crimson vs. Rob Van Dam

Having qualifying matches for an upcoming PPV – does that not devalue this PPV? I would have put Crimson in a squash match ala Sid Vicous.

Fortune vs. Immortal – six man tag

Wish they’d change the spelling of Fortune to Fourtune, even the fingers looks silly – looks like they’ve got arthritis in their fingers J, I’d like to see a reverse 4 horsemen fingers. After a good start to the faction, Fortune have regressed - they don’t seem to have a mission, they are struggling also because they don’t really possess mic skills now Flair is gone.

6 man tag made it feel even more like a TV show – who is booking this? You get wasters like Devon and Kendrick in singles action and real talent like Styles and Kaz get lost in 6 man tag.

Mr. Anderson vs. Bully Ray

Both of these guys have been pushed as heels, strange booking again.

Tag Team title: Beer Money vs. Mexican America

Welcome one of the brightest lights in the creative darkness that is TNA – Beer Money!! I’d like to repackage Roode as Fourtune’s enforcer – Double R. Hernandez needs to be in a singles star, being in a team dilutes his talent – the first Mexican Heavyweight champion could be a nice storyline and I think he would come out of it bigger than wrestling – a good squash feud with Anarchia, who actually comes across as a decent heel, would be good start. BEER MONEY – this could also be merchandise heaven, the potential is limitless.

TNA World title: Sting vs. Kurt Angle

Why would you turn Angle heel when there is talk of him trying out for 2012 Olympics? – another desition which raises suspiction, it isn’t really possible that this could have not been considered by TNA management. This is a golden oportunity that should be grabbed with both hands by TNA – this one ‘angle’ could raise the profile of TNA more than everything that has gone before. Just in case you liked the match Hogan arrived to remind us all where TNA currently is.

Summary

Considering this was ‘hardcore’ justice where were the hardcore matches and hardcore stips?

Having qualifying matches for an upcoming PPV is such a poor idea, makes this PPV seem inferior, felt like a TV Special.

Studio audience is really annoying, it feels cheap and you can tell the crowd don’t care. Gunner and Daniels ‘fell’ on to a table, no move was executed, and the audience said ‘holly shit’??

Booking was shocking. Was somebody in TNA doing an exercise to see how few buys they could generate?

More oportunities lost, or I would suggest delibratly ignored.

I’m afraid there was little to take from this PPV offering, other than it being a blueprint or how not to market and book a event.

Jason Smith

Trance-Form Creative

0775 882 4649

Trance-Formation of TNA: Destination X

2011-07-16T15:14:00.000-07:00

Looking at the TNA brand and how it is and isn’t working...

TNA Destination X

Really like the PPV “X Division” branding. It makes it special with just X stars, 6 sided ring etc. Lets hope we’ve got this branded PPV because TNA thinks it’s a good idea and not because TNA are trialling the idea. The whole concept/ brand looks polished and makes sense – a blueprint for other TNA PPV.
The heat and feel of the event was hurt by being at Universal Studios rather than a real arena, it feels better to have a proper crowd with real wrestling fans rather than people who chant the same things repeatedly – I don’t understand why you can’t sell out an arena for a PPV?

Kazarian vs. Samoa Joe

Makes me wonder if the wwe is after Joe and somebody in TNA is preparing Joe to go, much like they did for Jay Lethal? How far do you have to denigrate a great before he decides he wants out? Didn’t Joe used to be ones of the faces of TNA? People say the people who pull the strings at TNA don’t have a plan, I think they do, but it certainly isn’t a plan in TNA’s interests a lot of the time, but there are enough things happening to keep them around.

Doug Williams vs. Mark Haskins

I’m big on pushing young talent, but not debuting them on PPV as a rule. PPV debuts should be saved for defections and returns of big stars. British Invasion gimmick needs a overhaul but like the stable.

Generation Me vs. Eric Young & Shark Boy

Can anybody define what Generation Me are? When they debuted the Christian babyface image was good but since then the whole gimmick has been utterly confused. Only one question you need to ask, does anybody ‘care about them’ – answer, probably not because to care you have to associate and to associate you have to know who they are. Eric Young is just another gimmick gone wrong. On the plus side great to see Shark Boy back, a throwback to when TNA actually understood what a gimmick was, not every star can be an icon or a main eventer but every wrestler must have something – Shark Boy does have a solid gimmick but then I’m a bit of a parody nut. I could have a field day with the SharkBoy gimmick! Gen Me could be the new ‘rockers’, they are supremely talented. Why would a makeshift team go over Gen Me? Answers on a postcard to ‘I don’t understand Creative’...

Ultimate X: Shannon Moore vs. Robbie E vs. Amazing Red vs. Alex Shelley

Love the concept.
Shannon Moore – good gimmick but believe it’s him, Mooregasm – dynamite. Even like the team ‘Ink Inc’ – nice midcard team
Robbie E – Decent gimmick but unsure why he had a monster push, should only even be mid card, at best
Amazing Red – he’s amazing, great underdog gimmick, like him as short reign champion
Alex Shelley – the best until last, think Stunning Steve in WCW, think Chris Jericho on Nitro – Shelley should be the next, he needs mic time! Will he get pushed or be dealt, pushed to wwe for them to use him?
So Alex wins! – Right then, time for a huge push – right to the top!

Rob Van Dam vs. Jerry Lynn

More evidence that if you’re only going to keep a few legends then RVD must be one of them. Got me thinking though regarding feuds, save for the main eventers there don’t seem to be many meaningful feuds with different stipulated matches – not only does this build the characters but it saves great matches so you always have dream matches in reserve.

Austin Aries vs. Zema Ion vs. Low-Ki vs. Jack Evans

Which match graves the most interest tonight? Well this is it. Why? Because it’s new, it’s different. Your product most always be new, be fresh, be evolving. With a contract on the line this match really meant something.

What did we learn? (1) more than one athlete deserves a contract, certainly Aries and Evans. (2) gimmicks aren’t as important for lightweight wrestlers as their ability is often their appeal – that’s not to say they shouldn’t have decent gimmicks which could elevate them further (3) the crowd tells you when a match is good (4) Austin Aries is a wrestling god much like a Malenko or Benoit, it is right that he got the contract. If TNA don’t sign Jack Evans then they are lunatics.

X Division title: Abyss vs. Brian Kendrick

Wonder if Abyss is also confused with his 100 character changes, he should be a monster heel, simple. This is no reason for Kendrick to be in TNA let along a title match, virtually everyone on this card brings more than Kendrick – to be a main eventer you either have to be ultra over or ultra talented, Kendrick is and never will be either. Notice crowd response – it was dead. Liked it that Abyss didn’t sell any of Kendrik’s shots. Kenrick wins title, didn’t you know that was going to happen – what an absolute disaster for TNA, massive huge fail – TNA have elevated the most meaningless person to the top of the X Division – the perfect way to keep TNA down.

AJ Styles vs. Christopher Daniels

While this is a good match, how did CD get here? Who has he beaten to attain main event status. For this reason the match doesn’t make sense, at least build the man up. Good match but didn’t mean anything apart from the fact that main events don’t mean anything in TNA.

Conclusion:

Highlights: X Divison band really worked, 6 sides ring. New X stars. No Hogan. Jack Evans.
Lowlights: Anything involved Kendrick. Joe gets jobbed again.

Jason Smith
Trance-Form Creative
e-mail: trance-form@blueyonder.co.uk, Tel: 0775 882 4649

How can UKIP win a PEP referendum?

2011-07-04T11:41:00.000-07:00

With our Yorkshire PEP debate scheduled for this Friday (8th July) I thought, as UKIP's premier Political Strategist, I would offer a possible game changer to the UKIP EU community (the Yes camp to you and me).

So can UKIP win a Pan European Political (PEP) referendum?

The smart money, at least in Yorkshire, says No. Further assimilation in to the EU was never going to be an easy thing for UKIP to sell to their members who signed up to get out.

In an effort to avoid a fracture in the party I offer a compromise of sorts:

The pro PEP campaign should offer the members a "sunset clause", we would join the PEP then after 1 year a automatic referendum would be generated allowing members to make the final decision.

That way the Yes camp get a year to prove that it really will benefit UKIP and the No camp get a year to discover what damage our year trial has done to UKIP.

Surly, would this not be better than the "well we don't really know what's going to happen" statements from each side?

While this is not guaranteed to win the vote, the odds of the members saying aye is far higher. Should the Yes camp reject this offer then a No vote would effectively take the issue off the table for many years, at least this way each side gets time to study the positive and negative ramifications and make a more informed decision.

This makes sense for UKIP and everybody gets something.

Jason Smith
UKIP Bradford Chairman

Strike on.

2011-06-30T14:00:00.000-07:00

I’m always concerned about people’s capacity for thinking but today I am more concerned than usual.

Why shouldn’t people strike if they feel they are being screwed? You’ve got to work longer and pay more money in to your pension because we’ve (the government) lost all your (our) money.

All I’ve heard from the drones today are regurgitated quotes, much like I did when we had the ‘bank bailout’, otherwise known as the banks robbery:

Why should teachers retire early then us? They (the people, not teachers) obviously are still plugged in to the media as the real question should be. Why can’t we all retire early?

The mentality that because I’m getting screwed so everybody else should too is a pretty negative thought pattern but one that people have been programmed to use.

- Other countries don’t respect human rights so why should we?

- Rapists can go and screw someone without getting imprisoned, so why shouldn’t we all do the ‘Viking’ and go raping and pillaging?

- The Lib Dems tell lies to get elected so why shouldn’t we?

The reason why we shouldn’t is because it is wrong. It’s not a difficult concept, but you have to do some thinking.

I would suggest nobody should be retiring at a dead old age – you should work to live not live to work.

We can’t afford it? We? Whose this then? Oh it’s the government of course, because they’ve fucking pissed away all our taxes on the following shitting shopping list:

£48 million pounds per day to the fascist EU dictatorship
£23 million pounds per day in foreign aid
Billions on wars that nobody voted for

So if we rephrase the question:

Should we stop throwing money abroad and on wars and all retire at 50 on a nice little pension?

I’m up for it.

Dear Dixie

2011-06-26T06:10:00.000-07:00

Trance-Formation of TNA

What a great surprise – the Bound 4 Glory Series, a points based round robin series, so long overdue. Exactly the right move – proves that a title shot matters! Only thing I would do is have an actual round robin final (much like wcw Starrcade ’89 if you remember that?), probably top 4 at Bound4Glory, winner gets the title – obviously we’d have to have a vacant title. This ‘series’ should be an annual event bound4glory.

Destination X is to be an X-Division event! Again right on the money. With so many PPVs around, not just TNA, each PPV should really have its own branding – X-Div, Hardcore, Cage, tournament etc – this makes each event special.

In this respect then, TNA is bound for glory. Let’s see more of this.

Was Heyman right when he said there are too many ‘legends’? Yes he was. It certainly detracts from them. Was he right when he called for ‘just one legend’, no he wasn’t, while I agree we shouldn’t see the legends calling the shots and taking all the spots a couple or three legends would seem feasible providing their storylines where pretty different. I also like legends in non wrestling capacity – you’re not going to train charisma – personally I would see Flair in wrestling management, he can sell an angle or star on his own, everyone around him would benefit too. Steiner has a role to play for me, his airtime is gold, Desmond Wolfe is an asset also but possibly a bit lost in Xplosion – but there’s lots of scope for a global angle bringing him to iMPACT!

