THE MIKE NATTRASS HOKEY COKEY
In the run up to our annual conference and AGM we had rather a strange incident in which the ex-UKIP MEP, Mike Nattrass, who does seem to be a genuine convert to English nationalism, contradicted my press release welcoming him in joining the Party. As he does seem to have claimed he did not know anything about this press release and also that he had only agreed to come to speak to our conference about HS2, I am reluctantly driven to think that I do owe it to our Party and to our credibility generally to explain what happened.
As I know, with my professional hat on as a solicitor, sometimes when a deal goes wrong clients may not have a clear trail of correspondence to show that they have acted with the utmost proprietary. In this case, however, the email correspondence is absolutely crystal clear. Mike Nattrass offered to stand for us. He wanted to do so partly because he felt what sounded like a justified sense of grievance that Nigel Farage had de-selected him from the UKIP list, despite him having been favoured by the local membership and previously elected as their No. 1 candidate on the last occasion.
We accordingly met Mike and his delightful wife in the West Midlands and we all got on very well. Mike reassured us that he genuinely considers himself to be an Englishman and that he supported our move to campaigning for English Independence. He particularly liked the irrefutable point that an English exit from the UK automatically means that we are also out of the EU. He chortled at the comment of Mr Barrosso that in that case we “would have to reapply” for EU membership!.
So Mike made us a proposal that he would stand, but only continue as an MEP for one year, as he wished to retire from politics but also be vindicated. Our original intention had been for Derek Hilling, our National Party Secretary, to stand as our No. 1 candidate in the West Midlands but if this deal went through, he, as No. 2 on our Party list, would then become our MEP because the retirement of an MEP does not trigger a by-election.
Mike Nattrass’s proposal appears in the email trail as does my draft press release and his suggested amendments. Once the amendments were concluded I then began sending out the press release “embargo-ed” as previously agreed. Once the press release had gone out most journalists obeyed it but with the significant exception of Michael Crick of Channel 4 News (and now of Godfrey Bloom infamy), who tweeted it but claimed to have done so by mistake. He did apologise to me as I also show in the email trail. The consequence was that the story was leaked before Mike Nattrass, or indeed I, were actually ready for the story to go out.
Much to my surprise rather than being relatively relaxed about the fact that, through neither of our faults the story was out, Mike Nattrass was furious and rang me up and swore at me, which seemed a bit unnecessary given that the leak was not my fault. He then announced that he was withdrawing from coming over to us.
My initial thought was that we should leave any further comment until after the Conference weekend as it might by then have all blown over and that he should continue with coming to our conference, which he seemed initially to agree to, but I then discovered that he had actually told journalists that he did not know anything about this press release and had not authorised it! That was disappointing to discover but does mean that I now have to put the record straight. I think the following correspondence does so. What do you think?
Personally I liked Mike and I have no real hard feelings about what happened. I wish him every success in the future but not of course at the cost of our Party’s reputation.
From: stevenuncles
To: ukipmep
CC: RobinTilbrook; derekhilling
Subject: MIKE NATTRASS MEP
Date: Fri, 30 Aug 2013 20:27:18 +0100
Dear Mike
I hope you are well.
I was sorry to see that you have not been selected by UKIP to stand in the 2014 EU Elections.
I was just wondering as to whether it may be worth having a chat ?
Kind regards
Steve Uncles
2014 EU Elections Prospective Candidate
South East England
English Democrats
====================================
From: mike nattrass
Sent: 31 August 2013 08:21
To: Steven Uncles
Subject: RE: MIKE NATTRASS MEP
Steve,
Being a Northerner I come to the point.
How many regions will you contest at the European elections please?
Who is your lead candidate for West Midlands please?
I am in the mood to help you, we have met and you impress me and providing we agree on policy (I need to just check) the publicity would be dynamic.
I have worked hard and done nothing wrong in UKIP. My personal following is very good (because I say it as it is, smile and insult everyone equally) My press contacts are very large.
My crime against Nigel was to point at racists in the EFD Group (not even the party). I wrote to the UKIP NEC and said that we should not associate with them. But Nigel needed the numbers, to keep the leadership of the group so I was not popular.
However what I had warned about then happened. Mario (Italian) who I had warned about, endorsed the views of the Norwegian mass murderer (giving Nigel more than a frown) and then racially abused a Black Italian Government Minister ….. final straw Nigel sacked him. SO THEY SAY I WAS NOT LOYAL TO THE PARTY! Sorry, no, just trying to protect the UKIP name from racists.
I look forward to talking.
Mike
_________________________________________________________________
Steve,
Yes, it may be worth having a chat.
I am back in the UK late on 5th and in my office at Hampton in Arden on 6th.
On 9th I will be in Strasbourg voting NO.
Can we meet 6th, 7th or 8th?
Where are you based?
