Post by Bartonite on Dec 30, 2014 4:05:53 GMT
I'd better post these comments now, because by the morning they'll probably be gone.
In fact, why not paste the whole article? What can the Citizen do, ban me all over again?
Former Gloucester Labour mayor Harjit Gill defects to Nigel Farage and UKIP
Disillusioned former Gloucester mayor Harjit Gill has jumped ship to the UK Independence Party.
The Tredworth postmaster was welcomed by leader Nigel Farage, who said he would “shatter perceptions” of the anti-European Union party which has hit controversy over some members’ views on race.
Mr Gill, 59, is a sikh and moved to the UK in 1978, and served as a Labour Gloucester City Councillor, mayor and sheriff.
His wife Jasminder remains a Labour Gloucestershire County Councillor.
He said both Labour and the Conservatives were not offering solutions to problems with immigration and the economy - and he joined UKIP to challenge preconceptions about its membership as well.
He will not stand for election.
“It’s a big step,” he said. “I was in the Labour party for 20 years.
“But more and more I think my views are in line with what UKIP want.
“I think Britain should be out of the European Union. We are in the back seat there.
“I have spoken with Nigel Farage many times and we agree on a lot. They need a strong person to talk to them.
“I’m not worried - UKIP is changing a lot. If there are people with views that are racially prejudiced, I will challenge them.”
More than just turning his back on the Labour party, he said he is looking for a fresh a approach to politics but he said he was ‘not happy’ with leader Ed Miliband.
Mr Farage said Mr Gill’s switch was significant although not a first for UKIP.
“There has been some very misleading stereotypes about UKIP and the people who support UKIP - that they’re all retired, red-faced colonels,” said Mr Farage. “Much as they are wonderful people, there was a feeling that the UKIP support base is fundamentally from the right of the Tories.
“We have grown - we are a hugely eclectic mix and we pick up support, including from non-voters and Labour voters.
“Harjit Gill has achieved a great deal in his civic life and can shatter perceptions.”
UKIP members have been kicked out of the party for expressing racist, homophobic and misogynistic views.
“Harjit will tell you he will have encountered unpleasantness many times in his life,” said Mr Farage.
“UKIP has been very strict in dealing with things like that. Saying it’s like the BNP does not hold water. Harjit is far from the first significant member of black and ethnic minorities to join our ranks.”
Mr Gill, who lives in the village of Birdwood, in Conservative MP Mark Harper’s Forest of Dean constituency, moved to the UK from India for an arranged marriage. His father-in-law was in the British Army and his children and grandchildren have been born in the UK.
He was the first non-Christian mayor of Gloucester, having been elected in 2003. He lost his seat in 2011 to Conservative Saj Patel, a former Labour party member.
City council and Conservative group leader Paul James said: "I always got on well with Harjit and like him as a person but I don't think he will be any more comfortable with the policies of UKIP than he was with the Labour Party."
Liberal Democrat group leader Jeremy Hilton said Mr Gill was ‘mad’ to move.
“He must be mad,” said Councillor Hilton. “People need to be very careful what they wish for. They are a very dangerous party that feed on fear and uncertainty when they country is coming out of recession.
“Anybody who considers joining them must have lost the plot.”
Labour group leader on Gloucester City Council, Kate Haigh, said: “Labour stands for values of equality, fairness and inclusion and it’s disappointing that Harjit does not feel he is aligned with those values any more.”
15 comments
Condelfan | Monday, December 29 2014, 8:00PM
I've been spending last couple of weekends canvassing for Ukip, and if you believe all is hunky dory normal Liblabcon on the doorstep, and you're wanting to fight against Ukip, well, got to tell you, in the words of the boat captain in the film JAWS, ' we're gonna need a bigger boat'
Rate -86
Report
HilaryBrook | Monday, December 29 2014, 7:10PM
Gloucester is a fine example of a well balanced multicultural city. It seems that only the Liberal Democrats are standing up to UKIP.
Rate -75
Report
Bonkim2003 | Monday, December 29 2014, 6:04PM
Unlikely to win the next election. Turncoats are detested by all.
Rate 28
Report
scruff_top | Monday, December 29 2014, 5:58PM
Go UKIP more to follow
Rate -50
Report
Sammy3 | Monday, December 29 2014, 5:54PM
Check the fear of red on any pro UKIP comments hahaha little do they know. Lots happening many to follow
Rate -71
Report
Sammy3 | Monday, December 29 2014, 5:52PM
Lost the plot coming from a lib dem. Criticism of the millions who vote UKIP nice one, that will boost membership. Fair comment by the leader of the council poor comment by Jezza
Rate -47
Report
Tuffley_Echo | Monday, December 29 2014, 5:48PM
It's like a game of musical chairs. We will see what we are left with when the music stops on May 7th next year. If Mr Gill thinks UKIP policies add up then good luck to him is what I say. His vote won't count in Gloucester anyway.