One gimmick away for stardom – Rob Terry. Contact for more info.

While I do think Gunner has potential, his intensity is addictive, his packaging is not good – with his background as a marine this image could be a massive heat and merchandise plus. Not sure why he’s being pushed at the moment, does anybody ‘care about him’… yet?

Save for the Jarrett/Angle angle there’s not much to make you want to follow the soap. Wrestling can still matter if storylines are running through the great matches – don’t forsake the storylines as people watch wrestling for different reasons – wrestling matters for sure but you also want to know where your favourite star is going, how is he going to get there, what will he decide to do. You must leave the viewer wanted to know something…

Stings intensity is immense – he almost made Hogan relevant when he painted him. On the subject of Hogan he adds nothing to TNA and takes quite a bit in return – it’s time he went, let Sting retire him and his tired old ideas with him.

Bischoffs character doesn’t make sense for TNA, he’s the bad guy yet he’s being pushed in ring as a face – it’s not working at all. The ‘network’ angle doesn’t really make sense, doesn’t matter, either. The nearer you get to Bischoff and Hogan and less things work. The remedy then is obvious. I try to be fair and for Bischoffs he actually came across as quite charismatic (in his discussion with Anderson) – vocally (not sure if it was by design) he sounded like agent Smith from the Matrix! He might be useful then, but his gimmick/storyline? would have to be better defined to work.

Wrestling and storylines matter!

Trance-Formation of TNA: Slammiversary

2011-06-20T11:56:00.000-07:00

These are my post PPV thoughts, this is not meant to be a card report but just comments on creative, or lack of it, and the direction(s) of TNA.

We want TNA to prosper not be devoured and spat out by Vince (like he did to wcw)...

If you've got HDHD I've highlighted important bit in bold.

James Storm/Alex Shelley vs. British Invasion (Magnus/Doug Williams)

Tne British Invasions entrance kind of highlighted where TNA is with their creative dept. or should we call it 'lack of' creative - maybe it's 'cause I'm a Brit but the gimmick just looked like somebody realised before the match the British Invasion were wrestling - where was the Union Jack attire? Why were they given the title match anyway, when did they last wrestle again?

If wrestling matters then why was Magnus in the match at all? Where is Rob Terry - a future TNA MVP - potentially a monster heel ala Scott Norton.

Doug Williams looked good in ring but its difficult to understand why he was previously given so much mic time?

Scott Steiner vs. Matt Morgan

Two guys with solid characters and gimmicks, save for Morgan’s stupidly named finisher “the Carbon Footprint” – global warming’s running wild on you brother!

TNA X-Division (X-treme) Title Belt: Abyss vs. Kendrick??? vs. Kazarian

Anyone got an idea why Kendrick is here, not in the title bout but in TNA really – future star Jay Lethal gets pushed and Kendrick gets pushed, in a different way of course, go figure!

Remember Fortune? That worked didn’t it, there is goes then. Btw, need to rename them Fourtune and please please the same fingers!

This reminded me about the TNA title picture – devalued is a good word – in the last while we’ve had Global title, Legends title, two world titles, X Division/X-Treme, TV title – the point of titles in that they mean something, if they don’t then the matches don’t either, then neither does the organisation – TNA fail.

Crimson vs. Samoa Joe

Super strong style, wrestling really mattered here for sure, awesome. Only issue here was the finish, Joe might as well have KO’d Crimson and pulled him on top of him to lose it. What’s happens to Joe’s stock, are wwe after him? How many future starts have to go until TNA smells the coffee, or is it the fowl stench of Vince’s aftershave?

Mickie James vs. Angela Love

Apparently Mickie James can sing, why haven’t we heard from this from TNA? Fail. While I quite like the weird Winter thing, and esp her theme music – the best in TNA I am still trying to find the Beautiful People – silly me, they were one of TNA’s biggest selling points – better shelve that then! On that subject I would bring back the Von Erich girl as Love fits better in the zombie role.

Bully Ray vs. A J Styles

Superb match, no complaints at all here. Would like to see A J as a in ring performer only and limited on the mic though that’s unlikely to happen with better mic performers being limited by pushed A J.

World title: Sting vs. Mr Anderson

Reminded me how much I liked the old Sting gimmick. It’s a bit controversial, but I’d like to see Sting having a permanent gimmick change or at least a haircut. The A$$hole is superb but not really a TNA creation; he is what he is… an asshole.

Jeff Jarrett vs. Kurt Angle

This is a blueprint, not Matt Morgan but a blueprint for a good old fashioned feud – whatever happened to them? Jeff Jarrett is keeping TNA relevant but the company needs more than JJ.

Overview:

Some superb matches (you know which they are), it’s really not all doom and gloom, this was a great PPV, problem is TV builds PPV heat and buys and TNA TV rarely builds anything except apathy.

TV studio PPV feels really unspecial (it that a word?), not sure why we aren’t booking a decent venue – surly it could be sold out?

Still massive concerns over where the talent sits, is Joe getting fazed out, when will Kendrick be fazed out, you can take Magnus too! BP – holla if you want them!

>phew< No Hogan, only thing worse than having him as a heel is having him as a face – looks like it could be on the cards to hurt TNA further. >Whoooooorried look< where is Flair?

Jason Smith
Director: Trance-Form Business

UKIP: The PEP Debate

2011-06-05T12:46:00.000-07:00

You almost certainly missed it, unless you were one of the 60+ people who tuned in...

Neither sides really lit up the procedings, although Trevor Coleman came across as the most genuine although I would have thought more desire would have been in order. Saying that "we don't know what's going on" is not really the best way to win an argument.

MEP Agnew performed ok, until he dropped a massive clanger - "even if the people (UKIP members) reject the idea of a Pan European Party, I'll still join it". Jesus, if the Yes argument wasn't hard enough to make already, Farage will no doubt be having a few more pints tonight. Indeed there are not many good arguments for, but the best one, 'we can counter referenda' was not made forcefully enough.

The other bloke for the No side was pretty straight talking although a bit robotic. To even up the sides though he managed to drop his own clanger by making a point of mentioning Nicki Sinclair and what a good job shes doing, while I don't know if this is true or not, it's not the kind of thing to mention when you're trying to win over your audience.

Steph's angle was 'well we're here now so why not', we've got nothing better to do like campaign locally or anything?!

The amusing highlight was Agnew's suck it and see comments (joining the PEP obviously) of MEP Bloom who's trialing this, when asked what group he had joined - somebody from the audience shouted (presumably Bloom) - "I've no idea". Funny for all the wrong reasons.

In conclusion, the No's edged it, but it doesn't really matter as none of the members were bothered anyway looking at the viewing figures.

Should we not have a third option on the ballot:
- Not bothered, do whatever the leader wants
and possible a forth option
- What is a PEP?

Should UKIP join a Pan European Political Party (PEPP)?

2011-05-30T05:16:00.000-07:00

To be a part of a PEPP or not to be, that is the question.

Let us evaluate the arguments for and against, for me it boils down to funding vs. principle

Funding

It is clear being a member of a PEPP would afford UKIP more finance, of course with everything EU there are strings attached, funding would not be available for national parties’ political activity, at least under the national parties’ name. Whether this is an argument for or against depends on your outlook. While UKIP would have more funding available, it would be difficult and potentially problematic for UKIP to try using this finance to forward UKIPs agenda at home, at least under the UKIP banner. All campaigns would be driven by the Pan European Party; this in itself could be a problem for UKIP, not just hurting the UKIP brand but instead branding us as ‘EU servants’, the media/euresceptic backlash could be severe. MEPs may genuinely believe that they can bend these rules to suit UKIP and help the cause; of course the EU will only allow the rules to be bent if it suits them, possibly initially.

Another argument I have heard is if UKIP doesn’t join and take the money then it will be redistributed to other parties who have joined PEPPs. This argument is a bit of an own goal really as the money we are talking about is our own regurgitated cash, not sure how you sell this to the people – “we got our hands on more of your money but at least the pro EU parties didn’t get it”.

If we joined we could set up an EU funded think tank to “make policy” etc. Out of all the pro arguments this is probably the lamest, not only would this be a huge waste of money but as a party if we cannot generate policy ourselves rather than relying on advice from an ‘EU’ think tank then we are already lost and we should pack up our remaining freedoms now. Any policy we make should come from the people, not from an EU controlled group. Having access to more researchers could nevertheless be advantageous to the cause; the more people we have undercover in the EU spying on them the better, this is the only time I would advocate more surveillance!

The best argument I have heard is that funding would be available to fund EU related activities in member states; presumably this includes elections and referenda? This is in my view the only decent argument, as it would allow UKIP to counter EU referenda in member states with well funded ‘No Campaigns’. I have heard it said that without this funding the pro EU PEPP would be able to shovel endless amounts of cash in to member states to obtain pro EU votes.

Principle

UKIP was founded on opposing the EU with the end result of leaving the EU altogether. Few members disagree that it is beneficial for UKIP to return MEPs as it allows us to keep an eye on the EU ball, or should that be ball and chain? Having people sat in Brussels then, is just a means to an end, an end of EU rule in the UK.

We know better than anyone how the EU works, the salami (probably German) slicing of our freedoms and the closer and closer integration and repression of every EU member state by the increasingly fascist EU state. With this is mind we must remain eternally vigilant, and there must be a line that UKIP does not cross. The question is is joining the PEPP that line? It is clear the EU intends to abolish national political parties; PEPP is clearly a major step towards this.

While we will surly gain financially for our PEPP membership we could potentially lose more. Many longstanding UKIP members have commented that they could not be a member of a party who signed up to the pan European plan, the people with this view are likely the more active and passionate UKIP members, the foot soldiers, while UKIP could live without more EU funds could it recover for a severe cut in troop numbers?

Were UKIP to take this decision, on the back of loss of faith and bodies the party hierarchy who supported this proposal could well see a huge backlash for the soldiers who decided to stay and fight for UKIP’s independence, this would likely cause a huge fracture in the party and a eventual loss of high profile figures as the party faithful demanded their heads. This could see UKIP derailed for years to come, would all the favour we have built up with for example the Express still be there?

When we consider this decision, we must consider as a party what our ultimate goal is and must ask will this move hasten our withdrawal. Our goal is to free ourselves from the EU. This will be achieved only by gaining a majority of MPs in Westminster or at the least gaining enough presence there to influence policy to obtain a referendum. To do this we must first return local councilors, it might be a long game but as UKIP say it is the only game in town. Will joining a PEPP help us achieve this, clearly not. On the goal question it is a fail. There is a concern also that some MEPs do not share this goal, we have all heard comments such as “the EU election is a big one”, “we must concentrate on the EU elections” etc, any MEP who pushes this agenda must be viewed as either naïve or too personally dependant on the EU.