Why not!
Mike
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From: stevenuncles
To: ukipmep
CC: derekhilling; RobinTilbrook
Subject: Meeting up with the English Democrats ?
Date: Sat, 31 Aug 2013 11:24:21 +0100
Dear Mike
A am a soft Southerner, but I do have a reputation for straight talking !
In response to your questions.
1/ As an English Nationalist Party and we are against the EU, we Contest the 9 English EU Regions – and will be doing so in 2014, this qualifies the English Democrats for a Party Political Broadcast.
2/ My valued colleague and long standing party member and activist Derek Hilling (National Party Secretary) has already been recommended by the West Midlands Area Council to stand as the lead candidate in the West Midlands, this had been officially confirmed by our National Council, and will be announced on 21 September 2013 at our National Party Conference in Leicester on 21 September, along with the other 7 lead EU Candidates (excluding London where no selection has yet been made).
3/ We have met a couple of times, and you indeed kindly spoke at our English Democrats Conference a few years ago with Nikki Sinclaire, there were no personality problems from an English Democrats point of view, with either yourself or Nikki, and we would welcome your support.
4/ Nigel Farage – we are well aware of the antics of Nigel Farage- and the fact that he does not run UKIP along democratic lines, but considers UKIP to be his own private domain, there appear to be many UKIP members now unhappy about the UKIP Selection process. The English Democrats have been victims of “double dealing” from Nigel Farage in the past.
5/ If your support of the English Democrats goes as far as wanting to stand for the English Democrats, then the current possibilities in the English Democrats for the 2014 EU Elections Candidates (subject to our selection process) are therefore realistically either Lead candidate in London, or 2nd Spot in any other EU Region including the West Midlands standing for the English Democrats – you may like to also think about Yorkshire, as I know you are a Yorkshireman. (Again this would be subject to our Yorkshire Team and our selection process).
6/ Politics is a nasty game, but as we would also be happy to land a blow on Nigel Farage, a defection of a sitting UKIP MEP to the English Democrats announced the week before BOTH conferences in 2013 would be a great first move in the 2014 EU Campaign, and would raise the profile of the English Democrats – the BBC would lap it up.
7/ Although time is short, then I believe we have time to sort out a mutually convenient arrangement, that follows the English Democrats procedures before Monday 16 September 2013.
Current English Democrats Manifesto:- http://www.englishdemocrats.org.uk/policies-full-manifesto.html
If you are still interested in meeting, then two or three of us would be delighted to visit you next week in Hampton in Arden, probably early evening.
The most likely date is the 7th September 2013 for a meeting or after the 9th.
Proabably best to confirm meeting arrangements by telephone.
Kind regards
Steve Uncles
2014 EU Elections Prospective Candidate
South East England
English Democrats
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From: mike nattrass
Sent: 31 August 2013 13:24
To: Steven Uncles
Subject: RE: Meeting up with the English Democrats ?
Steve,
Thank you for the direct reply and I would like to give you my thoughts honestly and without commitment either way at this stage.
On evening of 6th I will be in Worcester talking to a Chairman who backed me and got 400 UKIP members and some branches to back me …. I would throw the suggestion to him!!
A meeting with you anytime on 7th is good. I live in Sutton Coldfield but you may prefer to see the office at Hampton.
Birmingham International is 3 miles and Hampton in Arden has a station.
IF I joined your team I would become an English Democrat MEP with immediate effect. I am in Strasbourg on Monday 9th and could do it then.
I am getting lots of positive press in the West Midlands and I think if I run for you in 2014 I would do well. Reporters know me and my office base would not change.
At this point I would need to make friends with the current number one. Because I have a plan which would work to his advantage ………….. will explain later.
As for 2015 …… Skipton and Ripon would be my seat please!
ALL ‘IF’ but you can see that I trust you and like the plan.
Mike
MIKE NATTRASS MEP
This was written at speed cos I need to rush out ….. sorry for any error. Will dicuss “plan” on phone.
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From: ukipmep
To: stevenuncles
CC: robintilbrook
Sent: 15/09/2013 20:50:04 GMT Daylight Time
Subj: RE: Mike Nattress Proposal to the English Democrats
DRAFT ……………
SUBJECT TO OUR MEETING ON 20th SEPT 2013.
1/ I will become an English Democrat MEP transferring from UKIP on 21 September 2013 – and recognise the opportunity to raise the profile of the English Democrats through the expected press attention, and would indeed encourage current UKIP members from all over England to join the English Democrats.
2/ The EU Communications budget and other MEP EU budgets are subject to tight EU rules and the English Democrats will not attempt to influence the MEP in breaking any of those rules.
EU money cannot for example be expended in The West Midlands Election Campaign and this is understood.
I will provide the £5000 deposit and recover it when refunded.