Rate 22
Report
MarkWallace | Monday, December 29 2014, 4:24PM
Mr Gill is not currently an elected councillor and not standing for election. I wish him good fortune in his well deserved obscurity
Rate 25
Report
observerhugh | Monday, December 29 2014, 2:04PM
I,my family and friends have respected Mr Harjit Gill for a long time and have decided to vote UKIP. We want a change,
Rate -70
Report
Ed_Buxton | Monday, December 29 2014, 12:22PM
Yet more self congratulatory rubbish from UKIP. Still no policies; no principles; it's just a personality cult build around Farage.
Rate 34
Report
stuartadairuk | Monday, December 29 2014, 12:04PM
This blows the common misconceptions about UKIP right out of the water and is evidence that we are attracting voters from right across the political spectrum, not just traditional Conservatives. Mr Gill will be most warmly welcomed into our local UKIP family.
Rate -55
Report
Apothegm- | Monday, December 29 2014, 11:28PM
Interesting political situation in the Gill household: husband is now UKIP whereas wife remains Labour.
Are there actually any "retired, red-faced colonels" in Gloucester who support UKIP? If so, we should hear from them!
Rate -84
Report
citon | Monday, December 29 2014, 10:48AM
So Mr Hilton.. If you think that we have all "lost the plot" for wanting the status quo to end, why would we be any more "with it" by joining a party like yours that will give us even more of the same? Try to remember that YOU are meant to serve the wishes of the people, not the other way around!
Rate -52
Report
Mike_Smith_Gl | Monday, December 29 2014, 10:48AM
UKIP Gloucester whole-heartedly welcomes Harjit. We welcome everyone who wishes to live in a free, democratic, self-governing country.
What a typically sneering response from Councillor Hilton! Unable to debate policies, he resorts to personal insults.
Rate -86
Report
agent006 | Monday, December 29 2014, 10:29AM
Who?
Rate 30
Report
Exclusive: Former Gloucester Labour mayor Harjit Gill defects to Nigel Farage and Ukip
In fact, why not paste the whole article? What can the Citizen do, ban me all over again?
Former Gloucester Labour mayor Harjit Gill defects to Nigel Farage and UKIP
Disillusioned former Gloucester mayor Harjit Gill has jumped ship to the UK Independence Party.
The Tredworth postmaster was welcomed by leader Nigel Farage, who said he would “shatter perceptions” of the anti-European Union party which has hit controversy over some members’ views on race.
Mr Gill, 59, is a sikh and moved to the UK in 1978, and served as a Labour Gloucester City Councillor, mayor and sheriff.
His wife Jasminder remains a Labour Gloucestershire County Councillor.
He said both Labour and the Conservatives were not offering solutions to problems with immigration and the economy - and he joined UKIP to challenge preconceptions about its membership as well.
He will not stand for election.
“It’s a big step,” he said. “I was in the Labour party for 20 years.
“But more and more I think my views are in line with what UKIP want.
“I think Britain should be out of the European Union. We are in the back seat there.
“I have spoken with Nigel Farage many times and we agree on a lot. They need a strong person to talk to them.
“I’m not worried - UKIP is changing a lot. If there are people with views that are racially prejudiced, I will challenge them.”
More than just turning his back on the Labour party, he said he is looking for a fresh a approach to politics but he said he was ‘not happy’ with leader Ed Miliband.
Mr Farage said Mr Gill’s switch was significant although not a first for UKIP.
“There has been some very misleading stereotypes about UKIP and the people who support UKIP - that they’re all retired, red-faced colonels,” said Mr Farage. “Much as they are wonderful people, there was a feeling that the UKIP support base is fundamentally from the right of the Tories.
“We have grown - we are a hugely eclectic mix and we pick up support, including from non-voters and Labour voters.
“Harjit Gill has achieved a great deal in his civic life and can shatter perceptions.”
UKIP members have been kicked out of the party for expressing racist, homophobic and misogynistic views.
“Harjit will tell you he will have encountered unpleasantness many times in his life,” said Mr Farage.
“UKIP has been very strict in dealing with things like that. Saying it’s like the BNP does not hold water. Harjit is far from the first significant member of black and ethnic minorities to join our ranks.”
