UKIP Manifesto document explained for you:
We support:
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The introduction of minimum attendance requirements for all councilors. In every
other job, if you don’t turn up you don’t get paid. Why should local government be any
different?
A ban on family members co-opting relatives to elected positions. To deliver best
value to the ratepayer, such appointments where they become necessary should be
made upon the basis of ability and not genetics.
An end to restrictions upon the recording of council meetings. Councils represent the
people. Why shouldn’t the people who elect councilors be able to record business
they transact on their behalf?
The appropriate use of local referendums to resolve contentious local issues. Where
complex and contentious local issues cannot be resolved, UKIP will legislate for local
referendums.
The use of online council petitions, allowing local people to raise concerns. The
system works well in other legislatures… extending it to local government allows local
concerns to be raised directly and cost-effectively.
An end to the taking of minutes ‘in committee’. The use of this process is an affront to
democracy. Ending it will allow ratepayers to know exactly what’s been said, whose
said it and when they said it.
Local councils having a greater input into the planning process. Too often planners
are remote from the communities they serve and do not have sufficient
understanding of local issues. A greater input from local councils will address this
knowledge gap.
Council business being transacted exclusively in English. The starting point for
effective decision-making is everyone speaking the same language.
Cutting excessive allowances and expenses. Councillors should be working for the
benefit of the hard-pressed ratepayer and not to line their own pockets.
Slashing excessive pay deals for senior council staff. Salaries should be
benchmarked against the private sector upon the basis of a fair day’s pay for a fair
days work.
Limiting the number of highly-paid council employees. In too many councils there are
far too many Chiefs and not enough Indians.
Cutting advertising and self-promotion budgets. Councils exist to provide local
services and to administer government at local level… not to massage egos.
Building community and economic partnerships to reduce costs. Involving the local
community in the delivery of services doesn’t just sometimes provide a lower cost
outcome, but frequently a better outcome.
Abolishing non-essential and politically-correct jobs and red tape will deliver real and
meaningful cost-reductions.
The pursuit of best value and best practice at all levels of government. Legislatures
should exist for the benefit of rate and taxpayers and not the other way around.
Banning the promotion of terrorism by local authorities. Given Northern Ireland’s
poisonous terrorist past, it is wholly inappropriate that any local authority should use
ratepayer’s money to promote terror.
Implementing the Military Covenant in full. Our forces are prepared to put their lives
on the line for our country. Implementing the Military Covenant in full is the least we
should do to ensure they are provided with the respect and dignity they have rightfully
earned.
Bringing an end to ‘open door’ European immigration. Mass EU immigration is
creating unparalleled pressure upon the delivery of local services and is leaving too
many towns, cities and villages unrecognizable.
Tackling political correctness head on. Political correctness is compromising the
freedoms we hold dear and costing tax and ratepayers a clean fortune. Despite what
other parties might claim, in a free and fair society, it should never be a crime to think
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for yourself. There are too many people being hauled before the courts and tribunals
for something they have thought and have said, rather than something they have
done.
The Judeo Christian values which have served our country well for centuries. This is
not the same as upholding any specific doctrine. Instead, we recognise and value the
long continuity of our institutions, which have served our country well for generations.
If it ain’t broke, why fix it?
Environment
We advocate:
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A ‘town centre’ first approach to all retail development – unless a development is of a
scale, which makes it inappropriate for a town centre location. Town centres are at
the heart of strong, vibrant, local communities and should stay that way, unless a
development is of a size and scale whereby it would compromise the integrity of a
town centre.
The establishment of a single, regional shopping destination at Sprucefield and the
proposed John Lewis anchored development and distribution centre. Consistent with
the point above, we support the John Lewis development at Sprucefield and the high
quality, well-paid jobs it will create.
Excluding the Union Flag from equality legislation and requiring it to be flown
permanently on all civic and public buildings. The GFA confirmed that NI would
remain a part of the UK for so long as a majority wished. Excluding the Union Flag
from equality legislation and flying the Union Flag from all civic and public buildings is
both consistent with the GFA and recognises the reality of NI’s position within the UK.
Ditching the EU Landfill Directive, which is ill-suited to Northern Ireland. The EU
Landfill Directive exemplifies best practice in Belgium and Holland, not in NI. In NI
and in some instances, landfill will prove to be the environmentally optimal choice.
Introducing remote waste screening and reinstating weekly bin collections will lower
costs and provide a better quality service to homeowners and householders.