Summary

Against joining a PEPP:

Media and members would accuse UKIP of “selling out”, could fracture the party. Further EU integration is against UKIP principles

It will not help us to achieve councilors and MPs and ultimately leave the EU

For joining a PEPP:

We could counter pro EU votes in member states with EU money, could increase chances of EU no votes in Europe

We would have access to more researchers to uncover what the EU is doing behind the scenes

UKIP supporting Bradford Cross-Rail

2011-04-16T16:42:00.000-07:00

Posted on April 16, 2011 by bradfordrail

J.Vasey and Jason Smith of UKIP in Urban Garden

BRUG Chairman James Vasey met with UKIP Candidate Jason Smith in the Urban Garden (Westfield development site) on Friday evening to discuss plans to develop a rail link across the city.

Mr Smith was impressed by the Cross Rail vision which would help revive the city centre as a cultural tourist destination and attract new businesses to the lower Broadway and little Germany quarter of the city.

BRUG discussed Bradford Council’s current plans to move the existing Magistrates court next to the current Crown Court, which would impede the building of the line. The Odeon was discussed as a possible site for the Magistrates court.

During our tour of the city centre we discussed the number of vacant properties between the Urban Gardens and the “mirror pool“, BRUG pointed out this would become the main thoroughfare from a central Bradford station direct to the mirror pool area, and the regeneration benefits this would have upon this part of the city.

Mr Smith discussed UKIP’s plans for Bradford, supporting strong improvements in public transport and making the best use of the existing buildings in Bradford, rather than the council building new buildings at public expense.

Jason Smith is standing for election in the Queensbury ward, a full list of candidates is available from here.

BRUG would like to speak to representatives from all political parties before the local elections.

Bradford Rail User Group (BRUG) website

Cross Rail link for city wins party's support

Published on Friday 28 May 2010 11:16
Yorkshire Post

THE proposal for a Cross Rail link connecting Bradford's Interchange and Forster Square station has been backed by the district's UK Independence Party.

The party wants to see three new high speed rail links in the country and Bradford could be a part of that if the Cross Rail link comes to fruition.

UKIP Bradford spokesman Jason Smith said: "Personally this seems like a no-brainer. Bradford urgently needs a shot in the arm to resurrect the city and the Cross Rail link could be just the ticket, connecting Bradford whose businesses and future attractions would benefit from the increased traffic in to the city.

"Currently our city is broken; this could be the first step to literally putting Bradford back on track.

"I have heard officials claiming the project is too expensive yet we have seen money thrown in to the city centre black hole and earmarked for projects that nobody wants like New Victoria Place and the mirror pond.

"If there is money for these unpopular projects then there is surely money available for something that will actually benefit the city.''

UKIP Bradford has launched a petition to gauge the public's interest in the rail link and has called for a Bradford-wide referendum on the proposal.

The referendum call has been supported by the Bradford Rail Users Group. Its chairman James Vasey said: "This is a once in lifetime opportunity for Bradford to create a rail link across Bradford bringing new investment, jobs and tourism to the city. Have your say."

The next meeting of the Bradford Rail Users Group is to be held on June 7 at 7.30pm at Bradford Voluntary and Community Services, Sunbridge Road, Bradford.

People can sign the Cross Rail petition at: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/crossrail/

Famous Jason Smith's

2011-04-04T15:30:00.000-07:00

Jason Smith
No.2 overall pick in 2009 NFL draft

Height: 6'5"
Weight: 309 lbs.

College: Baylor
Hometown: Dallas, TX

NFL Team: St Louis Rams
Position: Offensive Tackle (OT)

Biography

Famous Jason Smith's

2011-04-04T15:23:00.000-07:00

Another Jason Smith decks local yob!

Pubs need rights

2011-04-04T15:10:00.000-07:00

8:54am Monday 17th January 201
Bradford Telegraph & Argus

SIR – So MPs Philip Davies and David Ward ‘claim’ they would like to lift the smoking ban for pubs and clubs? (T&A, January 10).

Mr Davies might have the best of intentions, but I am willing to bet that ‘Millionaire Dave’ and his public school chums won’t be so keen, as they’re not really in to personal freedom, are they?

Then there’s Mr Ward. No doubt his latest pledge will go up in smoke as quickly as his previous ones on VAT and tuition fees. Mr Ward has shown his true colours already – yellow!

While I am not a huge fan of smoking, I would support a smoker’s right to have a designated smoking area in pubs. For me, it’s an issue of personal freedom.

One party has been campaigning in Bradford for rights for pubs for a few years now. You have no doubt seen our beer mats around.

UKIP’s pledge to help pubs is not a here-today-gone-tomorrow PR stunt like the Con-Dem’s poor effort, but it is a clear pledge that will stay in our manifesto alongside many other freedom-based policies.

Jason Smith, UKIP Bradford Chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Split plea no surprise

2011-04-04T15:08:00.000-07:00

8:21am Thursday 10th February 2011
Bradford Telegraph & Argus

SIR – What a surprise – MP Kris Hopkins has proposed that Keighley and Ilkley should separate from Bradford MDC (T&A, January 19).

After all, Mr Hopkins has spent the last few years spearheading Bradford ‘degeneration’ – hardly surprising, then, that he doesn’t want to continue overseeing the wasteland that is now Bradford.

What amazes me more, though, is the fact that anybody actually voted for him.

Lucky, then, that people have such small memories, or maybe he promised the people of Keighley he’d release them from the huge Bradford mess he created?

Jason Smith, UKIP Bradford chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queenbury, Bradford

Spotlight on EU ruling

2011-04-04T15:06:00.000-07:00

8:29am Monday 14th February 2011
Bradford Telegraph & Argus

SIR – Many people may have noticed our traditional light bulbs being phased out; 75w light bulbs have already been banned with 60w to be banned by September this year. Even though these bulbs have served us well since their invention it seems the EU has other ideas; EU Commission Regulation (EC) No 244/2009 outlawed the manufacture and import of incandescent (traditional) bulbs.

The EU claims this is because the new ‘energy saver’ bulbs are more efficient and environmentally friendly.

Unfortunately this is not the case; in fact energy saving bulbs contain mercury, which traditional ones do not. Add to that the fact that energy saving bulb are known to cause migraines and skin irritation and burns to the skin if you are nearer than 30cm to the bulb – best not stand up in your living room then!

You also are not permitted to put energy bulbs in your bin as they’re toxic, not very environmentally friendly really. You will not be able to obtain traditional bulbs soon so my advice is to stock up on them while you can or life could become a bit of a headache, literally.

Jason Smith, UKIP Bradford chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury, Bradford

Change of heart?

2011-04-04T15:03:00.000-07:00

Monday 28th February 2011
Bradford Telegraph & Argus

SIR – I am afraid I cannot share many people’s excitement of David Cameron’s lambasting of multi-culturalism, which in my view was more a cry to the people that the Tories are still relevant (which, of course, they aren’t), rather than an actual change of policy. Mr Cameron’s sudden change of heart – or rather, language – is, in my view, in response to the rise of the pro-British politics in the UK of which UKIP is at the helm and in response to the growing EDL movement which has said ‘enough is enough’.

Cameron can talk the talk – at least when the camera is on – but can he walk the walk? On the subject of reversing multi-culturalism, the answer is most certainly no!

Jason Smith, UKIP Bradford chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury, Bradford

Two major shifts

2011-04-04T14:57:00.000-07:00

8:12am Thursday 31st March 2011
Bradford Telegraph & Argus

SIR – Certain days will go down in history as turning points. I believe March 3 was one such day in political terms. On that Thursday, there was not one but two major shifts in British politics.

The Liberal Democrats finished a humiliating sixth in the Barnsley by-election, even being beaten down by an independent candidate, although their demise should have been predicted after they slapped young people in the face with increased tuition fees and all of us with increases on VAT, both of which they pledged not to do.

Then there is the Lib Dems pro- prisoner rights stance, our local MP David Ward telling us many criminals are actually ‘victims’; not sure if the actual victims would agree with that one, David!

The Lib Dems have gained power, well sort of, but they may have lost much more as it is now apparent to people that they do not actually have any policies, but then how can they if you don’t have any principles?

The other major story which was somehow overlooked by the BBC was the party who finished in second place; it seems common sense is now becoming a popular concept.

Jason Smith, UKIP Bradford chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury, Bradford

Yes to democracy

2011-04-04T14:54:00.000-07:00

8:50am Thursday 17th March 2011
Bradford Telegraph & Argus

SIR – AV or not AV – that is the question, but it really should not have been the question as electoral reform was a Lib Dem red line – seemingly, their only one!

While I agree with Councillor John Hall (T&A, March 14) that AV is fairer than first-past-the-post, the Lib Dems have always advocated Proportional Representation, so why did they agree to this compromise, or are they incapable of fulfilling any promises?

First-past-the-post is supported by our old parties’ MPs simply because it serves to shackle the people in a two-horse race forever, a race where the leading horses are seemingly ever more similar.

AV will do one thing for sure; it will encourage people to vote because their vote will count. For example, currently it’s all a bit pointless voting for anyone other than Labour in Bradford South, as they have such a large majority.

The other important issue is that if the people reject AV, then we will never again be afforded future reform and maybe a proportional system as MPs will say we the people rejected it.

If you believe in democracy, then it must be YES to AV!

Jason Smith, UKIP Bradford chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury, Bradford

Membership ‘benefits’

2011-04-04T14:51:00.000-07:00

8:09am Tuesday 15th March 2011
Bradford Telegraph & Argus

SIR – I would like to respond to Elaine Neale (T&A, March 1), who asks for somebody to clarify what we have gained from our membership of the European Union.

It might surprise Ms Neale to know that we have gained many things from the EU! For starters, we’ve gained more than one million European immigrants; we don’t have many jobs for our children, but at least those Europeans are okay.

Then there are the thousands of business regulations which have primarily put small businesses out of operation, but again, don’t be too concerned as the huge multi-nationals are doing very well, thank you. Finally, one of my personal favourites is the new EU legal system which suggests we are guilty until proven innocent and doesn’t care much for trials by jury.

All these benefit for just the small daily membership fee of £48 million. Lucky EU!

Jason Smith, UKIP Bradford chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury, Bradford

Vote options available

2011-04-04T14:47:00.000-07:00

Monday 14th March 2011
Bradford Telegraph & Argus

SIR – Finally the EU regulation chickens have come home to roost with a real criminal policy – votes for prisoners!

The EU fanatics are quick to try claim that this is a European Court of Human Rights ruling and has nothing to do with the European Union. This is not correct, as under the Lisbon Treaty, anybody who is a member of the EU has to automatically subscribe to the ECHR, you cannot be a member of one and not the other.

While our Parliament may have voted to reject votes for prisoners in principle, this was a non-binding vote. The Government still has to make a ruling on this. Option 1 is to reject the EU court and stop prisoners voting and get fined millions of pounds by the EU. Option 2, the default position, is back down to the EU and give prisoners the vote, and look weak and pathetic.

What is likely to happen is that Cameron will allow certain prisoners the vote in an attempt to appease the EU, while saying to the British people that ‘bad’ prisoners haven’t got the vote.

I’d prefer option 3 – leave the EU and allow our Government to make our own laws!

