Former UKIP leadership rival alleges more un-Wise sleaze

The magnificently barmy contributors to the Democracy Forum have been in fine form in recent weeks. It’s always fun to see how jaw-droppingly detached from reality these people are – especially as a number of the contributors are UKIP officials or work for UKIP in the European Parliament.

One recent thread started with reports that Tom Wise had been taken ill with contributors taking the opportunity to, in uncharitable UKIP style, stick the boot in and share their two cents worth on the investigations into his alleged embezzling of funds from his assistance allowance.

The delightfully bonkers David Noakes, himself a former UKIP leadership candidate, claims that “Tom Wise frauduently claimed a total of £180,000 for an assistant, and instead used the money for himself. A small part of it, for example, he used to buy a car. All of that was illegal and criminal. Tom Wise has had the UKIP whip suspended because he was embezzling, as GC, given how close he is, well knows.”

Carefully chosen words!

But it goes on, with Noakes alleging that: “Tom Wise has wasted a fabulously powerful position as an MEP with which he could have made real progress against the EU.”

He's betrayed tens of thousands of UKIPpers, is at last suspended from UKIP as an embezzler, but his misdeeds against UKIP are legion, like taking UKIP's wine distribution system and the membership list (breaking the Data Protection Act) and using it for private profit, and he has admitted committing fraud.

He is the worst of an appalling bunch of UKIP MEP's, living off the fat of the EU gravy train. His glutton's lifestyle at our expense is responsible for his deteriorating health.”

Now David Noakes may have a history of making outlandish claims but these are serious allegations.

Is Tom Wise going to take legal action or are do these claims have even an ounce of truth. I think we should be told

Ashley Mote - devoted public servant seeks justice

Former UKIP MEP and king of the brass-neck Ashley Mote continues to fight for justice. The loveable cricket writer and part-time fraudster is appealing against his conviction for 21 counts of benefit fraud according to the Portsmouth News, in a story that will doubtless having Nigel Farage foaming at the mouth with fake fury in every TV or radio studio he can get near.

The way Mote gives the British public the v-sign at every opportunity is quite breathtaking. Having been released from jail and electronically tagged after serving 2 months out of a 9 month sentence you’d think that most people would be relieved not to spend Christmas doing porridge. Not Ashley. Instead, he complains that “I am confined to my home during the evening which, obviously, is a real bind”!!!

However, it’s not all bad news, with the former U-kipper helpfully explaining that a friendly governor at the prison had allowed him to do his constituency work normally. He adds that “this meant that my staff and constituents did not suffer as a result of my imprisonment. I had, and still have, a job to do, and will continue to do it”. Thank goodness for such a dutiful public servant whose limitless devotion to duty restricted him to de-frauding the tax payer of a trifling £70,000.

The cynics amongst us might point out that Mote has been a notoriously idle MEP whose main contribution to political life has been the odd ranting letter in the Telegraph. Not to put too fine a point on it - being Ashley Mote is a damn good schive. Still, Ash has promised to return to the European Parliament early in the New Year – UKIPwatcher would be very grateful if people in the Parliament could alert her if there are any spottings!

At least there is one crumb of comfort for the taxpayer – Mote’s £60,000 salary means that he is not eligible to claim legal aid to cover the expense of his appeal, although it probably won’t stop this seasoned fraudster from trying to pull another fast one.

UKIPs shameful stance on gun control

A notable victory in tackling gun crime was sealed last week when the European Parliament agreed a deal with the Council of Ministers on the control of the acquisition and possession of weapons.

This will ensure that all weapons are marked and recorded to help police trace weapons to those who legally bought them; include convertible weapons in European countries' gun control laws; and ensure that people with violent crime convictions are not able to buy guns.

It would be naïve and inaccurate to claim that this law will mark an end to all gun crime, but it is a damn good start. The Association of Chief Police Officers has strongly supported the legislation.

The inclusion of convertible weapons is particularly good news for the UK. While the UK has the strictest standards on gun control in the EU, at present, it is possible to buy guns which fire, for example, blanks or gas, and then smuggle them into the UK where they are modified to fire live bullets. Indeed, nearly half the weapons seized by police in Manchester are conversions.

So there you have it, a measure that will cut crime in the UK, raise standards across the EU towards those in the UK, bring the EU Member States into line with the UN Protocol on Firearms and was endorsed by every political party and group in the European Parliament and the police - but not UKIP.

No doubt UKIP will try to defend their stance with their brand of usual witless sophistry, but would it really hurt their pride just to admit that, in this case, the 27 EU countries and 98% of MEPs got it right and UKIP were wrong?