A Conversation with an Ethnic Minority UKIP Candidate

I posed two questions to BME (Black and Minority Ethnic) UKIP candidates yesterday on Twitter: 1. Why did you pick UKIP? 2. Why as a brown, British born female, is it in my best interests to vote for UKIP? I eventually got talking to a Muslim UKIP candidate. For ease of reading, the quotes in purple are his, and the quotes in green are mine. In response to my questions, the candidate stated: 

"UKIP successfully opposed the Libdems & Tories invasion planned for Syria. Unlike Labour which supported the bombing of Libya. Why does the LibLabCon discriminate against immigrants from the Commonwealth in favour of the EU? UKIP believes that is wrong"

Right.. so obviously he did not want to answer my question. I'm starting to believe that these candidates have a script. It's the same old drivel about immigration and foreign affairs over and over again. I pressed on, and asked again..

"I'm not asking about immigration. I'm asking - as a young brown, British born female, why should I vote UKIP? So many candidates have somewhat discriminatory views against people of colour, why should I feel safe voting for them? Also, we'll never agree on immigration, because I don't believe in categorising people based on their economic worth. We're all human"

*NO ANSWER*

I started up a new conversation. This time, on the topic of Islamophobia. I asked him what he thought about UKIP councillor Shaun Hobson and his disgusting, hateful views on Muslims (the picture shows one of his posts}

Same old textbook response: "He does not speak for UKIP and i am sure will be expelled if proven that he posted that. UKIP is a non racist non sectarian party" I think there have been FAR too many candidates within UKIP that have come out as racist, bigoted, homophobic and xenophobic for it not to be considered a problem. And I am of the opinion that, as a BME candidate, it is his duty to represent the interests of the BME community - as in, when one of his fellow UKIP candidates says something hateful or discriminatory against Muslims, surely it's his role to stand against it and challenge their views. (I get to use my favourite Desmond Tutu quote again) "if you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor". I did not ask for an apology on behalf of their UKIP chums, but instead, asked for a reassurance for the BME community. I said:

"I'm not suggesting that they apologise for the actions of others in the party, I just think they owe an explanation to the Muslim community. If I were Muslim & saw UKIP candidates inciting physical harm, I'd be scared to vote UKIP & hurt that one of my own people represents them. Actually, as a BME woman, I am extremely hurt & concerned that there r BME UKIP representatives. Why would you do that to your own people? Fuck"

Coincidentally, an article published in the Express was brought to my attention around the same time as this conversation. Leo Mckinstry wrote about how Ed Miliband was banning "Islamophobia" - which he inferred was about making it illegal to criticise Islam or react to terrorism, which of course was a gross misrepresentation of what Ed Miliband said. Ed Miliband was actually talking about tackling the increased rate of hate crimes against innocent Muslims.

Based on this information, I further went on to ask the UKIP candidate how he felt about the increase in Islamophobic attacks. I wanted to know how he felt being in a party that is closely aligned to the Express, a paper that is hell-bent on scapegoating minority communities. Needless to say, my points were largely ignored and I was given the most generic responses. I said:

"I would like to know what you think about tackling Islamophobic attacks on innocent Muslims?"

To which he responded:

"What about attacks against Muslim UKIP candidates by Labour supporters?"

I had many issues with his response. Firstly, he ignored my question and gave me a response completely unrelated to the topic. Secondly, he talks about attacks undertaken by Labour SUPPORTERS, not candidates. Candidates are in the running to be in positions of power, unlike the supporters. When UKIP have candidates within the party that attack Muslims, how did he have the audacity to give me this example?! He is very quick to point out the "racism" in other parties, but refuses to acknowledge the disgusting views of the people within his own party. When it comes to UKIP and anti-Islamic views, he's quick to say "they do not speak for the party"; but when it comes to other parties, he is ready to give examples. Furthermore, why is he so reluctant to speak up about the discrimination and hate speech that his party are involved in, against ethnic minority individuals and Muslims? I was getting increasingly irritated at his lack of interest in BME issues. I asked again:

We are not talking about SUPPORTERS we are talking about CANDIDATES. Miliband wants to tackle islamophobia. How do u feel about Islamophobia? An issue to tackle? Or is it creating "Islamification of UK" as suggested by Express.

His response:

"I am against the killing of Muslims & Christians in Syria & Libya & Iraq which the other parties did. UKIP opposes war"

And then...

