The man best known for the Cash for Question scandal and making prat of himself, is now the leader of Ukip in the Welsh Assembly.
No one could accuse him of having a dull career. After being beaten in the 1997 UK election by Martin Bell (of white suit fame), Hamilton "cashed" in on his "misfortune" (in being caught) by becoming a sort of W-list celebrity.
If you suspected that Hamilton would pretend to be a native Antarctican if it paid money, I'm thinking you wouldn't be far wrong, so the England world cup song (the word 'song' maybe stretches it a bit) is quite understandable.
Mr Hamilton and charming wife Christine (pictured above in the "I'm a Celebrity" show), who seems to share his passion for making money by whatever means possible, live in Wiltshire, and apparently it is from there that he will be running the Ukip organisation in the Cardiff assembly. He will be entitled to money for secondary accommodation in Cardiff and he intends to buy a caravan to tour his constituency.
He will not, however, take over as Welsh party leader. Nathan Gill, Mr Farage's choice, will continue to fulfil that role
Hamilton's election, and elevation to the leadership in the Senedd, has not pleased the English Party or its leader, Nigel Farage. This article explains just how much they dislike each other.
Isn't it typical of Ukip that only a few weeks before the referendum that they have wanted since their inception, instead of campaigning for a Brexit, they are having a civil war.
It's like Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon having a massive fall out in August 2014.
Seriously, no matter what your views are on the EU or Brexit, you have to admit that the public face of Ukip: Farage, Hamilton, Coburn, leaves a very great deal to be desired.
I hardly think "charming" is a word one would use to describe Christine Hamilton.
ReplyDeleteI'd open it up for a competition to find the best adjective for her, Anon, but, I'm afraid I'd have to take most of the posts down for fear of litigation!
DeleteShe describes herself as a battle-axe. More of a kontos in my opinion...
DeleteLOL.
DeleteGerman for account...? Or something like that.
Strega, probably.
DeleteDerek
Isn't that Italian beer?
DeleteNo*; Strega is an Italian insult. The direct translation is "witch" but the intent is rather stronger.
Delete*not that I know of, anyway...
Derek
LOL Derek, trust me to think of drink!!!
DeleteSeriously, no matter what your views are on the EU or Brexit, you have to admit that the public face of Ukip: Farage, Hamilton, Coburn, leaves a very great deal to be desired.
ReplyDeleteYou are not alone in that thought.
It's interesting, Douglas, that when the BBC chose Farage to represent the "out" side in a debate (against Cameron), the "in" side kicked off.
DeleteNot really surprised.
His credibility lies with a very small section of the population.
I am heartily glad that they didn't get the predicted seat in our chamber.
Hamilton is back? Oh Tris...make him stop.
ReplyDeleteSeems Hamilton and UKIP are made for each other.
Munguin has a master plan to make him stop, Dean.
DeleteI'm not sure what it is, but it seems to have involved the drinking of a considerable amount of champagne, if the bottles stashed outside his door mean anything!
Deano
ReplyDeleteyou and Hammytonofcash cut from the same cloth...he your dad ?
Hardly Niko.
DeleteDean is a European... and I can't see him singing "England is Jolly Dee".
Anyway, Dean is a spring chicken, and Hamilton is an old buffer.
Dean, a 27 y/o gay European secular minded 'spring chicken'. Not all that similar to Hamilton of cash-crab.
DeleteI thought you'd like "spring chicken".
DeleteHamilton, Boris and Trump? We are all feckin' doomed!
ReplyDeleteDugdale, Davidson and Rennie? We are all feckin' doomed!
ReplyDeleteYou islanders are such a cheery lot.
DeleteI see John... John Laurie.
DeleteEvery time I see Dad's Army, and Fraser starts on one of his tales...
DeleteIt wis a wild wild night on a wee island. The wind was howlin' ...etc, I always think of our John.
Although I'm sure he's a lot younger... and better looking!
I always thought it was; Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble and Grub.
Delete... and Ruth.
DeleteTo my mind, UKIP and the Conservatives took the opportunity to make trouble in the Welsh Assembly. If Labour wants to counter their actions they need to come to an accommodation with Plaid. Unfortunately for Wales, they probably wont.
ReplyDeleteThe last time that Plaid worked with Labour in government it was bad for them, and they lost heavily at the following election. I'd think hard before I got involved with them again. Mind it's fair to say the current leader is a sharp cookie.
DeleteTalking about Whisky Galore the original film had the saddest and most forlorn line in film history when the barman said "There is no whisky". I should add that I am very similar to John Laurie both in looks and in outlook!
DeleteIncluding the hairy ears?
DeleteTris, they are remaking Whisky Galore, so more reasons to think of dear John Brownlie.
ReplyDeleteAgree that Tories and Ukip making trouble in Wales Helena
Oh Helena. I bet he's up for a part in it.
DeleteHe'll be the dominie!
Was the book about the Hamiltons not called Purple Homicide? How apt.
ReplyDeleteNeil Hamilton is an utter charlatan.
Derek.
It was indeed, Derek. Subtitled "Fear and loathing on Knutsford Heath"... most appropriate I think.
DeleteI think I'll get a copy.
Another Kilroy moment in store for UKIP perhaps?
ReplyDeleteThe thing is that they keep on having them.
DeleteI'm ambivalent these days about the EU. The way they treated Greece and the nonsense over Scotland made me angry. On the other hand to want to leave a market of 500 million seems, let us say, a brave choice, to me, based on the Brits image of themselves, rather than reality.
And most of it is based on hatred of foreigners. The trouble is that within a few years we will desperately need foreigners to work to provide taxes to keep a massive elderly population living till they are 100.
Still, for all that I'm undecided about what will be best.
But one thing I can say with certainty is that if "out" is about that band of complete divvies, then I'll in "in".
Is it just my imagination or is there a similarity to a wide-mouthed Farage in the top photo?
ReplyDeleteI have to admit to being ill-informed about the advantages/disadvantages of EU but being from a family of fisher-men who were significantly and adversely affected by the RU Fisheries policies my inclination would be to leave. I seem to recall the UK Fisheries representative being left sitting in the corridor whilst discussions on this issue were taking place.
On the other hand I can see the benefits of such as the European Working directives which the Tories would be delighted to abolish. Of course there is no guarantee that the EU could not at some time in the future pursue a more right-wing approach and abolish it themselves.
No, it's not your imagination. They are two cheeks of the same erse. But apparently "À couteaux tirés" as they say in Europe.
DeleteYou have to wonder at the legendary "importance" of Britain if their ministers are left in corridors.
Certainly, if Britain leaves it will be interesting to see how special the relationship with the US is, and indeed with China.
And how quickly the rest of the Europeans are begging the brits to sign trade deals.
Who knows, Cameron may be right. There's a first time for everything.
What does worry me is the appalling thought of a Tory government unfettered by any EU law H&S or workers' rights, and out of the EU mrs may can have her way and replace European Human Rights legislation with a British version. We all know that most rights in Britain will be given to those with titles or whose annual income can be measured in 7 figures (including that made in the BVI).
It was the Scottish minister, that was forbidden to enter the talks, in favour of the English/UK minister; better together my arse.
DeleteAbsolutely. How could the English minister speak for the other three countries of which he knew nothing?
Delete