Mr Gill, who lives in the village of Birdwood, in Conservative MP Mark Harper’s Forest of Dean constituency, moved to the UK from India for an arranged marriage. His father-in-law was in the British Army and his children and grandchildren have been born in the UK.
He was the first non-Christian mayor of Gloucester, having been elected in 2003. He lost his seat in 2011 to Conservative Saj Patel, a former Labour party member.
City council and Conservative group leader Paul James said: "I always got on well with Harjit and like him as a person but I don't think he will be any more comfortable with the policies of UKIP than he was with the Labour Party."
Liberal Democrat group leader Jeremy Hilton said Mr Gill was ‘mad’ to move.
“He must be mad,” said Councillor Hilton. “People need to be very careful what they wish for. They are a very dangerous party that feed on fear and uncertainty when they country is coming out of recession.
“Anybody who considers joining them must have lost the plot.”
Labour group leader on Gloucester City Council, Kate Haigh, said: “Labour stands for values of equality, fairness and inclusion and it’s disappointing that Harjit does not feel he is aligned with those values any more.”
15 comments
Condelfan | Monday, December 29 2014, 8:00PM
I've been spending last couple of weekends canvassing for Ukip, and if you believe all is hunky dory normal Liblabcon on the doorstep, and you're wanting to fight against Ukip, well, got to tell you, in the words of the boat captain in the film JAWS, ' we're gonna need a bigger boat'
Rate -86
Report
HilaryBrook | Monday, December 29 2014, 7:10PM
Gloucester is a fine example of a well balanced multicultural city. It seems that only the Liberal Democrats are standing up to UKIP.
Rate -75
Report
Bonkim2003 | Monday, December 29 2014, 6:04PM
Unlikely to win the next election. Turncoats are detested by all.
Rate 28
Report
scruff_top | Monday, December 29 2014, 5:58PM
Go UKIP more to follow
Rate -50
Report
Sammy3 | Monday, December 29 2014, 5:54PM
Check the fear of red on any pro UKIP comments hahaha little do they know. Lots happening many to follow
Rate -71
Report
Sammy3 | Monday, December 29 2014, 5:52PM
Lost the plot coming from a lib dem. Criticism of the millions who vote UKIP nice one, that will boost membership. Fair comment by the leader of the council poor comment by Jezza
Rate -47
Report
Tuffley_Echo | Monday, December 29 2014, 5:48PM
It's like a game of musical chairs. We will see what we are left with when the music stops on May 7th next year. If Mr Gill thinks UKIP policies add up then good luck to him is what I say. His vote won't count in Gloucester anyway.
Rate 22
Report
MarkWallace | Monday, December 29 2014, 4:24PM
Mr Gill is not currently an elected councillor and not standing for election. I wish him good fortune in his well deserved obscurity
Rate 25
Report
observerhugh | Monday, December 29 2014, 2:04PM
I,my family and friends have respected Mr Harjit Gill for a long time and have decided to vote UKIP. We want a change,
Rate -70
Report
Ed_Buxton | Monday, December 29 2014, 12:22PM
Yet more self congratulatory rubbish from UKIP. Still no policies; no principles; it's just a personality cult build around Farage.
Rate 34
Report
stuartadairuk | Monday, December 29 2014, 12:04PM
This blows the common misconceptions about UKIP right out of the water and is evidence that we are attracting voters from right across the political spectrum, not just traditional Conservatives. Mr Gill will be most warmly welcomed into our local UKIP family.
Rate -55
Report
Apothegm- | Monday, December 29 2014, 11:28PM
Interesting political situation in the Gill household: husband is now UKIP whereas wife remains Labour.
Are there actually any "retired, red-faced colonels" in Gloucester who support UKIP? If so, we should hear from them!
Rate -84
Report
citon | Monday, December 29 2014, 10:48AM
So Mr Hilton.. If you think that we have all "lost the plot" for wanting the status quo to end, why would we be any more "with it" by joining a party like yours that will give us even more of the same? Try to remember that YOU are meant to serve the wishes of the people, not the other way around!
Rate -52
Report
Mike_Smith_Gl | Monday, December 29 2014, 10:48AM
UKIP Gloucester whole-heartedly welcomes Harjit. We welcome everyone who wishes to live in a free, democratic, self-governing country.
What a typically sneering response from Councillor Hilton! Unable to debate policies, he resorts to personal insults.
Rate -86
Report
agent006 | Monday, December 29 2014, 10:29AM
Who?
Rate 30
Report
Exclusive: Former Gloucester Labour mayor Harjit Gill defects to Nigel Farage and Ukip