Jason Smith, UKIP Bradford chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queesnbury

Political nicknames

2011-03-06T12:23:00.000-08:00

The Conservatives should be called the "lava", because "lava" Tories are full of sh*t.

The Labour should be known as "hard", not because they're in anyway tough, but because "hard" Labour is like being in prison, after all living under Labour you lose all your rights and it's hard work... completly unlike a British prison then really?

The Liberal Democrats have two names so well give them two nicknames, "ill" and "anti", obviouly they're not well as they can't remember what their policies are but lets call them "ill" Liberal "anti" Democrats...

Why give prisoners this right?

2011-01-04T12:59:00.000-08:00

Published Date: 19 November 2010
Halifax Courier

Another criminal decision by what could be described as a criminal organisation, I am of course referring to the government's decision to allow prisoners to right to vote!

Poor old David Cameron, he didn't want to do it, honest – but the bad EU boys told him to!

Is it not bad enough that Mr. Cameron is totally incompetent and out of touch with the man in the street, now we must add weak and feeble to his large collection of undesirable traits?

While I do find the thought of Conservative politicians knocking on prison cell doors canvassing criminals for votes rather amusing the serious point is that anyone who is imprisoned should lose their rights including their rights to vote.

It is worth noting that all the old parties support prisoners rights to vote, but of course many of our MPs should be in prison for expense fraud shouldn't they?

Jason Smith
UKIP Calderdale Chairman

Jobs cut as foreign aid rises

2011-01-04T12:57:00.000-08:00

Published Date: 17 November 2010
Halifax Courier

Why are we cutting services and hundreds of thousands of jobs in our country while giving money to the EU to squander and increasing our foreign aid by 37%?

How many or your readers would hand their wages to their neighbors while their own families were starving - as that is effectively what our corrupt government is doing.

One very important statistic which seems to have been conveniently pushed under the carpet to protect the blushes of the government is that over 5 years the coalition proposes to implement £80 billion of cuts in the UK while our EU contribution over 5 years is.

Yes you've guessed it, £80 billion! So while our country suffers from the death of 1,000 cuts we are pumping ever more money in to a corrupt unelected organisation, which nobody ever voted to join! It is clear there is only one cut that needs to be made.

Jason Smith
UKIP Calderdale Chairman

Look to history

2011-01-04T12:54:00.000-08:00

Monday 13th December 2010
By Telegraph & Argus »

SIR – Not often am I embarrassed to be English, save our national football team’s consistently poor performances on the pitch and the way our government treats our brave servicemen.

One such moment was recently when it was announced that our military was effectively going to be merged with the French’s. David Cameron’s glee made the announcement even more sickening.

His lack of knowledge of British history is well known, but did somebody not remind him about the Falklands?

What would happen were we to engage in another ‘Falklands’ and were not able to as the French ‘didn’t fancy it’?

Cameron is spinning this as another cost-cutting exercise, but many of the politically astute will know this is just a precursor to the EU army – where all national armies will be merged and be directed by the EU government.

This is another story that the Tories will not tell.

Jason Smith, UKIP Bradford Chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Lib Dem reality

2011-01-04T12:52:00.000-08:00

Tuesday 4th January 2011
By Telegraph & Argus »

SIR – The ‘Fib’ Dems have proved that they are no better than the Labour and Conservative parties, campaigning against tuition fees to woo the young voters and now voting to introduce them, effectively spitting in the faces of their young supporters.

The tuition protests proved that the Lib Dems’ only concern is for serving their masters, the Conservatives, rather than the people that voted for them.

Had this vote been just prior to an election, would the Lib Dems have supported this Bill? Of course not. The reality is all they are concerned about is holding on to power. Lib Dem votes have been in decline for many years, and I think 2011 could see them all but wiped out at a local level – that would be one protest they would take notice of!

Jason Smith, UKIP Bradford Chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury, Bradford

Playing with figures

2011-01-04T12:50:00.000-08:00

Tuesday 4th January 2011
By Telegraph & Argus »

SIR – Stuart Baker is selective with his use of statistics (Letters, December 16).

If you believe the £6.2 billion “which the EU cost us this year” are the only costs, then feel free to do so.

But, if your subs for an angling club are £100 per year, does that mean, as a fisherman, that they represent the entire cost of your fishing for a year? With his kind of logic employed, that is what Mr Baker is implying.

Secondly, his claim that the EU generates some £120 billion of trade annually is disingenuous and factually incorrect.

This trade would still exist and without tariff barriers, whether a full member of the EU or as an associate like Switzerland and countless other nations.

The Taxpayers’ Alliance estimates the total annual costs to this nation to be £100 billion-plus, and possibly with good cause.

However, I generally use The Bruges Group statistics which estimate costs at more than £55 billion annually as these are easier to prove.

My £80 billion figure over five years was used so that not even the most dyed-in-the-wool Europhile could possibly take exception. On that,I was clearly wrong and humbly apologise. Mark Twain indeed, Mr Baker!

Jason Smith, UKIP Bradford Chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury, Bradford

WTF: Drugged up

2011-01-04T10:39:00.000-08:00

I was watching some US TV and the following advert caught my attention - thought what a great spoof!... and the US doesn't really do spoof that well save for the late Leslie Neilson...

Actually it was deadly, and I emphasise the word deadly... serious!

Ok, so this advert is aledgedly for a anti-smoking drug which apparantly targets the brain, alarm bells... code yellow

Hang on, might have been a bit quick to jump, they're actually giving us safety information! Some people had changes in behaviour, agitation or hostility??!! Depressed mood and suicidal thoughts (!!!) while taking this. Two question really. Is it really worth taking this drug given the fact that you might very well become hostile towards your family, then get depressed and finally kill yourself - although the drug would actully achieve it's objective as you'd be unlikely to smoke again unless you fancied cremation! Question 2 would be, how the fuck did this sh!t get on the market? Answer to 2 is, doesn't matter because you cannot by law sue pharmaceutical companies.
I jumped at the right time.

Comment: You don't say!
Yeah better check in with your dealer.. sorry Dr for their thoughts - which might be tricky considering they have probably never obtained their Phd in Drugs.

Again another plus point for the product, mouth swelling might make smoking more of a problem!... severe swelling of the throat again might sort out your smoking addiction for ever!

Do people really "buy" this stuff? or is it just me?

The Product

2010-12-02T14:27:00.001-08:00

I intend this to be, at least, a monthly offering – my blueprint for UKIP’s progression.

This and future postings are meant as an aide to UKIP, not as an opposition… suggestions to digest, not resist.

My background is in transformation, of individuals, organisations and teams – my mission is to transform UKIP in to a force, an unstoppable well oiled machine that breathes through truth and expands via democracy.

The Product

Let’s start by affirming what UKIP does well – media! Led by the media machine himself, Nigel Farage, we continue to punch above our weight; his recent Fox appearance was an example of how far UKIP has come in this respect.

While our product is the best on the market, kudos to DCB for his work on that, it is important to state that with any organisation – it is often not the best product that wins but the one that catches on first and is most prominent on the shelf.

UKIP does not do this well. This is in no way meant to denigrate the sales pitch of Nigel Farage which is top notch, but he cannot be expected to, and indeed should not, sell diverse products to different audiences – would you have the same person selling dog food and a sports car – of course not.

We, at UKIP Inc are in a most interesting place, not left or right, unlike the other dodgy salesmen (LibLabCon) who really have only one market, we can sell across the board – the free trade analogy is a good one here.

While the city slicker Nigel is at his best at the EU angle, he might not be the best at tackling issues such as immigration and employment. Most people work on association, can they connect with a person and thus an issue, decisions are made in seconds not after 30 minute interviews – quite ironically Lord Pearson, while a eloquent speaker tended to send out entirely the wrong message about UKIP, but was a good fit in the immigration role – his poshness (is that a word?) made him immune to the usual ‘idiot racist’ remarks. I tend to think Pearson’s role was more by chance than design but it worked.

I am not just referring to ‘news’ promotion here, some products might be best sold at a different level, local, a lighthearted media angle, campaign – it really depends what you’re selling really… where is your market.

I must make a quick shout out here to Frank Maloney, a unique talent, talks the language of the people and has the profile of a celebrity. An asset that UKIP could and should utilise, I will cover what this man brings in my next offering. How many EU stars are there? 12? Let’s turn this symbolism on its head and propose our own dynamic dozen!

What I am saying here, is that UKIP although polished and effective in the media is just not connecting to the entire population. Often it is not what is said but how it is said, or by whom.

UKIP Torysentric view has begun to fade, what is now clear are the Lib Dems, high and dry waiting to be rescued (or hopefully drowned), while Labour can be seen still on the rocks but are beginning to stir.

UKIP may be Torysentric or not, is does not matter if it is or not, what matters is the public’s perception of. What people perceive is their reality, right or wrong.

The first big mission for UKIP, should they choose to accept it, is to go after the weakest platoon in the opponents army – Captain Clegg leads this band of merry (I was going to say gay but that might not be PC) men in to almost certain oblivion.

In my opinion, UKIP is the most, in fact only libertarian party – why not tell people? Go in to the street and ask – ‘man man on the street who is the libertarian of them all’… ‘well the Lib Dems Sir’! He’s wrong of course, but it’s the only product he’s ever seen and it says Lib on the tin. Recruit a freedom fighter, we missed Joanna the Avenger somehow, there will be another – start a movement, a campaign, it will grow its own legs. Most importantly, hire a saleman who knows the product and change the language to suit the audience.

Why not try converting some of your opponent’s troops? Labour voters care about employment and immigration; they won’t come knocking on our doors because we are ‘all Tories’ and ‘only the BNP talk about immigration’. Send them a mail though; send them a rep, one of their own, how many times have you seen somebody stood in the street disagreeing with themselves – it’s about rapport, the consistency of the law of attraction for the more learned.

Can UKIP move forward, of course! Will UKIP move forward, it will if some of the stubborn old folks move aside. This is not about policy change, we’ve got lots to choose from, it is about policy selection. I am not proposing to abandon our principles – freedom and democracy underpin all our principles, this is all we need to know.

What have we to lose? Why elections of course, lots of them.

This is a call not just to the members, but to our esteemed leader himself – it’s a no risk offer, should it not return results then just revert to form, nothing lost, but should it return results – then everybody wins. We will return an MP, but only when we sit in every household in the UK.

Stay tuned for the next exciting installment. We may yet be free.

Jason Smith CMH C.Hyp

http://desire4freedom.blogspot.com/

UKIP leadership

2010-09-23T13:53:00.000-07:00

Dear UKIP supporters,

After much deliberation, I have decided not to stand for the UKIP leadership. After canvassing many members I was encouraged that the majority of the membership shared my vision, this was unfortunately accompanied by a fear of the unknown, entirely understandable in the current UKIP landscape – better to play it safe was the feeling.
While the reality I think is, if you walk behind the view never changes.

It became clear that in order to sell and new strategy and vision to UKIP it would require more than a few weeks in the run up to the leadership election. Having stood this time would have shortchanged me and I feel the members of UKIP. I simply could not, at this time, compete with the elite, their profile, finance or political machine.