I will fund raise for my campaign and consult with yourselves throughout.
The 7 staff currently employed are dealing with constituency issues and whilst they gain good publicity for the MEP in solving constituency issues they are not for example a Campaign Team.
3/ I wish to head the West Midlands English Democrats Party List (Lead Candidate 2014 West Midlands) and serve as an MEP for 1 year if elected.
IN THE EVENT OF MY ELECTION AS AN MEP IN 2014……………….
4/ I would employ Derek Hilling for one year from 1st September 2014 as part of my EU Staff if elected at £40,000 per year. (If he is not elected in the No 2 Slot)
5/ After one year I will step down on 1st September 2015 as the MEP for the West Midlands, and transfer to Derek Hilling
6/ At 1st September 2015 I will be employed by Derek Hilling MEP as part of his EU Staff for 2 years at £40,000 per year.
7/ Derek Hilling will continue to pay the rent at the regional office at 48 Fentham Road, Hampton in Arden B92 0AYoffice for the 5 year term operating until 2019.
8/ Derek Hilling MEP will take over and respect any existing staff contracts.
9 / I undertake to leave the position of MEP on 1st Sept 2015 and if Derek Hilling, for any reason, cannot take over the post of MEP then another person will be selected by the Leadership of the English Democrats and all of the above conditions will apply by the substitution of their name for that of Derek Hilling.
10/ I am willing to sign a legal document to confirm an agreement reached.
To confirm …office address is:-
___ FENTHAM ROAD
HAMPTON IN ARDEN
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On 15 Sep 2013, at 21:49, StevenUncles wrote: Dear Mike
Thanks for this – we appear to be broadly in agreement, but no doubt Derek Hilling and David Lane will wish to add a few further details, especially relating to the 2014 Campaign and working together in the West Midlands.
Robin as you are aware is a Solicitor so the final version I suggest is produced by Robin Tilbrook, I hope this is OK ?
Derek Hilling (National Party Secretary) will confirm the arrangements for Friday Evening at the Leicester Hilton.
Kind regards
Steve Uncles
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On 18 Sep 2013, at 18:08, RobinTilbrook wrote:
Dear Mike, David, Steve and Derek
Please see below the press release to read, amend or approve.
Regards
Robin
EMBARGOED UNTIL 00:01 a.m. Friday, 20th September 2013
BREAKING NEWS – UKIP MEP, MIKE NATTRASS MOVES TO THE ENGLISH DEMOCRATS
UKIP’s only remaining West Midlands MEP has announced that he is moving from UKIP, partly in disgust at Nigel Farage’s corruption of the UKIP’s selection processes and also because Mike Nattrass wants to be part of the only genuine English Nationalist Party that wants England to be independent of the EU. Mike Nattrass will be standing as the English Democrats’ Lead Candidate for the EU Parliament election on the 22nd May 2014, with supporting positions taken by Derek Hilling, our Party Secretary and David Lane, our West Midlands Chairman.
The English Democrats are delighted to welcome Mike Nattrass as a member of the English Democrats and as our first English Democrat MEP. Mike’s move to join us is partly as a result of UKIP’s obsessive focus on the United Kingdom and the exclusion of any genuine interest in English interests.
Robin Tilbrook, the English Democrats Party Chairman, said:- “I am delighted to welcome Mike Nattrass as a member of the English Democrats and look forward to working with him to get him re-elected this time as an English Democrats MEP, in May 2014. Over the coming year I am fully expecting the question of Scottish Independence to become of increasing interest as we build up to the Scottish Independence referendum. The English Democrats are England’s equivalent to the Scottish Nationalist Party and the only party that is a genuine English nationalist party. At our conference one of the key proposals is the adoption of a keynote policy of Independence for England.”
Robin continued:- “Interestingly if England becomes independent the EU Justice Commissioner has already confirmed that any newly independent nation will automatically be outside of the EU, claiming that they would “have to re-join”! Our policy of Independence for England will therefore appeal to all those who want England to leave the EU!”
Robin Tilbrook
Chairman,
The English Democrats,
Quires Green, Willingale, Ongar, Essex, CM5 0QP
Blog: http://robintilbrook.blogspot.co.uk/
FaceBook Profile: http://www.facebook.com/robin.tilbrook
Party Tel: 0207 242 1066
Twitter: @RobinTilbrook
Party Website: www.englishdemocrats.org
English Democrats’ FB Page: http://www.facebook.com/robin.tilbrook#!/www.EngDem.org
Chairman’s FB
Page: http://www.facebook.com/robin.tilbrook#!/Robin.Tilbrook.English.Democrats
Key facts about the English Democrats
The English Democrats launched in 2002. The English Democrats are the English nationalist Party which campaigns for a Parliament for England, First Minister and Government, with at least the same powers as the Scottish ones within a Federal UK; for St George’s Day to be England’s National holiday; for Jerusalem to be England’s National Anthem; for a Referendum to leave the EU; for an end to mass immigration; for the Cross of St George to be flown on all public buildings in England.
