Month: August 2018

The devastation caused by the fire at the historic Bank Buildings in Belfast has for many led to reminiscing of happier times in the city-  but for others,  it brings back darker memories of our recent past when a simple family shopping trip could so quickly turn to disaster as another IRA bomb ripped through buildings –  creating a haze of smoke and dust and the intense heat of flames; much like the scenes we witnessed on Tuesday.

Although losing such a historic and impressive building at the heart of  our capital city is deeply saddening – this time thankfully there were no screams competing with the wail of sirens.

Not all victims of our troubled past were killed or physically injured – but many remain mainly forgotten due to the fact their wounds are unseen mental scars that will never fully heal.

When they hear Sinn Fein tell us how terrible things like this are,  they reach for the sick bags as they remember vividly what they and their cohorts did to our country not that long ago – and are now lauded as ‘peacemakers’ by the great and good.

We cannot and will not ever allow the past to be glossed over or rewritten to suit their agenda – for the sake of all innocent victims.

By Robert Hill
UKIP Spokesman for Northern Ireland

After over a year and a half without a fully functioning Assembly or Government, Northern Ireland remains in a state of limbo. Despite this, MLAs continue to receive a full salary for a job they aren’t doing.

Commenting on this situation, UKIP Spokesman for Northern Ireland – Robert Hill said:

“The almost six hundred days of inactivity at Stormont – and the outrageous £9 Million paid to date in wages to our ‘non-legislating legislators’ is totally unacceptable.  Why must the hard working people of Northern Ireland continue to fund this gravy-train?  No other job pays for a year and a half of indecision, inactivity  and incompetence.

“Why should the people of Northern Ireland have to accept this absurdity – a situation created by the very politicians who continue to get paid for nothing?  Every party in the assembly is complicit and equally guilty of collecting big wages for NOT making decisions or taking a stand.   Silly stunts with banners at Stormont won’t detract from the repetitive cycle of gridlock, failure and scandal that has dominated there in the last few years.  Equally, the narrow agenda of an Irish language act to appease approximately 2% of the population cannot be allowed to continue to adversely affect  100% of the population through a lack of decisions on health, education and infrastructure.”

Commenting further, Robert added:

“The legacy parties in Northern Ireland are wedded to the present Stormont shambles. After all, they are the architects and champions of it.   The shameful six hundred days of uncertainty only serve to further highlight how out of date and antiquated  their institutions of (non) Government are now.  Legislative Devolution in its current Stormont guise is from a time which has long since passed.  There needs to be a re-think about the future long-term Governance of Northern Ireland. The people also need to have a say.

“In the mean time, the current situation cannot be allowed to continue. This half-in and half-out British Government indecision cannot be allowed to continue either.  We in UKIP Northern Ireland demand an immediate end to this farce, and a swift return to direct rule.

“The debate can then turn to a mature conversation on the future Governance of Northern Ireland.”

Recent Irish Republican sabre-rattling is part of a clear agenda – aided by some in the media.

Commenting, UKIP Spokesman for Northern Ireland –  Robert Hill said:

Commenting further, Robert added:

NORTHERN IRELAND’S  TRADE WITH REST OF UK IS MUCH GREATER THAN TRADE WITH EU – & WORTH FOUR TIMES THE VALUE OF TRADE WITH IRISH REPUBLIC 

The recent ONS trade figures once again highlight NI’s economic reliance on the internal UK market – where trade to the rest of the United Kingdom is much greater than trade to the EU-  including the Irish Republic. 

In fact – Northern Ireland’s sales to mainland Britain are worth one-and-a-half times the value of all Northern Ireland exports – and are worth nearly four times the value of exports to the Republic.

Commenting this, UKIP Spokesman for Northern Ireland, Robert Hill said:

“Alongside the usual fear-mongering headlines –  which we’ve witnessed again today,  a number of false statistics have been used in a further attempt to try and justify the creation of a border in the Irish Sea.  Some disingenuous figures quoted have excluded billions in Northern Irish sales to the rest of the United Kingdom:  Sales which are  more than four times as much as NI sales to the Republic.   When you look at the total picture of all of Northern Ireland’s external sales – you find that 60.3% goes directly to the rest of the UK, while only 14.7% goes to the Republic.”