I would need to instead compete on a platform of ideas, this would involve fully rolling out my strategy and vision and giving our members time to digest it, this battle simply came too quickly for us, we would be going in to battle without the proper tools – something our troops are more than accustomed to.

What initially could be viewed as an obstacle I can now recognise as an opportunity. Rather than see this as UKIPs final chapter, I believe this to be a new page in UKIP’s evolution. My intended candidacy has brought me great heart and many kindred spirits, activists who felt powerless now have a hope, a new path for UKIP.

It seems another grassroots champion shares my view, that man is Frank Maloney – had we come together earlier then we may have just run the elite boys close. As it stands we can now regroup and look forward. Stay tuned, the revolution has begun.

Again, thanks for all your support,
Cheers, Jason

UKIP Leadership "Mini Manifesto"

2010-09-05T14:38:00.000-07:00

Dear Sir/Madam,

As you may or may not know I have announced my intention to stand for the UKIP leadership,

I will of course be a massive underdog, no doubt competing against elected officials, Lords and the face of UKIP Nigel Farage – while I respect Nigel immensely and believe he should continue to be the face and spokesman for UKIP, I believe I could be a great compliment to him and UKIP – UKIP needs a public face but also a leader.

UKIP needs a new strategy and I believe I have the ability and experience to deliver this.

I will shortly be publishing a detailed manifesto, but I am keen not to give my opponents the ‘keys to victory’, instead I will present (below) a mini manifesto where I will detail my unique abilities and my blueprint for UKIP’s success.

My Guiding Principles for UKIP

UKIP should be a party that speaks to every section of the population. UKIP has been too dogmatic in the past; we are a broad church and should be open for all.

UKIP’s brand should be as a ‘libertarian’ party. If UKIP don’t know who they are, how can the public? Freedom should underpin all our strategy and goals.

UKIP should have a coherent and consistent local strategy. UKIP focus must be at a local level – all levels of UKIP must buy in to this.

UKIP should be a real opposition party with competent national spokesman, available to the media and local branches in the UK 24-7.

What I bring to the table

Transforming business: I will work with UKIP as I do with big business, developing their strategy and putting the right pieces in place to allow UKIP to grow, become a powerful political force and ultimately obtain freedom.

Political strategist: elections must be fought like military campaigns. I will unveil a blueprint for UKIP success which will further develop UKIPs structure and strategies at all levels.

UKIP experience: Experience at branch and regional level. I know how UKIP works and more importantly how it doesn’t work.

Speaking experience: I will sell UKIP’s brand but won’t be its only spokesman – we will reject the ‘presidential’ format and lead an army of ‘experts’ behind our general Nigel Farage.

Desire: I am true UKIP, not a Tory or Labour cast off. I am committed to the cause and ready for the fight.

Blueprint for Success

Run UKIP like a business: not like an old boys club. UKIP is driving forward, but much too slowly and often hazardously. UKIP has grown too big to be managed as it currently is.

Policy: Engage the members and people. Let the people shape UKIP via referenda; we must show the people that we are the only true Democratic Party. It is not about changing your policy or principles but changing people’s perception of.

Make news: all too often UKIP follows the big stories, often very far behind. Let’s make the news and use the media.

Evolution: let us evolve in to a fully inclusive broad party. Freedom is a concept that appeals to all, but with all products you first must sell.

Ultimately the UKIP leadership will come down to 3 choices:
1. The face of UKIP- Nigel Farage
2. The “official” UKIP candidates - MEPs, Lords etc
3. The Peoples’ Champion – Jason Smith

I trust the people; let us see if the trust can be reciprocated.

Let me know if you feel you can support me,
Cheers - Jason

Jason Smith for UKIP leader

2010-08-31T14:11:00.000-07:00

Yeah it's official, or at least it will be when there's officially a UKIP leadership election campaign.

More surprises to come, stay tuned.

Meet UKIP's biggest secret at the UKIP Conference - February 3 & 4.

Cross Rail link for city wins party's support

2010-05-31T10:13:00.000-07:00

THE proposal for a Cross Rail link connecting Bradford's Interchange and Forster Square station has been backed by the district's UK Independence Party.

The party wants to see three new high speed rail links in the country and Bradford could be a part of that if the Cross Rail link comes to fruition.

UKIP Bradford spokesman Jason Smith said: "Personally this seems like a no-brainer. Bradford urgently needs a shot in the arm to resurrect the city and the Cross Rail link could be just the ticket, connecting Bradford whose businesses and future attractions would benefit from the increased traffic in to the city.

"Currently our city is broken; this could be the first step to literally putting Bradford back on track.

"I have heard officials claiming the project is too expensive yet we have seen money thrown in to the city centre black hole and earmarked for projects that nobody wants like New Victoria Place and the mirror pond.

"If there is money for these unpopular projects then there is surely money available for something that will actually benefit the city.''

UKIP Bradford has launched a petition to gauge the public's interest in the rail link and has called for a Bradford-wide referendum on the proposal.

The referendum call has been supported by the Bradford Rail Users Group. Its chairman James Vasey said: "This is a once in lifetime opportunity for Bradford to create a rail link across Bradford bringing new investment, jobs and tourism to the city. Have your say."

The next meeting of the Bradford Rail Users Group is to be held on June 7 at 7.30pm at Bradford Voluntary and Community Services, Sunbridge Road, Bradford.

People can sign the Cross Rail petition at: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/crossrail/

Yorkshire Post, 28/05/10

Visit BRUG website

BRUG Facebook site

Fantasy Football 2009/10

2010-05-10T13:12:00.000-07:00

The season is over and the Top 10 is below

Univar Fantasty Football League

1 Annihilators Jason Smith 2518
2 Stay Tooned Eric Brownsword 2275
3 Always next year.... sean kelly 2171
4 Very Offensive Jason Smith 2102
5 bantam boys Lee Burke 2088
6 New England XI Jon Burge 2051
7 Dudley Hill FC Sean kelly 2045
8 showtime matthew smith 1990
9 IHS Matthew Sykes 1970
10 The Chuckle Brothers Steve Sykes 1959

I finished with a phonomenal 2518pts
I was ranked 118th out of (Total players) 2,316,895

My second team finished 4th in the league and also won the Univar Fantasy Football Cup.

Manager of the Month Awards below:

Month Winning Manager Winning Team Points Scored
August Jason Smith Annihilators 255
September Sean Kelly Dudley Hill FC 203
October Eric Brownsword Stay Tooned 283
November Jason Smith Annihilators 218
December Eric Brownsword Stay Tooned 370
January Sean Kelly Always Next Year 269
February Sean Kelly Dudley Hill FC 272
March Jason Smith Annihilators 332
April Jason Smith Annihilators 284
May Jason Smith Annihilators 183

I won Manager of the Month a record 5 times (August, November, March, April, May)

Bring on the 2010/11 season! Boom!

Election Q & A

2010-05-08T03:35:00.000-07:00

Got asked lots of question, during and post elections.

I will try answer these now:

Why didn't UKIP have a candidate in Bradford East?
from Mr Pitts

We had a candidate scedueled up to the last week, but funding issues caused this to fall through which was very dissapointing. On a positive note, we now have 2 candidates in Bradford East who will be campainging hard in the upcoming months and years so expect a strong showing for UKIP next time.

Why did you (Jason Smith) stand in Bradford West rather than South?
from various people

I would have prefered to stand in my home constituency but the opportunity arose for another candidate, who was willing to stand but only in South. So I made the decsition to stand aside and fight West instead for the sake of UKIP and raising it's profile. I still did activly campaign in South though and was very happy with the result.

What was the main reason for UKIP's strong votes in Bradford?
from Mr Johns

Although many of our candidates had strong campaigns whch certainly contributed, our publicity during this elections was very good, even though we were unfairly ommitted from the tv debates. I think our local publicity played a major role also - very few politicians are as high profile as myself and have garnered regular media coverage since the last election, that should not be overlooked. It's no good turning up just before the election, you have to be around every week or every year.

Why was UKIP not respesented at the hustings meeting at Carlistle Business Centre on Thursday 29th April?
from Mr McKechnie

Quite simply we weren't invited! Indeed I was not even aware of the event until after the fact. I have since wrote a letter to the organisation who hosted the event (Just West Yorkshire) and asked for a reason for our ommission, I have yet to recieve a reply. Interestingly Respect were invited, so our omission cannot be to do with the fact that only the main parties were invited, also the organisation purports to be one of equality and justice?

2010 UKIP National Elections

2010-05-08T03:26:00.000-07:00

Paul Latham - Keighley - 1,470

Jamie Illingworth - Bradford South - 1,339

Jason Smith - Bradford West - 812

First time candidate Paul Latham did well in Keighley with a well planned and executed campaign. Bradford South was our 'Bradford' target, I campaigned souly there even though standing in Bradford West which would not traditionally be a UKIP target.

Dissapointed to miss out on a candidate in Bradford East, this was on the cards in the weeks running up to the election.

2010 UKIP Local Elections

2010-05-08T03:05:00.000-07:00

Record setting results for UKIP around Bradford & District:

Results in (ward) alphabetical order

Paul Wright - Bingley Rural- 629
Well done to first time candidate, had a very good showing in the absence of other small parties.

Hiren Koyani - City - 64
Difficult seat for UKIP with the added hidden opponent of postal vote fraud.

Michael Feely - Eccleshill - 264
Good result for another debutant, strong campaign in the area

Jeetender Sangha - Idle & Thackley - 357
Another new candidate but with a strong local campaign. Excellent result partly due to the lack of small parties present.

Paul Latham - Ilkley - 324
Another strong vote that could be a good area for UKIP going forward, only Green's stood as the other smaller party.

Jason Smith - Queensbury - 383
Very happy with my result, held up well in a this key marginal

Philip Bird - Shipley - 408
Great vote for our resident candidate, goes to show a constant presence can really help the vote

John Worsley - Thornton & Allerton - 297
Another first time candidate in was has previously been a strong area for UKIP

Jamie Illingworth - 291 - Wibsey
Another strong vote in an area we have stood previously

Interview on Sab Rang Radio - Saturday 17th April

2010-04-18T13:27:00.000-07:00

Talked about the:
"Campaign for Openness and Transparency in Child Services (Children and Family Court Advisory Services)" - petition link
Campaign run by UKIP Idel & Thackley candidate Jay Sangha

Talked about the EU, and explained that it was undemocratic and the the EU Commission held all the power, only they can propose legislation etc.

Talked about immigration, explained that the Labour, Conservative and Lib Dem immigration policy discriminated against people from outside the EU, talked about UKIPs committment to the Commonwealth - we want to build strong trade links with the Commonwealth

Talked about civil liberties, and how Labour draconian policies such as ID cards and DNA databases are a threat to our personal freedom

Policies are unfair

2010-04-04T10:30:00.000-07:00

HTML clipboardSIR – I agree with Councillor John Hall on the Lib-Dems’ policy of exempting low-earners (less than £10,000 pa) from tax (Letters, March 3), although it is prudent to mention that their policy was lifted from our manifesto, but well done for adopting it anyway. Mr Hall then veers off at a tangent when he tries to paint the Lib-Dems as a fair party; of course, I used to think that too before I began to understand politics. The Lib-Dems have stripped power from the people of Britain and handed it to unelected officials in Brussels and unelected regional quangos. That doesn’t seem fair from a party that used to believe in devolved power.