The English Democrats are England’s answer to the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru. The English Democrats’ greatest electoral successes to date include winning the Directly Elected Executive Mayoralty of Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council and the 2012 referendum; We won the referendum which triggered a referendum to give Salford City an Elected Mayor; In 2012 we saved all our deposits in the Police Commissioner elections and came second in South Yorkshire; In the 2009 EU election we gained 279,801 votes after a total EU campaign spend of less than £25,000 (giving the English Democrats by far the most cost efficient electoral result of any serious Party in the UK)
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From: ukipmep
To: derekhilling, robintilbrook
CC: davidlane, stevenuncles
Sent: 18/09/2013 19:24:57 GMT Daylight Time
Subj: RE: re DRAFT from MIKE
SORRY I DID NOT SPOT UKIP BEING ADVERTISED IN THE HEADLINE …ignore the fraud riddled rascals.
Also small changes towards the end to let it flow.
Mike
EMBARGOED UNTIL 00:01 a.m. Friday, 20th September 2013
BREAKING NEWS – MEP, MIKE NATTRASS MOVES TO THE ENGLISH DEMOCRATS
West Midlands MEP Mike Nattrass has announced that he wishes to join the English Democratic Party, the only party that wants England to be independent of the EU.
Mike Nattrass will be standing as the English Democrats’ Lead Candidate for the EU Parliament election on the 22nd May 2014, with supporting positions taken by Derek Hilling, Party Secretary and David Lane, West Midlands Chairman.
The English Democrats are delighted to welcome Mike Nattrass as a member of the party and as our first English Democrat MEP.
Mike joined the English Democrats because no other party stands firm and believes in the protection of English interests.
Robin Tilbrook, the English Democrats Party Chairman, said:- “I am delighted to welcome Mike Nattrass as a member of the English Democrats and look forward to getting him re-elected again as an English Democrat MEP, on 22nd May 2014.
“Over the coming year Scottish Independence will be in focus as they face the Scottish Independence referendum. The English Democrats are England’s equivalent to that Party and our conference will debate further one of our key policy proposals, Independence for England.”
Robin continued:- “The EU Justice Commissioner has already confirmed that when England becomes independent it will not remain within the EU and would “have to re-join”!
As our policy is that “We will not wish to rejoin!” this will appeal to all those wishing to see England escape, out of the EU!”
Mike Nattrass MEP responded by saying “England is my home and The English Democrats are my Party. The policy of not applying to rejoin the EU is English music to my ears”
Robin Tilbrook
Chairman,
The English Democrats,
Quires Green, Willingale, Ongar, Essex, CM5 0QP
Blog: http://robintilbrook.blogspot.co.uk/
FaceBook Profile: http://www.facebook.com/robin.tilbrook
Party Tel: 0207 242 1066
Twitter: @RobinTilbrook
Party Website: www.englishdemocrats.org
English Democrats’ FB Page: http://www.facebook.com/robin.tilbrook#!/www.EngDem.org
Chairman’s FB
Page: http://www.facebook.com/robin.tilbrook#!/Robin.Tilbrook.English.Democrats
Key facts about the English Democrats
The English Democrats launched in 2002. The English Democrats are the English nationalist Party which campaigns for a Parliament for England, First Minister and Government, with at least the same powers as the Scottish ones within a Federal UK; for St George’s Day to be England’s National holiday; for Jerusalem to be England’s National Anthem; for a Referendum to leave the EU; for an end to mass immigration; for the Cross of St George to be flown on all public buildings in England.
The English Democrats are England’s answer to the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru. The English Democrats’ greatest electoral successes to date include winning the Directly Elected Executive Mayoralty of Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council and the 2012 referendum; We won the referendum which triggered a referendum to give Salford City an Elected Mayor; In 2012 we saved all our deposits in the Police Commissioner elections and came second in South Yorkshire; In the 2009 EU election we gained 279,801 votes after a total EU campaign spend of less than £25,000 (giving the English Democrats by far the most cost efficient electoral result of any serious Party in the UK)
——————————————————————————————————————-
From: MICHAEL.CRICK@ITN.CO.UK
To: RobinTilbrook@aol.com
Sent: 19/09/2013 09:33:52 GMT Daylight Time
Subj: Re: BREAKING NEWS – UKIP MEP, MIKE NATTRASS MOVES TO THE ENGLISH DEMOCRATS
Robin
I’m terribly, terribly sorry. I tweeted your story long before I should. Because you headlined your story “Breaking News”, I thought it was immediate and didn’t spot the embargo.
Please forgive me. It was a genuine error.
Best wishes
Michael Crick