Depleted UKIP Scotland in appeal for ‘paper candidates’
BY BRIDGET MORRIS
UKIP Scotland has been forced to issue a desperate last-minute appeal for “paper candidates” to stand in May’s local council elections. A leaked after-midnight email sent by a senior party figure states that it would be “very much appreciated” if members were to “telephone for a chat” if they are “unsure” about standing. Paper candidates usually agree to stand for fringe political parties on the mutual understanding they are unlikely to win and need not campaign.
Late last year, Ukip Scotland was forced to restructure, reducing the number of branches to eight amid reports that there are now fewer than 400 members north of the Border. There are 1,227 council seats up for grabs across 32 local authorities when voters go to the polls on May 4.
Prospective candidates must submit nomination papers to councils by 4pm on Wednesday, March 29, or they cannot stand. An internal email sent by Ukip’s West of Scotland chairwoman Caroline Santos at 20 minutes past midnight on Friday, March 17, said: “We are fast approaching the deadlines to submit candidates for this May’s council elections.
“If you are considering standing but are unsure please telephone me for a chat, it would be very much appreciated to have as many paper candidates as possible so Ukip are on the ballot paper.”
The official party email includes the Ukip logo, a picture of Santos and an address in Largs, Ayrshire.
Santos stood in the South of Scotland region at last year’s Holyrood elections and was Ukip’s candidate in the Argyll and Bute Westminster seat in 2015.
Argyll and Bute SNP councillor Julie McKenzie said: “Ukip fielding paper candidates comes as no surprise but it shows an abject lack of respect for the voters.
“It’s also no shock to see Caroline Santos involved as she appears to be getting wheeled out with alarming regularity when they are short of candidates to stand. In the Westminster election she barely showed face in Argyll and Bute, demonstrating utter contempt for the electorate. Thankfully, Caroline didn’t move to the constituency as she promised, and it looks as though Argyll and Bute’s gain is now Ayrshire’s loss.
“At a time when we require committed and driven council candidates – backed by strong party policy – pushing a mandate for progressive change, it’s frankly shameful that all Ukip seem to care about is getting their party emblem on the ballot paper.
“I have complete faith that the savvy Scottish electorate will see right through this calculated and transparent sham, and the result will be clearly shown at the ballot box, with a majority of SNP councillors returned across the country on May 4.”
Santos confirmed the email was genuine but denied that the search for paper candidates indicated that the party was unable to field sufficient “real” ones.
“A lot of people have a lot of commitments and aren’t able to commit the time to campaigning,” she said. “Every party fields paper candidates.” She also denied that fielding such candidates was misleading electors, saying that if elected these candidates would serve in office.
Asked if she had any regrets about sending the email, she said: “I don’t have any regrets in my life.”
Santos added: “I have made mistakes but I don’t have any regrets.”