The Lib-Dems were one of the architects of the EU Arrest Warrant, possibly the most unfair piece of legislation ever, which is responsible for many British citizens being imprisoned in EU prisons without evidence or trial. Let’s not also forget the Lib-Dems’ failure to support a referendum on the EU which they promised. Not very fair really are they? Not very liberal, not very democratic.

Jason Smith, UKIP Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, Bradford West, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury, Bradford

Telegraph & Argus, 22/03/10

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A taxing situation

2010-04-04T10:29:00.000-07:00

SIR – The Government and the other (EU) coalition parties haven’t even sorted out their expenses scandal yet and we have another scandal brewing!

This time we have party donors giving money to them but not bothering to pay tax.

Harriet Harman claims it’s not a big deal really as no law was broken, just as no law was broken when MPs were claiming for 50in flat-screen TVs, non-existent mortgages and flipping their homes for profit. Will they ever learn? The Tories have finally realised that Lord Ashcroft is not paying tax, even though I have heard William Hague being questioned on this exact subject for months on various political programmes.

Mr Hague’s only answer was that he trusted Mr Ashcroft and that his tax status is his own business, I disagree, and as Mr Ashcroft is the deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, I think this makes that everybody’s business.

Jason Smith, UKIP Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, Bradford West, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury, Bradford
Telegraph & Argus, 19/03/10

Dissolve all quangos

2010-04-04T10:27:00.000-07:00

SIR – Bob Watson is absolutely right (Letters, February 22) when he asks why quangos should be allowed to dictate spending priorities for our district.

The obvious answer is that they shouldn’t. Not only are they unelected bodies, but the majority of the decision-makers in these quangos do not even live in the district.

I want to see all these quangos dissolved and their powers transferred to our elected officials.

It is true the majority of our councillors are pretty incompetent, but the key thing is that they can be removed by us at election time if their plans turn to rubble or big black holes! We were the only party calling for the abolition of the Yorkshire Regional Assembly and we will continue to call for it, along with the dismantling of all the other unelected and unaccountable regional quangos.

Jason Smith, UKIP Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, Bradford West, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury, Bradford
Telegraph & Argus, 16/03/10

Drawbacks of PR

2010-03-09T14:30:00.000-08:00

SIR – The Prime Minister has declared he wants to hold a referendum next year on whether MPs should be elected through an ‘alternative vote’ system, whereby candidates would be ranked by voters.

Call me cynical, but I remember when I stood for election in 2005, Labour guaranteed that if elected they would offer the people a referendum on the EU.

This did not happen as all parties have proved since, through their refusal to stand by their pledge of a referendum, that they do not like referenda as they are afraid of the will of the people. We need a new voting system; we need to look to a system of proportional representation – the policy that the Lib-Dems used to support until they became assimilated into the undemocratic EU.

The only way we can engage people in politics is to ensure that their vote and every vote counts. We saw what happens with PR in the Euro elections where a grass roots party received more votes than the Government! The call for an alternate voting system is clearly a ‘PR’ stunt by the Government.

Jason Smith, UKIP Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, Bradford West, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury, Bradford

Telegraph & Argus, 26/02/10

Fight for our freedom

2010-03-09T14:29:00.000-08:00

HTML clipboardSIR – Following on from the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty at the end of 2009, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office will now be established and the European Public Prosecutor appointed.

It will have a cumulative catastrophic effect on our future lives in that it will result in the enforcement of Corpus Juris in the United Kingdom.

The enforcement of Corpus Juris will entail the complete overhaul of our criminal law resulting in the abandonment of habeas corpus, of the presumption of innocence and of trial by jury – those safeguards of individual freedoms that have been customary for us for centuries but are not followed in continental countries where the Napoleonic inquisitorial system is the general rule. Thanks to the provisions of the Lisbon Treaty, our Parliament is powerless to prevent the introduction of Corpus Juris, but our Government can exercise either a veto or an opt-out.

All your readers who appreciate the dangers to our freedoms of the introduction of Corpus Juris should get in touch with their MP as soon as possible, making their views plain and asking him/her to sign the Early Day Motion 637 against this.

Jason Smith, UKIP Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, Bradford West, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury, Bradford

Telegraph & Argus, 16/02/10

Does public want a burka ban?

2010-03-09T14:28:00.001-08:00

HTML clipboardI have heard many political commentators condemn UKIP's policy of "Banning the Burka" but I have not seen these same condemnations mirrored by the general public; on the contrary the feedback I have had from all communities in Bradford has been very positive.

Not only are the security risks of Burkas obvious but the fact that they contribute to creating divisions in our city should, on its own, be a good reason to ban them.

If you cannot gauge a person's expression then it is almost impossible to engage them in any kind of meaningful conversation.

Even though we are the only political party calling for a full ban in public areas I suspect it will only be a matter of time before the old parties are forced to take up this policy as they see their support and votes slip away.

Politicians love to take about 'change', but there is really only one party who has the passion and courage to deliver!

Jason Smith, UK Independence Party Calderdale Chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Halifax Courier, 09/02/10

David Cameron is sinking the depths

2010-03-09T14:26:00.000-08:00

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I really cannot believe the depths to which David Cameron can sink.

He has claimed a conservative government will give us "full Parliamentary control" over the "self amending and ratchet portions" of the Lisbon Treaty. Under acquis communitaire, what he is promising is impossible!

Jason Smith, UK Independence Party Calderdale Chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Halifax Courier, 04/02/10

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The EU’s a goblin!

2010-03-09T14:23:00.000-08:00

SIR – For many years, the European Union operated without double entry book-keeping, no fixed asset register and ‘advances of funds to third parties’ treated as expenditure which by any other name is ‘fraud’.
As far as I can work out, this has not been rectified in the last year or two. Just what does it take for Europhiles to recognise that their ‘baby’ is not a sweet child but a ravening goblin?

Jason Smith, UKIP Bradford chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury, Bradford

Telegraph & Argus, 02/02/10

Jason Smith is standing in Bradford West

2010-03-09T14:14:00.000-08:00

Candidate website

Admirable crusade

2009-05-07T11:58:00.000-07:00

8:22am Thursday 7th May 2009

By Telegraph & Argus »

SIR – I think I am joined by virtually the entire population when I say I am so impressed with Joanne Lumbley's 'Gurkha Justice Campaign', the one time Avenger has surly taken vengeance against the Government on behalf of the brave Gurkhas.

Labour has done some despicable things in their tenure, but few are more offensive than not allowing the Gurkhas to settle in the UK.

Why is it that we allow murderers, rapists and paedophiles to come and reside in the UK from the EU, yet we deny entry to brave soldiers who fought for us? It is simple, because the EU says so. There has got to come a time when politicians have got to grasp that last ounce of decency in their body and ask themselves one question.

The Government has tried to justify closing the door to the Gurkhas by saying it would put a strain on our public services but we are talking about 1,000s of Gurkhas, so what about the 500,000 EU immigrants that arrive here every year, do they not put a strain on our public services?

Not only is our country virtually bankrupt, but now the Labour government is completely morally bankrupt!

Jason Smith, UKIP Bradford chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury, Bradford

BCB Radio Interview

2009-05-07T11:48:00.000-07:00

Appeared on BCB Radio (106.6fm) today as No2ID coordinator.

11:45pm - 12 noon

Talked about:

Loss of data in Bradford NHS
Loss of 5,600 patients records, USB stick lost in library?!
Manchester trial of ID cards
Yes the things are aren't supposed to be compulsory, unless you live in Manchester of course!
Government snooping legislation
Logging of every persons e-mail, phone calls and web visits for a year (legislation passed on 6th April)
Proposed legislation to log details of social net
working sites such as Facebook and Ebay

Such woolly thinking

2009-05-02T13:45:00.000-07:00

Telegraph & Argus

8:47am Tuesday 28th April 2009

SIR – Last November a multi-signatory letter was published in the T&A warning of the impact the Government’s nasty “ID cards for foreigners” spin would have on our cultural and economic life.

We told the Government some people would decide Britain had become too unfriendly, that they would be put off from coming here, and the loss of their skilled labour would damage the economy.

Only months into the scheme, the Wool Marketing Board is warning of a crisis facing sheep farmers unable to find the skilled labour to shear their sheep during the hot summer months.

This means wool goes unsold and, if we have hot weather, livestock across the country will suffer.

The reason farmers can’t attract the labour required is the Australian and New Zealand gangs of shearers who come here annually have decided this year the cost, hassle, and intrusive bureaucratic process necessary to obtain a biometric ID card means it’s no longer worth their effort.

Who can blame them for not wanting to be guinea pigs for a scheme that could soon be unleashed on the rest of us?

If this scheme continues, it will not be just sheep feeling the heat this summer.

Jason Smith, Bradford No2ID co-ordinator, Bradford Resource Centre, Chapel Street, Bradford

Meeting: Bradford Civic Society

2009-04-28T13:45:00.001-07:00

Monday 27th April, 7:30pm

Attended the Bradford Civic Society meeting (AGM) regarding Bradford's 'degeneration'.

The BCS took names for the Regeneration Committee, names including Emma Fieldhouse and myself.

Things we need to do to as a society to get Bradford moving:

Publicity
Attack Councillors (physically is quite appealing!)
Propose our own Grassroutes Plan
Alliances with difference groups and organisations

Emma Fieldhouse's Facebook group:
Bradford Metropolitan District Council PULL YOUR FINGER OUT

Speaking engagement: UKIP 'Bin the (smoking) Bin'

2009-04-28T13:34:00.000-07:00

Saturday 25th April, 2pm

I spoke at the Painters Arms, Drighlington regaring the UKIP Bradford 'Bin the Bin' campaign.

"First they came for the people who wanted to smoke in pubs, I did not speak out as I do not smoke. They then came for the people who refused to sign up for an ID card; I did not care as I had an ID card. They came for the people who could not afford to pay their pay-as-they go road tax; I did not speak out as I always pay my taxes. Then they came for me, and there was nobody left to speak out for me!"

Quote: Jason Smith

So far the campaign has hit the followng pubs and has also extended further than the Bradford & District borders.

New Furnace	Buttershaw	Bradford South
Beehive	Buttershaw	Bradford South
Waggoners	Buttershaw	Bradford South
Cap & Bells	Buttershaw	Bradford South
Kingshead	Low Moor	Bradford South
Drop kick	Low Moor	Bradford South
Royal	Low Moor	Bradford South
Mail Coach	Low Moor	Bradford South
Northern	Low Moor	Bradford South
The George	Low Moor	Bradford South
Nags Head	Queensbury	Bradford South
Stags Head	Queensbury	Bradford South
New Dolphin Inn	Queensbury	Bradford South
Halfway House	Queensbury	Bradford South
George III	Queensbury	Bradford South
Old Dolphin	Queensbury	Bradford South
Junction	Wyke	Bradford South
The Crown	Wyke	Bradford South
Oddfellows Hall	Wyke	Bradford South
Oddfellows	Wyke	Bradford South
Brown Cow	Wyke	Bradford South
Prince of Orange	Halifax	Halifax
The Swan	Lockwood	Huddersfield
The Lockwood	Lockwood	Huddersfield
Lockwood Con Club	Lockwood	Huddersfield
Lockwood Lib Club	Lockwood	Huddersfield
The Fountain	Newsome	Huddersfield
The Fleece	Cullingworth	Shipley
The George	Cullingworth	Shipley
The Guide Inn	Harden	Shipley
The Golden Fleece	Harden	Shipley
The Station	Harecroft	Shipley
The Ling Bob	Wilsden	Shipley

14 pubs have so far returned petitions, totally 546 signatures. We expect that figure to grow quickly as petitions continue to flood in!

