Bradford & District - Branch Activity

UKIP BRADFORD CALLS ON LANDLORDS TO SUPPORT THE ‘BIN THE BAN’ CAMPAIGN
21-04-08
UK Independence Party Bradford & District Chairman Jason Smith today called on the landlords of Bradford pubs to support the ‘Bin the Ban’ campaign which proposes that all pubs should have the freedom to choose over smoking in their pubs.   The campaign has been rolled out initially in the village of Queensbury with great support, with the campaign petition already garnering hundreds of signatures and the backing of every pub in the area.  UKIP Bradford is working closely with the national Freedom 2 Choose group to roll out the campaign across Bradford.   “I knew that pubs had been hit hard by the smoking ban, but we are hearing stories of pubs losing £4000 per week and we are seeing many local pubs up for sale as a result” says Jason Smith, adding “I personally am a non smoker but I resent the fact that the government are trying to dictate everything we do in our lives, for me this is an issue of individual liberty, why not let pubs have separate smoking and non smoking areas? That would protect the rights of everyone”.   UKIP Chairman Jason Smith has called a meeting of all Bradford’s landlords for Saturday 26th April at the Omnibus Tavern in Queensbury.  Various speakers have been invited including representatives from the Freedom 2 Choose group.
UKIP Bradford Committee reshuffle
28-10-07
Following a meeting of the Bradford branch, we would like to announce the following:
Philip Bird (Branch Secretary) moves to the role of Branch Treasurer
James Beech (Branch Press Officer) moves in to the role of Branch Secretary
Jamie Illingworth (Branch Treasurer) moves in to the new role of Campaigns Organiser
Jason Smith (Branch Chairman) also takes on the role of Press Officer
We hope this reshuffle will best utilise the skills of our committee as we prepare for upcoming elections
UKIP Bradford joins the Democracy Movement campaign for a referendum
13-10-07
Jason Smith with Democracy Movement organiser Charles Brickdale in Halifax town centre - 13th October.
Former Tory stands up for Britain and stands for UKIP
18-04-07
	Former Tory Chairman of Tong Conservative Association, Mr. Peter Brear will be the UK Independence candidate in Tong ward
PRESS RELEASE New branch officials appointed
13-02-07
UKIP Bradford & District Chairman Jason Smith is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Philip Bird of Shipley, as new branch Secretary and also the appointment of Mr. James Beech of Allerton to the new role of branch Press Officer.
T&A 14/02/07  >>>

UKIP Bradford to target Tory council seats in 2007

As a party UKIP had always been sympathetic to the Tories to some degree, it was always acknowledged that a large proportion of Tory MPs and possibly a larger proportion of their supporters believed in our guiding principle… freedom from EU rule. In previous elections, there was even talk of many UKIP candidates not standing against openly euro sceptic Tory candidates. Many people, including people from UKIP thought the Tories would eventually climb off the net and bat for England.

Then David Cameron appeared, seemingly genetically engineered from Tony Blair's DNA. As Tony Blair did in his early years, David Cameron has been careful to not divulge many policies, one area of policy that he has been clear on is Europe, stating in the Daily Telegraph "I don't think it would ever come down to leaving the EU". Cameron then proceeded to dig up and surround himself with many pro-EU/anti-UK dinosaurs including Michael Heseltine and Ken Clarke, reinforcing his stance further.

David Cameron shelving traditional Tory values in favour of being a great environmentalist was very amusing, don't get me wrong, I believe the environment is a very important issue, I just do not believe that David Cameron is green, possibly in experience terms but certainly not environmentally. Cycling to work and having your car follow you with your paperwork is not going to win you the green vote I'm afraid.

It wasn't until David Cameron accused UKIP of being closet racists though that he stepped over the line. Our leader gave Mr Cameron ample time to apologise but the new Tory leader compounded his embarrassment by refusing to. Cameron's political naivety not only served to insult every UKIP member and supporter but also the majority of Tories who support our policies of freedom from the EU, unlimited immigration and political correctness. Maybe that was David Cameron's intention; in an effort to make a home on the centre ground has Mr Cameron deliberately disenfranchising the right wing of his party?

Either way, the problems of the Tories are for Mr. Cameron's to deal with.

As for UKIP Bradford, I feel it is time to draw a line in the sand. UKIP members are outraged at Mr. Cameron's outburst; current and soon to be former Tory supporters decry the comments of David Cameron, and have reluctantly conceded that they can no longer support a liberal party steered by him.

I would therefore like to announce that in the 2007 Bradford Council elections, the UKIP Bradford & District Branch plans to specifically target Tory seats. It's time for Tory voters to make a choice, the pro-UK Independence Party or David Cameron's liberal 'Blue Labour'.

Jason Smith

10 May 2006

Vodafone Go Home!

The campaign against the erection of a Mobile Phone Mast in Wyke continues.  UKIP Bradford & District Chairman Jason Smith leading the charge against what he has called an "illegal" planning application.

An application that Bradford Planning Committee railroaded through council ignoring not only government guidelines but their own guidelines!  The fact that the Mast is to be positioned in front of SunnyBank Medical Centre does not seem to be of any concern to them (see below picture), even though guidelines state that Masts should not be erected in close proximity to sensitive areas, what's next? Masts in the middle of school playgrounds?