Returning control of environmental matters from Brussels to Westminster, Stormont
and local government. Decisions which are made closer to those upon whom they
will have the greatest impact and decisions which are ultimately approved by
democratically elected representatives will prove to be better decisions.
Delivering Affordable Housing and Rebuilding our Construction Sector
We promise to work towards:
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Disbanding NIHE, with housing responsibilities allocated to local councils. NIHE is
not delivering. We support its disbandment and councils assuming control for public
sector housing.
Affording priority on social housing schemes to applicants born in the UK, in a British
territory, in the Republic of Ireland before 1948, or who have served in HM Forces.
It’s right that priority is given to British citizens and UK residents, ahead of those from
elsewhere.
Developing a strategic plan to guide the future size and shape of the construction
industry, allowing construction businesses to plan ahead with confidence. This will
help end the cycle of boom and bust within the construction industry.
Creating vocational training and apprenticeship opportunities within the construction
industry. This allows
Strengthening Communities
We support:
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A zero tolerance approach to anti-social behaviour. Anti-social behaviour has a
disproportionate impact upon the lives of many. UKIP is committed to working with
the PSNI and statutory agencies to address the issue.
24 hour weekend availability of noise wardens where required. Many noise wardens
are only available during the day when noise pollution is rarely an issue. That doesn’t
make sense. UKIP believes they should be available, when they are required.
The withdrawal of the bedroom tax. The Tory Bedroom Tax is primarily a tax upon
the poor, the elderly and those who can afford it least. We believe it should be
withdrawn.
Working through Police & Community Safety Partnerships to deliver the professional,
protective and personal policing everyone in Northern Ireland deserves. The PSNI is
not delivering the service the public deserves. Whilst supportive of the Police, UKIP
will not be afraid to hold them to account.
Standing up for communities even if that means sometimes not toeing the party line.
On local issues, UKIP councilors are encouraged to work for the good of the
community they represent, even if sometimes this may mean acting contrary to
national policy.
Tackling the scourge of fuel poverty. NI has the highest level of fuel poverty in
Western Europe. Over 40% of families are living in fuel poverty and each year
hundreds die across NI as a result of being unable to afford to stay warm. We believe
that’s wrong and it must be addressed.
Building A Stronger Economy
We’re committed to developing our economy, broadening our industrial base and
reducing general taxation by:
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Targeting a 20% reduction in rate poundage in real terms, within the first tenure of
each supercouncil through a focus upon efficiency savings and eliminating waste.
UKIP will reduce rate bills by 20% through reducing waste and addressing
inefficiency, returning money to your pocket and empowering people to spend it as
they choose.
Working towards the zero rating of all manufacturing sites. Manufacturing is the
bedrock of any successful economy and must be encouraged. UKIP aims to make NI
one of the best places in the world to manufacture.
Establishing a ‘UK First’ approach to public procurement exercises and encouraging
local businesses to participate in public tenders. It makes inherent sense to purchase
goods and acquire services from within our own economy rather than somebody
else’s. We benefit from the wealth such spending creates, the incremental tax
revenue new and sustained employment provides and we save money too through
reducing unemployment and reduced social security payments.
Opposing the devolution of tax raising and tax varying powers. According to KPMG,
the UK has the most competitive taxation policy of any major economy. We want to
ensure Northern Ireland benefits from that whilst at the same time, tackling structural
issues, which discourage economic development and entrepreneurship.
Eliminating waste and unnecessary bureaucracy. Taxpayers’ money should be
invested in frontline services; not bureaucracy.
Boosting our retail sector, by encouraging consumers in the Republic of Ireland to
spend their money in Northern Ireland. As the only part of the UK to share a land
border with another nation state, retailers within NI can play an important role in
generating wealth and job creation. We want as many Irish Euros as possible to be
spent in NI.
Creating at least 1 Enterprise Zone in each council area, together with a regional
Enterprise Zone on the former site of HMP Maze.
Targeting Fuel Poverty
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We:
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Will withdraw all renewable energy subsidies. It’s a nonsense that at a time when 4
out of 10 families can ill-afford to heat their homes that the taxpayer is subsidizing
ever more expensive ways to generate energy which benefit big businesses, big
landowners and big campaign groups at the expense of the poorest and most
vulnerable in our society.
Welcome the support of UKIP nationally to repeal of the Climate Change Act. The
CCA is costing ‘NI plc’ £52k / hour. That money could and should be better spent
elsewhere.