Libertarian Awards 2009, shortlist.

2009-04-18T15:25:00.000-07:00

In conjuction with the launch of the "Freedom Pledge" I will shortly be announcing my Libertarian Awards for 2009... but first I'd like to put together a short list of candidates:

These nominations might not be to everyones taste, but they are my personal picks.

Vaclav Klaus
President Czech Republic, EU President
Nomination: Having the bravery to speak against the EU

Ron Paul
US Republican Presidential candidate 2008
Nomination: For his service to Liberty in the US, for his eloquence and insightful speeches

Alice Mahon
Fromer Labour MP, Halifax
Nomination: For fighting for the people, being outspoken

Tony Benn
Former Labour MP
Nomination: For his common sense and stance against the EU

John Pennington
Conservative Councillor, Bingley, Bradford
Nomination: For being the only councillor in the entrire district that has the guts to speak against the cities degeneration and to speak up for the people

George Galloway
Respect MP
Nomination: For his passion against the War in Iraq and his superb US court speech where he buried the US neocons

Sarah Teather
Liberal Democrat MP
Nomination: For her tirless work for local people and her stance again corrupt MPs

Ann Cryer
Labour MP, Keighley
Nomination: For her bravery in fighting for the rights of Asian women and tacking the issues of forced marriage in the District

More nominations to follow...

Freedom 2 Choose

2009-04-12T09:56:00.000-07:00

Saturday attended a Freedom 2 Choose meeting in Drighlington

11-04-2009

Campaign meeting to be held in Drighlington

SPEAKERS including MEPS will be attending a campaign meeting in Drighlington this weekend.

Members of Northern England Freedom2Choose - who are campaigning to amend the smoking ban - will be meeting this Saturday (April 11) at The Painters Arms, Bradford Road.

MEP Godfrey Bloom (UKIP Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire) will be among the speakers attending the meeting, which starts at 2pm, along with Jason Smith (UKIP Bradford) and Nick Hogan (UKIP Chorley) to offer support for the Freedom2Choose national campaign to amend the smoking ban.

Morley Observer 08/04/09

Campaigners outside the pub in Drighlington
Marsha Singh - You're barred!!

Jason with Tim of Freedom2Choose

Jason with Godfrey Bloom MEP (UKIP)

The return of fluoride!

2009-04-10T12:38:00.000-07:00

Health put second

Sir – The European Food Standards Authority (EFSA), the EU body that controls food standards, has approved fluoride as a food product.

This is very bizarre. Firstly, the classification of fluoride as a food is very dubious as it does not have any nutritional benefits.

We are told that fluoride prevents tooth decay; a claim I would not accept, but its classification as a medicine would make more sense.

If fluoride had been classified as a medicine then it would have had to undergo rigorous trials to prove its safety, which I believe it would have failed. Could this be why it has been ‘wrongly’ classified?

Anybody who has read the warnings on their fluoride toothpaste will discover “caution: do not swallow”. Hardly the stuff we should be adding to food supplements.

Not only has the EFSA approved this dangerous substance but they have proposed to ban hundreds of natural vitamin and mineral supplements in 2010. These are supplements that have been used for hundreds of years without any adverse effects.

It seems the EFSA is once again putting the wishes of the multi-national pharmaceutical companies before the health of the people.

Jason Smith, UKIP Bradford chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury, Bradford

Tuesday 7th April 2009
Telegraph & Argus

British jobs for EU workers!

2009-03-30T12:47:00.000-07:00

Labour MEP Corbett gets slapped down again...

well it's goodnight from me, and it's goodnight from him!

Not such wise words

SIR – I would like to respond to the letter from Richard Corbett MEP (T&A, March 12) regarding British jobs.

Mr Corbett would have us believe that when Gordon Brown announced “British jobs for British people” he was meaning that British people should have the best training and access to jobs without discrimination.

This is, of course, not what Mr Brown was saying when he was trying to appeal to Labour supporters at the TUC in Brighton.

Mr Brown said he wanted to fast-track British people into vacant British jobs, even though he knew this was impossible.

Mr Corbett is trying to reinterpret Mr Brown’s speech as he knows what he was saying was illegal under EU law.

Mr Corbett goes on to say that nearly two million British people are employed in the EU; I think he will find that two million is the number of British people who live in the EU, rather than work.

Jason Smith, UKIP Bradford chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury, Bradford

Telegraph & Argus, 30/03/09

Smith vs. Corbett archives:

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Time for voting to go hands-free

I would like to thank Richard Corbett MEP for trying to justify the fact that he voted to not respect the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty (Courier, July 17).

Maybe votes in the EU parliament would be more transparent if votes were registered electronically as UKIP MEPs suggested, rather than having a show of hands and no record made of how they vote. Surely the people of Yorkshire deserve to know how their MEPs have voted?

I also noticed that Mr Corbett's letter came from Leeds. This is quite strange as he lives abroad.

Personally if I was elected as a Yorkshire MEP to serve the people of Yorkshire, I would spend some time in our region. I suppose this is not the case if you are a career politician like Mr Corbett.

Well it's goodnight from me, and its goodnight from him!

Jason Smith, UK Independence Party Bradford Chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury

Halifax Courier, 09/08/08

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Treaty tribulations

SIR – I would like to reply to Richard Corbett MEP regarding his comments on Ireland’s ‘No’ vote (T&A, July 1).

Mr Corbett believes we need to find a solution acceptable to all 27 EU states and he suggests Ireland must have a ‘profound internal debate to identify what they don’t like’.

Maybe they didn’t like the EU Lisbon Treaty and its subsequent erosion of their country’s sovereignty?

Mr Corbett advises he wants to see a ‘compromise’ – I would like to remind him that the Lisbon Treaty states it has to be passed by every member state in order to become law. It’s very simple; maybe Mr Corbett should revisit the treaty’s text.

Mr Corbett adds we must respect the Irish result. Then why did he and his EU federalist colleagues vote against Lisbon Treaty amendment 32 which asked that the European Parliament ‘undertake to respect the outcome of the referendum in Ireland’?

Maybe Mr Corbett would care to explain that to the people of Yorkshire, who he has allegedly been elected to serve?

It is clear that the EU fears democracy; bring on the EU elections in 2009 and let this be the UK’s referendum on the Lisbon Treaty!

Jason Smith, UK Independence Party Bradford chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury, Bradford

Telegraph & Argus, 04/07/08

The Freedom Pledge

2009-03-29T14:11:00.000-07:00

Today I launched the Freedom Pledge!

This group, pledge is not affiliated with any political party or group.

By signing the Freedom Pledge you agree to the below:

• I shall not vote for any politician, either local or national that supports any policy or law that infringes on my individual freedom.

I think everyone can define for themselves what policies and laws work against their freedom.

The aim of this group is to define which politicians work for us (Libertarians) and which work for themselves (Authoritarians).

There is no left or right today in politics, it is an illusion.
There are only libertarians or authoritarians.

This group is not intended to be party political. Any party political ‘broadcasts’ and negative comments directed at any specific party will be removed. We accept that there are good people in all parties. Our aim is to support any libertarian politicians and appose any authoritarian ones.

I would encourage everyone to post details of any impending freedom eroding legislation or any such legislation that has already been passed along with details of how MP’s voted.

Please also feel free to post names of any libertarian or authoritarian politicians and your reasons for their characterisation. These can be debated on the group and we can then compile a database of true libertarians and authoritarians and share this information widely.

MOST IMPORTANTLY
PLEASE FORWARD THIS GROUP TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS

The intention is for this group to grow as large as possible and spread these basic principles
“Vote politician before party”
“Support libertarian, appose authoritarian”.

The only way we can turn back the eroding of our freedoms is to ensure we will not accept any politicians that refuse to protect our freedoms.

Join Facebook group
or place comments here

Civil Enforcement Officers

2009-03-27T10:57:00.000-07:00

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'Cut price' coppers are of course undesirable, but not necessarily a threat in themselves.

Do the government feel they might need more civil enforcement on the streets very soon?

Civil Enforcement Officers enforcing the Civil Contingencies Act?

Police in all but name?

SIR – I have to agree with R J Lacey’s letter ‘parking penalties’ (T&A, March 11), 61 parking offences does seem rather excessive.

The other thing that concerns me is the evolution of traffic wardens, now known as civil enforcement officers.

As well as having a new name and outfit, they have also been afforded new powers. As well as enforcing the multitudes of parking offences, they can now also assist with preventing anti-social behaviour.

Furthermore, the Traffic Management Act, which ushered in the new officers, also makes provision for the appropriate national authority to confer further “special powers” on traffic officers. These special powers would be the same powers granted to police officers.

The Government might deny that these special powers will ever by activated, but I think the name Civil Enforcement Officers gives the game away.

It looks like we have more ‘cut price coppers’ on the way.

Jason Smith, UKIP Bradford chairman, Woodlands Avenue, Queensbury, Bradford

Telegraph & Argus, 27/03/09

THE ID CARD CUP

2009-03-26T05:02:00.000-07:00

Bradford No2ID vs Identity & Passport Service

17th March 2009, the T & A Stadium - first leg
Bradford No2ID 2 - 0 Identity and Passport Service
Goals: James Hall, 2 (og), 4 (og)

Match Summary:
A bit of a disaster in defence for the IPS, both own goals coming from IPS captain James Hall early in the game after significant pressure from No2ID. After 4 minutes the game was effetivly over with No2ID having 90% of possession. IPS looked frustrated.

23rd March 2009, the T & A Stadium - second leg
Bradford No2ID 4 - 0 Identity & Passport Service
Goals: Jason Smith 2, 5, 30, 85

Match Summary:
Just when the IPS didn't think it could get any worse. No2ID captain Jason Smith scoring a quad-trick in this disection of the IPS, No2ID looked in total command after 5 minutes and 2 goals, Smith added a 3rd before halftime then finishing in style with a freekick which caught IPS defender and captain James Hall napping. Hall was lucky not to be sent off after he gave the referee some verbal, but the referee refused to show his card?

