THE NUMBER of people who have become members of the UK Independence Party in Swindon has risen significantly in the past year.
UKIP has seen a 50 per cent rise in membership since 2012 to 125 members, many of whom were previously Conservative Party supporters including former Swindon Council councillors, Mavis Childs and Eric Shaw.
Chairman of the local branch, John Short, believes the party’s localised policies, and drive to change priorities to include supporting the vulnerable and a council tax freeze is behind the increase.
John said: “In the last year there has been an increase of memberships and enquires by 50 per cent.
“We have got the majority on the Covingham and Nythe Parish Council and at the Swindon Council elections next year we will have a representative in every ward.”
John believes people have switched to UKIP because they are not getting what they expect from the other parties.
He said: “The three main parties have stopped listening to people. They have stopped listening to the working man.”””S)
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