"So when u are thnking about Islamophobia look at the bigger pictures not what the newspapers feed you. UKIP is the best choice."

At this point, I was furious. In the first comment, he ignored my question and started talking about foreign affairs again (typical UKIP response). And the second comment made absolutely no sense. Why was he trying SO HARD to distance himself away from the issues that we are facing as ethnic minorities?! Also, he accused ME of believing what the newspapers feed me?? This is ridiculous for many reasons. Firstly, I am the biggest news sceptic. Secondly, I've witnessed the increase in racial tension for myself, it's nothing to do with what the media is telling me - in fact, crimes against ethnic minorities is definitely under-reported in the news - BMEs are consistently portrayed as the criminals, and not the victims. I press on:

"Stop dodging my question. You're quick to related things to international issues. I am asking you about Islamophobia in the UK".

His response?...

"Many ex BNP & EDL are now Labour councillors eg Darwen Backburn Trevor Maxfield"

AM I TALKING TO A ROBOT? He ignored me AGAIN. Undeterred, I continue to probe: 

"You're a true politician. Stop dodging my question. What do you think about rising hate crime associated with Islamophobia?!....And keep digging up articles relating to Labour. I literally don't care. I'm a Green supporter."

He finally replies:

"I am a Muslim therefore i oppose hate crime associated with Islamophobia And i am against ALL hate crime no matter who the victim"

He finally admitted some connection to us as a BME candidate, but did not want to dwell on the issue. It appears to me that he doesn't think that racially aggravated assault or discrimination is an issue - the only research you need to do, to understand the severity of racial discrimination in this country, is to Google search "racial discrimination UK" - there is a magnitude of statistics explaining how BME's are at a disadvantage. The same goes for the statistics on racially aggravated crime. I continue:

"so when a paper that is connected to your party makes disgusting claims about Islam, do you not feel inclined to talk against it? UKIP go on about their ethnic minority representatives, but do they actually represent or stick up for us BMEs? When the Express, or a candidate says something horrible about minorities, do you ever contradict them?"

He replies by ignoring me again:

"UKIP is UK's 3rd biggest party It is important for BMEs to join as members & stand as candidates. I did and i encourage others to"

I persevere:

"when hate is directed at Muslims from other UKIP CANDIDATES, isn't it your role as a BME candidate to stand against it? I don't understand why a BME would join. I don't understand what's in it for them except for being a token brown face."

He picks up on my tweet about the Express, ignoring the issue at hand. AGAIN:

"Why single out the Express? EVERY paper surely?"

Easy response, I'm surprised he didn't make the connection himself. I reply:

"because they're politically aligned to UKIP - Richard Desmond gifting UKIP £1.3million is a public statement"

And his response is exactly what I was expecting. It explains his views and his ethnic self-loathing:

"Personally i dont buy any papers and havent for many years. I tend to read the Daily Mail website though rather than any other. I boycott the BBC licence fee as well"

I was dealing with a reader of the Daily Mail. He then goes on to tweet me some random stuff about things I didn't ask about: "UKIP will zero tax on the minimum wage? Lower fuel costs by scrapping EU levies. More schools including grammar. More NHS money. How about fair immigration policy? UKIP will end discrimination against BMEs Unlike LibLabCon who favour open door EU migration" Again...Am I corresponding with a robot, why do they all regurgitate the same misleading information?! They gloss over the fact that they want to charge the highest earners with low taxes, and the people earning a middle income will feel the pressure the most...and they ignore the fact that our immigration policy IS fair, if I wanted to move to India, I'd have to go through a lengthy procedure to obtain a visa, whereas if I wanted to move to Spain or Poland or France or Italy, I could do so with ease...That is fair.

I did not directly reply, as I was tired of debating a man that used no critical thinking when reading his own manifesto...if he read it at all, that is. The final words in our conversation went as follows:

Me: "you've learnt your script well. I've had this conversation with many UKIP councilors, but I was interested in your views as BME. I'm writing a piece on why the UKIP manifesto is riddled with racism & untruths that favour the rich. I hope u will read & debate" Him: "UKIP does not favour the rich..Quite the reverse. Wwhy dont u have a read of the UKIP manifesto?" Me: "Believe me, I have. And I'm disgusted. Like I said. My analysis complete with stats will be done soon. You can read and discuss"

I used full quotes in this post in an attempt to make it as true to the conversation as possible. You can see the full conversation on my Twitter page and decide for yourself - follow me, I will follow back. @Sonnnbee

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