Young Independence
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Young Independence is the national youth and student wing of the UK Independence Party (UKIP).
Young Independence was officially launched on 1 August 2007, after several previous unofficial youth organisations had failed to grab the attention of the main party and its younger members. However, after work by the new Executive Committee, a youth organisation was adopted by the main party and launched under the name Young Independence with the popular NEC member Delroy Young personally overseeing the launch.
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[edit] History
Young Independence was the brain-child of several members of UKIP who felt that the lack of young people's representation in the party was unfair and undemocratic[citation needed]. After an online meeting and several discussions, it was agreed that a proposal be submitted to the main party's National Executive Committee for consideration. The main party link was Delroy Young who provided guidance and acted as the operational link to the young members. The NEC approved the proposal and on 1 August 2007, Young Independence was launched.
Before the launch of Young Independence there were several youth organisations unofficially representing the young members of the UK Independence Party. One was UKIP Youth, the other was named "Youthkip". Youthkip was founded by Alex McKee and Jan Guest, young members of UKIP. It was founded at the second meeting of the Lechlade Group, a UKIP Think-tank. It addressed the UKIP Conference in October 2005 with principal youth speaker Matthew Faithful getting a standing ovation. UKIP Youth was managed by Katy Davies, Assistant to Nigel Farage MEP. This organisation faltered after Davies went to live in the United States.
Previous leaders of UKIP Youth Movement have been Mark Lester and Nikki Sinclaire who chaired 'YUK!'. There has never been a successful large scale Youth wing in UKIP. This is partially due to the low number of younger members.
NEC member Delroy Young resigned from running the organisation in November 2007 after a string of sexually suggestive voicemails were left on the phones of Y.I committee members, apparently urging them to enjoy a foot of 'sexy black salami'.
Lisa Duffy was named as the National Co-ordinator for Young Independence after the NEC meeting in January 2008.
[edit] Aims
After a reorganising of the national team, and the success of having Young Independence attend the annual conference of norweigien youth group, Ungom Mot EU, the new aims are to sustain its current membership while continuing to grow in members also. There is a big push to make Young Independence a dynamic social movement after a successful MEP visit to the EU parliament in Strasbourg in early 2008. Similar education, yet fun visits are planned with many more UK based activities planned for the near future.
Politically, Wayne Harling has made a pledge to the parent party to ensure that more members of Young Independence over 18 stand in this years local elections as well as apply to stand as a Prospective Parliamentary Candidate.
[edit] Executive Committee
Young Independence has an Executive Committee of six members who look after the day to day running of the organisation. They deal with issues regarding elections, equal and fair representation, funding and all other issues which arise from the party. The current executive is listed below:
Executive Chairman – Wayne Harling
Vice-Chairman – *Vacant*
Secretary – Paul Nuttall
Treasurer - Lisa Duffy
Membership Officer – Michael Heaver
Committee Member – Laura Moralee
[edit] Current Branches
The Keele University UKIP branch was founded on 21 November 2005 by Wayne Harling, Paul Dennet (both students at Keele University), and David Nixon, chairman of the Newcastle-under-Lyme branch.
The Cornwall branch of Young Independence was established on the 8th of October 2007. It is currently administered by Stephanie McWilliam, who is also the UKIP PPC for South East Cornwall. [1] [2]