“Despite what we’re told by those who wish to wreck our EU Exit, or leave in name only –  it would never have been in Northern Ireland’s interests to prioritise access to the Irish Republic over access to the rest of this nation – quite apart from the obvious ramifications that would have for our historic union. Excluding the Republic –  only 8.4% of all of our exports go to the remaining EU26, compared to 16.6% which go to the rest of the world.

“If we were to listen to the local branches of team remain – Northern Ireland alone would have remained in some bizarre ‘customs arrangement’ with the EU – this would have prevented us from benefitting from future trade deals put in place by the rest of the UK.  Those on either side of the border calling for this absurdity aren’t only calling for the integrity of the United Kingdom to be put into question; they’re prioritising 23% of trade with the EU (including ROI) over the 77% of trade with the rest of the UK and elsewhere in the world.”

Another line used by some remainers this week is: ‘In the event of a no-deal Brexit, industries that have cross-border supply chains could be seriously damaged’.

Responding to this, Robert added:

“There will be minimal change. The Common Travel Area – which all agree should continue and which predates UK and Irish EU membership will continue unaffected.     In terms of this ‘damage to cross-border supply chains’ – This is yet more project fear.    Smart-checking schemes already exist elsewhere, and this is a practical option for trading –  while ensuring the integrity of the UK’s internal market. Using technology is one way of enhancing security with minimal fuss and with no new physical infrastructure.  Similar solutions have been introduced elsewhere. You can find examples at the Norway / Sweden border and the Canada / United States border where solutions have been implemented through trusted-trader schemes and the sharing of data and facilities.

*’Standards and best practices such as domestic and cross-border coordinated border management as well as trusted trader and trusted traveller programs can significantly reduce compliance requirements and make borders almost friction free… Technologies such as number plate recognition, enhanced drivers licenses and the use of smartphone apps can also have a significant impact by reducing paperwork and allowing pre- or on-arrival release.’

*“This quoted information isn’t from a Eurosceptic think-tank or a leave voting politician. This is directly from a smart border report commissioned and published by the EU itself – hardly a hotbed of optimistic EU Exit thought!    Much to disappointment of Mr. Varadkar, Mr. Barnier and remainers locally and nationally who want to use Northern Ireland as a trojan-horse to wreck Brexit:  Crucially – their own ‘smart border’ report asserts  that these solutions are applicable whatever the outcome of Mrs. May’s negotiation.  This would work either if there’s a deal –  or if we walk away free to trade with the world under WTO rules!”

–

Notes:

European Parliament:  Smart Border 2.0: Avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2017/596828/IPOL_STU(2017)596828_EN.pdf

What type of party is UKIP?

By Gerard Batten MEP – Leader of UKIP

Navel Gazing, Border Poll debates, re-hashed slogans and mixed messages won’t strengthen the union. Coming on board with thousands of others by joining UKIP will. We are making a stand #ForTheNation in each part of it.  As the DUP has another conversation with itself over the potential for a border poll – the United Kingdom is looking towards a brighter future – stronger than it has ever been. 

Commenting, UKIP Spokesman for Northern Ireland – Robert Hill said: 

“The latest row within the DUP over whether or not to aid their former partners in Government and its fellow Irish Republicans in their dream of a United Ireland rumbles on.  They are using the pages of the local papers to have an internal debate about ‘potential preparations for a border poll.’  The fact remains however that Irish Republicans promised their end goal would be achieved by 2016 –  and It simply hasn’t happened. It looks further away than ever before.

“The most important bonds and ties we hold are the ones we share across the UK. Our Union is growing stronger- and once we’re able to embark upon a future free from the clutches of the failing European Union; we’ll be an independent, sovereign and much more capable nation on the world stage than at any point in recent memory.”

