UKIP NEC MINUTES Sunday 7th October 2018

Members present: (Leader) (GB); Tony McIntyre (Outgoing Party Chairman) (TM); Kirstan Herriot (Incoming Party Chairman) (KH); Mark Harland (Incoming Treasurer) (MH), Adam Richardson (Party Secretary) (AR), Richard Ford (RF), Marietta King (MK), Andrew Moncreiff (AM), Elizabeth Jones (EJ); Michelle Brown (MB); Alan Bown (AB), Fiona Mills (FM) (By Conference Call); Piers Wauchope (PW); (JR); Paul Oakley (General Secretary) (PJO).

Apologies: Katie Fanning (KF); Mick McGough (MMc); Ben Walker (BW)

Mike Hookem MEP and MEP in attendance.

Minutes of the previous meeting approved with minor amendments.

Outgoing Chairman’s Report (TM) As a result of health warnings, TM said that he would be standing down and would need to take at least 2 months off from party activity. Although he had told Gerard that he would work in the role for 12 months, he felt that he had to take heed of medical advice.

GB said that the party owed an immense debt of gratitude to TM who had stepped in to help it survive.

Vote of thanks proposed to TM by GB and PW. Carried nem con.

GB announced that TM’s replacement would be KH. Proposed by EJ, seconded by GB. Carried nem con.

Sebastian Fairweather having resigned as Party Treasurer, for whose efforts we were grateful, TM announced that Mark Harland would be his replacement following his long association with the Party and works on the Sovereign Draw.

RF proposed the adoption of MH. Seconded by MK. Carried nem con.

Minutes from last meeting Approved save that PW said that “background” not “beliefs” should be at the bottom of page 2.

TM suggests that notifications of Branch Mergers should appear on a discrete section of My UKIP.

AB observes that we actually need 1,200 members each month and not 12,000 as stated in the Treasurer’s report.

Leader’s Report (GB) GB said that the September conference had been a great success with 1400 tickets sold. He had given several interviews following his Leader’s speech, the best one being to the BBC after having called for the abolition of the licence fee.

1

It was intended to use the mini-manifesto to build up membership. The Party was now in a comfortable financial position.

GB had had an interesting meeting with Sargon and Dankula in Strasbourg. His attendance at the DFLA march in Sunderland had been spoiled by interlopers but the media had concentrated on them.

He also said that he would be writing to OFCOM to complain about a manipulated Sky interview with Tommy Robinson.

GB had spoken in Newcastle on Friday night before a meeting attended by 130 people. The region itself needed to be revived and Richard Elvin would help with this. It was intended to focus on working class areas because the movement must come from the grassroots.

GB was shortly to visit Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Wales had given him nothing but problems as leader and he intended to sort this out on Tuesday.

He was considering appearing on “Any Questions” but would only ever do live interviews with Sky from now on.

Two MEPs had resigned, and William Dartmouth, but GB said he was not sorry to lose them.

Discussion about tithing of all elected representatives followed.

GB closes by saying that the country does not know where it is regarding the progress of . If Article 50 is extended and there are new EU elections, no member will be approved to stand unless they have shown loyalty to the party.

Treasurer’s Report (MH) There was a surplus of £247,183.03 in the bank account.

MH intended to be a proactive Treasurer and elevate the status of Branch Treasurers.

Membership Numbers and Branch Mergers Preston and Ribble Valley to merge with Wyre Valley.

ONE OTHER MERGER

Proposed RF. Seconded GB. Carried nem con.

Conference Report Income was £49,929 and ticket sales raised £46,373. Expenses were £59,303 making a notional loss of £9,374. Issues would be raised about the cost of extra security and the availability of Wi-Fi.

Local Elections RF observed that Pete Reeve and Lisa Duffy seemed to have taken a back seat. He suggested that the Chairman of the UKIP Councillors should be an ex-officio member of the NEC.

2

PW volunteered to email the councillors to ask their views.

Party Descriptions One minor description had been dropped and the issue had been approved digitally.

Party Secretary Report (AR) AR informed the NEC of various legal actions being brought by or against the Party.

General Secretary Report (PJO) PJO informed the NEC of various disciplinary matters. Two volunteers were sought for an appeal. AB and MB agreed to be the panel members.

Social Media Issues had arisen regarding the unauthorised use of the Party logo. John Gill and Gawain Towler used to complain to Twitter and Facebook about these and it was agreed that Kris Hicks should take over this role.

AR also suggested that there should be a central record of all branch social media accounts to allow Head Office access when necessary.

AOB RF stated that he had been informed that NEC members had leaked confidential information to third parties.

3