Support Northern Ireland’s withdrawal from the All Ireland Electricity Market and the
creation of a truly national UK gas and electricity supply market. NI electricity
consumers have some of the highest electricity bills in Western Europe and a limited
choice of supplier. Partnering with the rest of the UK will provide access to cheaper
electricity, encourage competition, as well as creating opportunities for local energy
suppliers.
Will oppose the development of further land based wind farms. We’ll end wind farm
blight.
Promote responsible, regulated, licensed fracking in Northern Ireland to responsibly
reduce energy costs and reduce NI’s dependence upon ‘imported’ energy.
Support extending mains gas to all settlements with a population > 3,000 people, as
an effective way to reduce energy bills in smaller towns and villages which often have
significant levels of fuel poverty.
Will introduce regulatory oversight into the heating oil industry for the first time, to
benefit the 65% of families dependent upon heating oil – ensuring NI’s 400,000+
heating oil users benefit from a similar level of regulatory oversight as mains gas
users.
Will investigate opportunities for energy brokering and community purchasing –
allowing consumers and businesses to benefit from price reductions as a result of
increased purchase volumes.
Oppose the introduction of EU inspired ‘blue flame’ technology within the oil industry
– which will unnecessarily increase fuel and equipment costs for heating oil users.
Propose that consistent with Hampton Principles of Good Regulation, requirements
to install costly, ‘bunded’ domestic heating oil tanks will be reviewed. We recognise
the impact that fuel spills can have upon the environment. But we believe there are
cheaper and more effective ways to combat them e.g. insurance backed warranties,
fixed length tank replacements etc.
Support the extension of existing energy efficiency initiatives e.g. Boiler Scrapage
Scheme – as opposed to The Green Deal etc.
Will work to reduce fuel poverty to <10% of the population by 2025.
Supporting Equality
We:
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Will end monitoring activities within councils, which institutionalise sectarianism;
Oppose the special treatment of any group upon the basis of ethnicity, denomination
or sexual orientation. Equality means treating people equally and not treating one
group more favourably than another.
Will work to terminate preferential funding arrangements for minority ethnic groups.
Equality means treating all people equally, not taking money off some groups and
giving it to others, solely upon the basis of gender, community background and / or
ethnicity.
Support the withdrawal of financial support for languages other than English.
Everyone should be free to speak whatever language they choose. But beyond the
education system, there is no good reason in an age of austerity why the taxpayer
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should pick up the tab. The money could and should be better spent elsewhere.
Will continue to oppose homosexual and lesbian marriage, upon the basis it
unacceptably compromises personal freedoms and represents unacceptable
intrusion by the state in matters of personal conscience. For so long as we remain a
signatory to the ECHR and a member of the EU, there is a very real risk that David
Cameron’s Homosexual Marriage Legislation will see people going to jail, simply for
failing to agree with David Cameron. That’s wrong. We therefore don’t support
Homosexual Marriage legislation being extended to NI.
Ensure public sector appointments are made solely on the basis of merit. To ensure
maximum value to rate and taxpayers, all such appointments must be made solely on
the basis of ability and not upon the basis of religious belief (or lack thereof), ethnicity,
community background or any other basis unrelated to the job.
Restrict state interference in our everyday lives and in matters of conscience. People
can and do figure things out for themselves; ordinarily they don’t need the state to do
it on their behalf or tell them what to think. State involvement in everyday decision
making must be a position of last resort and not the default position.
Support an exclusively scientific approach to the issue of blood donations from highrisk groups, recognising patient safety must never be compromised. Patient welfare
and safety must come before all other considerations and the lowest risk
Growing our Agri-Food Sector
Bungling, unelected bureaucrats in Brussels currently have a stranglehold on Northern
Ireland’s agri-food industry to the detriment of farms, agri-food producers and rural
communities. UKIP is committed to changing that. By returning control of agricultural
policy to Westminster, Stormont and local government, we can build a brighter future for
rural communities across our land. We are committed to:
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Maintaining a minimum single farm payment in Northern Ireland equivalent to a
minimum of £240/ha. and capped at £50k;
Ensuring no farmer in Northern Ireland will be worse off when we leave the EU;
Allowing ‘top slicing’ at a rate of 5% of the single farm payment, to encourage new
farm enterprises and help update farm buildings and infrastructure;
Eliminating cross compliance measures, presently required for single farm payment.
Farmers will be free to farm, with compliance measures limited to:
o Maintaining hedgerows;
o Maintaining grass banks;
o Clearing out storm drains and gullies;
o Clearing snow and storm debris from the sections of road on farmers’ land.