Commenting further, Robert added:

“UKIP is growing locally and rapidly throughout the UK. We’re the party for the United Kingdom and we have hard-working members and activists everywhere in the UK.  The discussion that UKIP and confident UK Unionism will be having  is: How will we strengthen the bonds of our historic Union of nations? 

“In terms of the previous topic: the question that should be asked is: What are Irish Nationalists and Republicans doing to prepare for the fact that there won’t be a United Ireland? Does the appetite for that well-worn discussion even exist South of the border? The evidence would tend to suggest not.

Instead – What about the potential for the Irish Republic re-entering the British Commonwealth in future? 

“Let the DUP and the other legacy parties continue to dupe with the re-hashed slogans, mixed messages and the hollow promises they’re famous for – or help to strengthen the union and bring about long-term future change for the nation;  by joining the fastest growing movement in UK politics: UKIP.”

UKIP Rise in membership continues nationally and locally  

 
Six months ago we were told by the media and by our detractors that UKIP was on life-support. What a difference a few months makes. 
Nationally, under the leadership of Gerard Batten MEP – the party membership is the strongest and most active  it has been in almost three years. 

 Just last month, 3200 members joined UKIP across the UK. This is the third month of continuous growth and it’s a trend that’s expected to continue.

We are no exception locally. During the course of the past four weeks-our membership has risen in Northern Ireland by 33%! Rather than being finished here, we have only started.

Our clear and unambiguous message  is beginning to filter through locally – as evidenced by our recent event with Gerard Batten in Belfast and our two most recent days of action in Newtownards and Bangor. People are fed up of being taken for granted.

People who have never been involved in politics before, people from other parties, former UKIP members and supporters have joined recently. Mechanics, Scientists, local business owners, proud veterans, stay at home mothers, doctors and students are just some of the talented activists who have enrolled in the people’s army lately.

Those of us who have stayed loyal to UKIP’s core principles through thick and thin as volunteers and activists know that the work has only begun in earnest.  

With a united team, renewed focus, clear vision and free of unnecessary distractions  – UKIP will run a full slate of dedicated candidates in the local elections in Northern Ireland next year to give the people here a genuine alternative to the overpaid, work-shy legacy parties who continue to fund their lifestyles and take taxpayer’s money for very little graft.

Those wedded to a Government hell-bent on betraying the democratic wishes of the people know that they owe quite a few  votes to  the 350,000 patriots who voted leave here in Northern Ireland.

Our message to each and every one of you is clear:  UKIP is the authentic party of Brexit and is the one true voice for the patriotic working people across this nation . Make a stand and Join us.

Back Batten, vote UKIP, save Brexit, Save Britain. 🇬🇧

By Paul Girvan – UKIP Regional Controller (Northern Ireland)

Commenting on the unjust persecution of Sergeant O. and the continued witch hunt against Northern Ireland veterans relating to events that occurred thirty or forty years ago, UKIP Spokesman for Northern Ireland – Robert Hill said:

“Many brave ex-servicemen who served their country so faithfully – and put their lives on the line decades ago to defend us against the evil of IRA terrorism, continue to be unfairly hounded to the extreme – to simply appease the narrow agenda of Sinn Fein and others. These men who were young men at the time are now in their sixties and seventies.

 
“Sergeant O – previously awarded a medal for bravery is now a disabled widower who only lost his wife several months ago, and has been left in limbo for many years. 

 While Sgt. O has been hounded over fallen masonry; IRA terrorists have received comfort letters, Belfast Agreement amnesty and early release, and in certain cases – even if convicted of murder, are guaranteed a maximum sentence of merely two years.”

“Isn’t it the cruelest of ironies that Sgt. O and many others are being targeted in this way, in what is a clear witch hunt – whilst many of the murderers they defended us against walked free years ago. The constant unjust persecution of Sergeant O – and indeed all veterans must stop.”

   
UKIP is once again calling on the Government to act to STOP THE WITCH HUNT against our brave Veterans.