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UKIP candidates blame immigrants for clogging up cycle lanes and threaten police crackdown on cyclists

Anti-cycling UKIP councillor appears confused about MPs' powers...

Two UKIP candidates have this week separately blamed immigrants for clogging up cycle lanes, and called for police crackdowns on cyclists, mandatory hi-vis and insurance.

The comments, made in response to the CTC's Vote Bike campaign, come from Ealing Southall UKIP candidate John Poynton and UKIP Cllr Kevin Mahoney respectively, the latter demonstrating anti-cycling rhetoric despite party policy that wishes to "encourage cycling".

Perhaps of equal concern is the comment by Cllr Mahoney that he would introduce stronger police actions against law breaking cyclists, which is beyond the powers of MPs.

UKIP candidate for Ealing Southall, John Poynton, commented on the CTC's website yesterday: "The pressures on facilities for cycling are principally caused by high levels of immigration. No party can do anything significant for cyclists until we have left the European Union. Only UKIP will do this."

When asked by road.cc to clarify, Poynton said he meant there would be room for "all activities and walks of life if fewer people lived here".

In the Vale of Glamorgan Kevin Mahoney, UKIP Cllr for Sully Ward made strongly anti-cycling statements, which were forwarded to road.cc by a reader.

Cllr Mahoney suggested introducing mandatory measures for cyclists including insurance, fluorescent jackets and proficiency tests to "considerably improve road safety for cyclists".

He would also "press for a law that cyclists must use a cycleway rather than the road if a suitable one is provided parallel with the road that they are riding on."

While Mahoney is against 20mph zones, because he feels drivers will still speed, he said he would encourage police crackdowns on "the estimated 90% of all cyclists that I personally witness whilst driving who are riding on the roads without lights after dark" and introduce "stronger police action" in enforcing road traffic laws against offending cyclists running red lights "or those that I regularly witness travelling towards me the wrong way in my lane etc etc".

However, as the CTC's Communications Coordinator, Sam Jones, points out, dictating police policies and law is not be within the powers of an MP. As a local councillor, meanwhile, he would only have powers equal to those of any other citizen, i.e. the ability to raise issues of concern with police, within existing laws.

Jones said it sounded like Mahoney's comments were based on what he would do as an MP, rather than as a councillor.

"Fortunately, neither MPs (nor councillors) can introduce any of the below by themselves on a whim," said Jones.

"By all means they can campaign for more police action on illegal activity on our roads (which we would hope would apply to all road users and be in proportion to the risk that the law breaking vehicle poses, not just singling out one specific group).

"They can also campaign for compulsory use of cycle facilities by cyclists (despite the Highway Code), just as others can campaign for Space for Cycling or Road Justice. Essentially they can campaign for anything that takes their fancy, but introducing such actions without due process is not within their scope of powers."

"It is hoped that in our democratic system no one councillor or MP would not have the power to make them do it!"

Jones added the Home Secretary and relevant ministers can advise and give guidance to the police, an example being when cycling minister, Robert Goodwill, last year advised police to use their discretion when fining people for responsible pavement cycling.

UKIP were contacted about the comments but have not responded.

Laura Laker is a freelance journalist with more than a decade’s experience covering cycling, walking and wheeling (and other means of transport). Beginning her career with road.cc, Laura has also written for national and specialist titles of all stripes. One part of the popular Streets Ahead podcast, she sometimes appears as a talking head on TV and radio, and in real life at conferences and festivals. She is also the author of Potholes and Pavements: a Bumpy Ride on Britain’s National Cycle Network.

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33 comments

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bashthebox | 9 years ago
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My god UKIP are just so mind-numbingly thick. It beggars belief, but the only people who are that mean-spirited to run on a racist ticket are also wholly ignorant and dim.

I mean, how the hell can you equate cycle use in any way at all to immigration and leaving the EU? I know that's their only policy, but ffs. What must it be like to be a UKIP?
"Darling, we've run out of milk, could you pop out to the shop for me?"
"BLOODY IMMIGRANTS, STEALING MY MILK"

"Darling, the weather's foul, would you mind picking the kids up from school?"
"IMMIGRANTS! COMING OVER HERE WITH THEIR WEATHER, STEALING ALL OUR GRAT BRITISH SUNSHINE"

"Darling, I'll be home late, bit delayed at the doctor's"
"BLOODY IMMIGRANTS, COMING OVER HERE WITH THEIR INCURABLE HIV AND STEALING OUR DOCTORS"

Oh wait, he did say that last one didn't he.

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bikebot replied to bashthebox | 9 years ago
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bashthebox wrote:

"Darling, the weather's foul, would you mind picking the kids up from school?"
"IMMIGRANTS! COMING OVER HERE WITH THEIR WEATHER, STEALING ALL OUR GRAT BRITISH SUNSHINE"

Cobblers. The bad weather was caused by gay marriage, nothing to do with immigrants. Unless they were gay immigrants, coming over here to get married.

Get your facts right before posting!

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bashthebox replied to bikebot | 9 years ago
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bikebot wrote:
bashthebox wrote:

"Darling, the weather's foul, would you mind picking the kids up from school?"
"IMMIGRANTS! COMING OVER HERE WITH THEIR WEATHER, STEALING ALL OUR GRAT BRITISH SUNSHINE"

Cobblers. The bad weather was caused by gay marriage, nothing to do with immigrants. Unless they were gay immigrants, coming over here to get married.

Get your facts right before posting!

Good lord, you're right aren't you - I'd quite forgotten. You really can't make this shit up, they make it up themselves!

What worries me is the support they have - ok it's holding steady at that 15%, but that's 15% of the electorate who really out to have their oxygen rights revoked. As is said above, that's 15% who lap the UKIP shit up, 15% who will be outright hostile to their fellow man and woman for being from a different country, or for not having the 'right' sexuality, or for riding a bike, or for being politically correct, or for being young, or for being happy, or fuck only knows what else.
This election drives me mad; a non-stop spin of negativity.
The female leaders in last night's debate were a breath of fresh air. I'd quite possibly now vote SNP if I could, but I'm sticking with Green.

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