Overhauling the Nitrates Directive, allowing farmers to apply the right amount of
slurry at the right time;
Offering targeted grants for the provision and improvement of environmental
amenities and wildlife reservoirs, increasing rural biodiversity;
Reviewing all ASSI’s and the restrictive practices associated with them;
Eliminating all red tape and administrative restrictions associated with the EU;
Supporting the promotion of added value food products, through investment in
advanced food processing plants and marketing;
Further developing Northern Ireland’s global centres of excellence for plant breeding
and livestock research.
A Better Deal For The Fishing Industry
No other aspect of EU policy is so clear in its toxic effect upon entire communities as the
Common Fisheries Policy. The UK has some of the most productive fishing grounds in
the world, which contain c.70% of fish in EU waters. Since the advent of the Common
Fisheries Policy, the proportion of fish caught in British water has decreased to less than
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20% of the fish we consume. To rebuild out fishing stocks and fishing fleet we must leave
the EU. Therefore:
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Until we leave the EU, we will ensure the EU does not interfere in vessels less <10m;
We will work to mitigate the potentially disastrous effects of the CFP Discards Ban;
We will provide fishermen with a veto over the development of further offshore wind
farms. All such developments must be placed beyond the horizon and must not
interfere with marine navigation;
We will require independent scientists to assess any further fishing restrictions prior
to implementation, to determine whether such restrictions are genuinely required;
We will review the Cod Recovery Programme in light of empirical evidence which
suggests a significant recovery in cod stocks;
We will work with DARD to develop a Fishing Collage where young people can
acquire the required skills demanded by the modern fishing industry;
We support the introduction of lifelong learning opportunities for everyone working in
the fishing industry;
We’ll work to ensure that British waters are reserved exclusively for British registered,
owned and crewed vessels.
Leaving the European Union
At UKIP, we believe it’s time to:
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Take back £55m per day which we currently pay to the EU. Giving away £55m each
and every day is sheer madness at a time when the UK is massively in debt and
frontline services are being curtailed to ‘balance the books’.
Take back control of our borders. Immigration is placing a massive burden on our
health, education, Police and welfare services. We must take back control of our
borders, so we can take back control of our country.
Oppose special treatment being afforded to European migrants. It is simply wrong
that people who have no relationship whatsoever with this country can walk in without
hindrance. Meantime, our Commonwealth friends are subject to ever stricter
immigration controls. We believe the same rules should apply to everyone.
Abandon the EU Landfill Directive which increases waste disposal costs. It might
work in Belgium and Holland; it doesn’t in Northern Ireland where it increases costs,
drives up rates and provides little if any environmental benefit whatsoever.
End open door immigration and special treatment for European migrants. Simply put,
the same immigration rules should apply to everyone, irrespective of where they are
from.
Introduce a strict, skills based immigration policy, allowing British industry to fast
track the procurement of talent globally it cannot find locally. We support an
Australian style immigration system, driven by economic need and not greed.
Strengthen global trade relationships, through reallocating cross-border funding to
allow local businesses to exploit opportunities within fast growing BRIC and
Commonwealth economies. We believe there’s a world of opportunity for Northern
Ireland businesses in the fast growing BRIC counties and throughout the
Commonwealth and we’ll prioritise funding accordingly. A successful, sustainable,
export led, private sector will not be built by looking no further north than Malin Head
and no further south than the Celtic Sea.
End EU inspired renewable energy scams e.g. wind turbines and solar farms to
reduce waste and allow money to be returned to taxpayers and energy users
through reduced energy bills.
We believe too in:
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Retaining a free trade agreement with other European countries. We believe in free
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trade and wish to work closely with our friends in other nation states in mainland
Europe and around the world.
Retaining the Common Travel Area within the British Isles. The CTA has worked well
across the British Isles and UKIP is committed to working with authorities across the
British Isles to retain it.
Requiring non UK residents to show adequate health insurance upon arrival, unless
they are from a jurisdiction in which reciprocal healthcare arrangements apply to
bring an end to health tourism and reduce treatment and cost pressures upon the
NHS.
Limiting non-emergency NHS funded treatment to British citizens and those resident
in the UK for a minimum of 5 years – otherwise treatment will require health
insurance or cash up front to discourage health tourism and reduce cost pressures
upon the NHS.
Working ever more closely with our partners in the Commonwealth – the fastest
growing group of nations in the world.
Vote UKIP with confidence
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