Party activists attending UKIP’s annual conference in Doncaster were reportedly stranded by a lack of transport because of holidaying Muslim taxi drivers. Newspaper columnist Katie Hopkins and a BBC reporter were also caught up in the delays.
Followers of Islam across the world have been celebrating Eid-al-Adha, the Islamic festival that honours Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son to God as an act of submission. In Doncaster, the site of UKIP’s annual conference, this meant the local Muslim taxi drivers were not at work yesterday.
The BBC’s Peter Henley, Political Editor for the South of England, arrived in the town by rail yesterday evening, only to find his passage to the conference had been stymied. He took to Twitter to explain.
Huge problems for UKIP members trying to get to conference – no taxis from Doncaster station because most drivers have the day off for Eid
— Peter Henley (@BBCPeterH) September 24, 2015
The tweet prompted many responses from other Twitter users. Some were supportive, some gloated, others warned him about the BBC’s reaction to his tweet.
@BBCPeterH The bias BBC won't appreciate you posting facts like this…
— RESIGN THERESA MAY (@MRWHOKIP) September 24, 2015
In the end the situation was saved by another local taxi driver who explained the situation regarding Doncaster’s Muslim taxi drivers.
Ta for eloquent replies to my #UKIP taxi tweet. #Sikh guy who finally took me (&@KTHopkins !) said 90% local drivers are #Moslem #EidMubarak
— Peter Henley (@BBCPeterH) September 24, 2015
Katie Hopkins (pictured above, at the conference) joined Henley in his taxi, a scene which many would like to witness. She is in Doncaster to discuss electoral reform. As she explains in her final column for The Sun today:
“As much as I danced for joy at the Tory whitewash at the last election, 3.8 million people voted for Ukip and the party got just one seat in the Commons.
“By cruel comparison, the SNP received 1.45million votes and managed to get 56 MPs into the House – most of them with an attitude more stinky than blue cheese, many of them ginger.
“In a recent referendum the British public did not want to change our voting system. I respect this. But we have to recognise our democracy is failing us if people feel their votes count for nothing.
“Under a fairer system, Ukip would have 83 seats in the Commons.
“Unusually for my good self, I don’t know what the right answer is. I am not trying to force my opinions on you.
“But I do know we don’t seem to have it right if 3.8 million voters are represented by one lone voice in Parliament when Europe is the fundamental challenge of our times.”
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.