Why are political commentators gunning for UKIP instead of considering the issues?

People whose writing and views I often admire, relate to, agree with, have started coming out with what seems to be an almost desperate 'UKIP is racist' mantra in the past few days. Why?

Why are these commentators on what's going on in our politics - Dan Hodges, Hugo Rifkind, Ben Brogan and many, many others across our main stream media (MSM) who I admire and read - trying to set the agenda instead of reporting what is going on?

These people are usually to be found sharing their (informed) thoughts about the UK political situation. The whys and wherefores, who's doing what and why. And yes they may have an agenda, a bias, behind what they are saying (we all do let's face it), but invariably they're talking about issues and how they effect the political landscape.

That is not the case currently on the issue of UKIP. They're not saying 'some people are accusing UKIP of being a racist party, let's consider the evidence and why this might be happening' as would usually be their modus operandi. They're saying 'UKIP is a racist party'. When, in my humble opinion there is no evidence to support that conclusion. See here.

So why are these reputable journalists doing this? Perhaps I should have said 'formerly reputable'. There's some kind of hidden agenda behind this. Circling the wagons as the 'establishment'.

It stinks, frankly. I'm not a UKIP member or consistent supporter, but I do want views that are not driven by such blatant bias.

British people tend to fight for the underdog. We tend to want ideas to be communicated and then we'll make up our own minds about issues. Being 'told' what to think is not what we want, but these people just don't seem to 'get' it.

Insulting UKIP and people who support it as 'racists' is a red rag to a bull. Here's Rifkind's piece today that he was lauding as a 'slam dunk' on racism. It's so not. Equating UKIP so prominently with 'Big Ron' (for no credible reason) and racism is almost laughable.

More here:

I've taken out the slanging match that occurred here. But to be fair to Hugo it was respectful. ;) 

Dan Hodges seems to me to have lost the plot and forsaken astute political commentary for activism. Maybe his membership of Migration Matters Trust (here) is a factor? He blogged that Clegg won the Clegg - Farage debate. And waded in to the Clarkson issue (guess on which side) this evening.

As I said to him yesterday:

.@DPJHodges your lack of journalistic objectivity on UKIP makes it increasingly difficult 2 take anything else you say seriously. justsaying

Why are they doing this? It's not journalism. It's taking sides not commenting upon what's going on.

I can only conclude that there's some kind of agenda being played out here. My biggest detrimental comment would be that I am disappointed with their work. You may not think that's a cutting edge thing. But believe me it is.

I'm not a UKIP supporter or member but my view would be 'keep the faith' and I agree with 'kippers on some things - one fundamentally is get us out of the EU, the other is that the public is increasingly behind you, is increasingly seeing through this establishment and MSM bullshit which is actually creating momentum for UKIP. Don't stop now. It's time we took back some control over our lives and those who supposedly represent us.

Thanks for reading.