Mobile Mast base (left), Bradford Chairman Jason Smith (right) with anti-mast activists.  Sunny Bank Medical Centre (background)

Bradford Treasurer James Illingworth (left) joins the campaign	Enough said!
	Mast Sanity c/o Highfields,  Brantham Hill,  Manningtree,  Essex CO11 1SD Advice Line 08704 322 377 Tue-Fri 1-8pm (national rate) http://www.mastsanity.org/
Thanks to Mast Sanity for their excellent campaign posters

The matter has now been placed in the hands of the Ombudsman, who will decide if Bradford Council are guilty of maladministration... again.  Jason Smith spoke in the Council Chamber and promised if this application was approved and the mast erected, that he would hold each one of the planning committee personally responsible for any adverse effects on his family.  Should the Ombudsman rule in the councils favour, Mr. Smith is not ruling out legal action against Bradford council.

Jason Smith

23 April 2006

UKIP Bradford forsakes 2006 local elections in favour of branch restructure

As UKIP’s Bradford branch is in the midst of a massive reconstruction it has been decided that the proposed Local Election campaign will be deferred until next year.

UKIP Bradford has decided rather than launch a hurried, small local campaign in 2006, that the branch and Bradford would be better served with a massive, well planned campaign assault in 2007.  With UKIP Bradford recently extending their remit to include the constituencies of Shipley and Keighley, this brings new opportunities for the growth of the branch. 

I would rather UKIP Bradford’s first major foray in to local elections be a dynamic one rather than have a hastily thrown together campaign which might not do the party justice.  I am confident our new team in Bradford have the vision and drive to put UKIP on the political map in Bradford.  That campaign will begin now and will come to fruition in 2007.

We have previously as a branch only fielded 1 candidate in local elections; to me this is not acceptable.  We must give our members a chance to vote UKIP locally and that means fielding a large number of candidates. 

UKIP Bradford has an unprecedented opportunity in Bradford with a comprehensive range of popular local policies including local referendums on important issues and 50% reduction in council tax, not to mention the unpopularity, severe distrust and disgust with the old parties. 

2007 is going to be a landmark year for UKIP Bradford.  If you would like to be a part of it, please contact us now.

Jason Smith

4 April 2006

Give The Public A Say (on Phone Masts) says the T&A.

The Bradford Telegraph & Argus ran a story on October 29 entitled 'Give The Public A Say on Phone Masts' (http://archive.thisisbradford.co.uk/2005/10/29/181979.html)

I had previously provided information to the T&A on my case in Wyke and was pleased to see the issue of Mobile Phone Masts as front-page news. It was also good to see Shipley Tory MP Philip Davies saying in the article there should be tighter planning controls over the sitting of mobile phone masts but it was also quite ironic that it is his conservative colleagues on the Bradford Planning committee that continue to railroad these mobile phone applications through council, in most cases ignoring all the evidence against and government procedures. Maybe Mr. Davies should talk to his colleagues?

If anybody is fighting a mobile phone application in their area I strongly advise them to contact Mast Sanity who helped me considerably in my battle against Bradford Council.

Mast Sanity
c/o Highfields,
Brantham Hill,
Manningtree,
Essex. CO11 1SD

Advice Line: 08704 322 377 (Tue-Fri 1-8pm)

Web Address: http://www.mastsanity.org/

Jason Smith

30 October 2005

Say NO to Mobile Phone Masts... in close proximity to residential homes

On the 26^th June 2005 I led a group of residents opposing the erection of a mobile phone mast in Wyke, Bradford.  The mast was to be placed only 15 metres from the nearest residential property and directly in front of a Medical Centre.  

With local resident backing I spoke against this application on 14^th July 2005 at Bradford Council, presenting a petition and a very detailed report citing a number of issues: 

1.        No Consultations or Resident Notification 

2.        Possibly Mast/Site sharing not thoroughly explored 

3.        Interference to electrical equipment 

4.        Health concerns 

The council answered the initial argument with the fact that 2 or 3 properties had a letter explaining the application, but they did not answer the claim that site notices were only displayed 4 days before objections were due.  The council claimed they had explored mast sharing but did not answer why they could not site share, which is a different issue.  They totally ignored the electrical interference issues even though their own guidelines claimed this could be a material planning consideration.  They claimed that in their view there were no health concerns even though the mast would be erected outside a medical centre!  

In summary Bradford Planning passed this application while ignoring their own (PPG8) and government guidelines.  

Since this time I have presented a detailed report to Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe backed by local councillors (one who was present on the Bradford Planning Panel).  The MPs office has since replied and share these concerns stating, “Bradford council do the absolute minimum as required by law…” and  “...when they (Bradford Planning) are faced with genuine grounds for objection, as raised in your letter, they tend to dismiss them…”.  The MPs office is to contact the Planning Office and once I receive their reply I will decide how to proceed.  

If you would like more information on this case or would like help fighting a similar application do not hesitate to contact myself.  

Jason Smith

13 October 2005

Celebrate St George Day

Most of the media went quiet.  The politicians didn't want to know.  The people that count though were out on the street celebrating our day. 

Support our campaign to make St George Day a national holiday!

Jason Smith

23 April 2005