More in depth action:

Not much protection
SIR – I would like to counter the flimsy arguments for ID cards from James Hall, the chief executive of the Identity and Passport Service (Letters, February 27).
Mr Hall claims the alleged benefits are: Protecting us against identity fraud? Let’s just imagine all our personal information was on one database rather than spread across many as it is today. Having ‘a one-stop shop’ for all our data would be an open invitation to identity thieves, as the IT giant Microsoft has warned. If somebody stole your identity including biometric data, what then? Do you get a new eye and thumb?
Protecting us from criminals? Sorry, but I don’t see how carrying an ID card is going to make a criminal any less of a criminal, and what if that criminal had fake ID, or your ID?
Protecting us from terrorists? If someone wants to blow themselves up, how is carrying a card going to deter them from doing that?
Stopping illegal immigration? If someone is in the country illegally, then the Government is not aware they are here, so they are unlikely to be able to issue them an ID card, are they?
Jason Smith, Bradford NO2ID co-ordinator, Bradford Resource Centre, Chapel Street, Bradford
Telegraph and Argus, 23/03/08

Strange turnaround
SIR – I would like to respond to the letter from James Hall, chief executive of the Identity and Passport Service, entitled “ID card advantage” (T & A, February 27).
Mr Hall claims that plans to introduce ID cards are widely supported by unions. Is that why the Trade Union Congress passed a motion on September 10, 2008, against ID cards, where they pledged to resist the identity scheme “with all means at its disposal”?
He goes on to say that airport union officials are very supportive of the scheme, which is a little bit strange as the union that proposed the motion to the TUC was the airline pilots’ union, BALPA.
Surely you can do better than this Mr Hall, or maybe you can’t, as after all there are no good reasons for ID cards.
Jason Smith, Bradford NO2ID co-ordinator, Bradford Resource Centre, 17-21 Chapel Street, Bradford BD1
Telegraph and Argus, 17/03/08

Bradford Civic Society Meeting - Saturday 21st March

2009-03-26T04:55:00.001-07:00

Attended the Bradford Civic Society meeting today at the Impressions Gallery Bradford.

Check it out, curtesy of BORG (Bradford Odeon Rescue Group) wesbite:

Shot of me being interviewed by BCB Radio re Bradford's regeneration - what regeneration?

Tag the sheep

2009-03-14T13:32:00.000-07:00

For years farmers have used plastic tags to identify their animals, but as from next year European Union rules say all sheep will have to be electronically tagged, with 30 million sheep in the England, this could become very expensive. Not only are farmers going to have to buy the tags themselves, but they will also have to purchase the tag readers and any additional technology required to maintain the records.

Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) has said it is worried about the financial burden on our farmers but cannot stop this law as control of our farming like 75% of our other laws has been handed over to the EU government in Brussels.

I wonder if our very own three little Labour sheep, MPs Sutcliffe, Singh and Rooney would object to being tagged?

The 'not very' Liberal Democrats Freedom facade

2009-03-14T13:25:00.000-07:00

The Lib Dems Freedom Bill contains lots of great ideas, but they are just that... ideas.

“Scrapping ID cards” is an excellent idea, of course, but one that the Lib Dems cannot action as they are EU followers and what the Bill does not say is that ID cards are an EU project!

Another amusing pledge was to “Renegotiate the unfair extradition treaty with the United States”, again another good idea. Then again we have the EU Arrest Warrant which allows anyone from the UK to be extradited to any other EU country without a shred of evidence. Isn’t it interesting that the Freedom Bill didn’t mention that?

The Bill also suggest that they would “Restore the principle of double jeopardy in UK law”, yet this is totally contradictory to EU law, under the EU’s Corpus Juris you can be tried twice for the same crime.

It was Lib Dem Chris Huhne who unveiled the bill and he can hardly claim ignorance of this as both he and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg are former EU MEPs!

Reply to BNP propaganda

2009-02-24T13:44:00.000-08:00

It seems the BNP are scared to death of UKIP, they have a number of employees spaming UKIP members with masses of crazy e-mails - trying to paint UKIP as corrupt and imploding when in reality that is the status of their party. I have nothing personal against this party and believe they are entitled to their views, which I do not endorse.

I thought I would share my reply:

Just a few comments on your recent posts,

You say the BNP are well placed to attract UKIP supporters since UKIP has “imploded”? I’m not aware of such an implosion; could you be getting confused with the BNP implosion with their recent mass exodus of members and branch officials? Many which have formed another party – as they believe the BNP is too ‘extreme’? Its one thing isn’t it, for the public to think your party is extreme, but for actual local members/branch officials to leave because of this, surely this must be worrying for yourself. It is hardly surprising then isn’t it that are trying to recruit new members, although I fear you are barking up the wrong tree, as you are very unlikely to recruit any UKIP members as we reject extremism in all forms. Of course you are entitled to your views; it is just that we do not share them. Your party might be better served by you actually campaigning/ leafleting – there are certain areas in all cities where people might be open to your message, many people in those areas do not understand politics either so you may find favour with them.

You commented that UKIP are afraid to stand against BNP candidates, is this the same reason the BNP did not put up a candidate against UKIP in the Bromley by-election I wonder, or was is a case that you did not want to hurt the National Front candidate?

If you are really committed to your party, then may I suggest you spend your time addressing some of the failings of your own party, such as the lack of democracy overall, the fact that it is almost impossible to remove Mr Griffin as leader (this has been mentioned by many ex BNP members), the fact that BNP branches are not allowed to keep their own funds. This sounds like a very undemocratic/ controlling party. Compare this to UKIP, who had a proper election for leader where every member was afforded a vote. It might be also worth looking in to why you keep losing membership lists – if I was a member, in a sensitive position, and found my details on the internet I would be extremely upset – this is of course going to happen though isn’t it when you keep firing people because they disagree with your leadership.

The fact that the UKIP NEC rejected your parties request for an election pact must surely tell you that we are not the least bit interested in dealing with you. After all, what has the BNP gained since its inception many years ago? A few councillors, most of which resign halfway though their term – I can think of a handful just in Bradford. Compared to the BNP, UKIP are a very young party indeed, already sporting many councillors, 1 MP, 9 MEPs and 2 Lords. The plain fact is that all extremist parties can only go so far as they will never become mainstream, whereas a party like UKIP will grow and grow as we attract yet more of the majority of moderate voters from the old parties.

Seriously, I really wish you well, but I am afraid your party is going nowhere and is going to be utterly destroyed in the European elections.

I will not be replying to anymore of your posts and will be reassigning your mails to my junk e-mail folder as both myself and my colleagues have an election to win.

Regards

No jobs guarantee

2009-02-23T12:35:00.001-08:00

Having a go about alleged 'British jobs for British' people, a vicious rumour being perpetrated by the Neo-Labour party

T&A, 18th February: No jobs guarantee

All comments welcome, positive or negative, although negative comments will likely be deleted so don't waste your time :)

Diary: BCB Radio - Friday 27th February 11:45am

2009-02-23T12:16:00.000-08:00

Tune in to see me in action on BCB Radio Friday 27th February

I'll be talking about the 57th anniversary of the abolition of wartime identity cards and other No2ID business

No need for retention

2009-02-23T12:08:00.000-08:00

Looks like our government got themselves in to another sticky situation as the European Court has ruled that DNA should not be kept if the individuals aren't charged. The government is not sure what the decision means exactly, so they are going to ponder on it - it's clear - NO CHARGE, NO DNA! If the European Court had ruled in favour of some criminal then I'm sure the government will have been falling over themselves to accept the judgement.

Have a read of my letter in Friday's T&A: No need for retention

The other parties - a rough guide

2009-02-09T13:56:00.000-08:00

Since becoming UKIP Bradford Chairman, I have had the pleasure, if you can call it that, of meeting representatives from different parties.

I am going to try give you a bit of a flavour of the other parties, or rather their representatives or supporters, or should that be followers? Here are a few mental notes:

The Tories

Positives:

Libertarian - There is quite a strong libertarian feel in the Tories, which isn’t really unsurprising as the Tories have historically been against state control and for individual power. Some councillors even get quite passionate (and then do nothing about it!) about our loss of freedoms.

Outspoken – The majority still do not adhere to the prevailing wind (foul stench) of political correctness

Negatives:

Most lack any principles. A recent conversation with a Tory councillor contained his quote “what principles”. This is the mantra you get from a career politician.

The Goldfish mentality – many Tories have very short memories, again this could be the dissolving of their principles, but few seem to remember for example Cameron’s only leadership election pledge, to come out of the EPP.

Spinning around – Cameron has mesmerised the troops; they really believe he’s a good guy and dismiss his lack of policies (and principles) as political tactics.

New Labour

Positives:

For the people – many of the (older) councillors still believe in fighting for the people, although they don’t seen to have realised that their party no longer believe in that. These are essentially Old Labour councillors, but thankfully for their national party they’ll die soon.

Negatives:

Sheep mentality - Very very ill informed about details on the big issues, most rely solely on the national party for their opinions. The party communication must be terribly bad or they are being deliberately misinformed. Or maybe this is the labour way, be a sheep or get out of the pen!

Afraid to speak – it is hard to find an example of a Labour councillor speaking out against anything really, Odeon is a prime example.

Authoritarian - I believe with the majority this stance is mainly due to their lack of knowledge, I think if they actually had all the details they would find their parties policy is not for them, e.g. ID cards, EU. Hiring sheep is good for control purposes but when you want them to think it gets tricky.

Lib Dems

Positives:

Fluffy – They are normally very nice people, probably attracted by a party that seems a bit fluffy and non-threatening, possibly due to the fact that they don’t really have any firm policies on anything. The best looking political ladies are Lib Dems.

Lacking passion – probably because the party doesn’t really have a direction or a set of objectives, its difficult to become passionate about issues when they change year in year out and are dependant on where in the country you are

Negatives:

Libertarians – Bet you’re thinking how this can be a negative, well they really think they are libertarians, yet they have very non liberal policies, i.e. the EU.

Confusion – This comes from the fact that they join a party and are told the party is one thing then when they start campaigning they realise it is something else. For example they want to campaign against ID cards but being an EU party they cannot appose them, same applies when they try to campaign again Post Office closures.

BNP

Positives:

Outspoken – you can’t really argue with that one, although this could just as easily turn in to a negative depending on the subject. A lot of people actually respect them for speaking out though.

Negatives:

Knuckle draggers – No matter how much the leadership claim to have routed out all the bad apples it’s not hard to find some knuckle draggers plodding around, the only time we have been abused on the campaign trail were by BNP members, even the New Labour shepherd Gerry Sutcliffe encouragingly said “go on lads!”

Popular policy – their national party claims to be against ID cards but I don’t feel this is the stance of many of their councillors and members

Racism – Some BNP members are decent people, but some are very racist

Green

Positives:

Utopian – Very idealistic, really very decent people but find it hard to translate their ideals in to real life. Would make better philosophers or poets.

Local issues – Good on local issues, especially in rural areas or villages with lots of parks

Negatives:

Too Green – Cannot see the wood for the trees. Climate change/global warming is a reality is their world, they cannot even consider another viewpoint

Sacrifice – Are willing to accept any from of taxation if it means helping our carbon footprints

We love EU – They have not yet discovered that the only green the EU supports is the green of cash

Signing in

2009-02-09T12:10:00.001-08:00

Well here I am, never thought I'd do the blog thing, but it seems people actually read these things so here goes.

I hope to bring a little insight in to politics and to inject some humour.