The Golden Strawberry

Some of you may recall that Veritas was the party led by Robert Kilroy-Silk when it launched in 2004. Eston was involved with the launch from the start, and elected leader in September 2005. Although he is not a fulltime politician, he instead runs six local businesses, including one that makes conservatories.

After a quiet 2007, Veritas has used this summer to secure funding (Patrick assures me that he is not selling peerages to fund Veritas) and relocate their main offices to Tamworth. His appearance at a University of Birmingham debate is part of a new campaign to raise Veritas' profile.

So why should we vote for Veritas? "Our country has been taken from us by people it shouldn’t have been, such as the PC Brigade and the European Union. We want a return to old-fashioned common sense values".

As a wet leftist, I have little sympathy for Patrick's point of view. But he is a very genial and personable, so political differences don't seem to matter. His conversation is very natural, in contrast with the overrehearsed theatrics of people like David Cameron, who try too hard to pretend to be a normal person. It is difficult to imagine Gordon Brown describing something as "bullsh*t", or Menzies Campbell announcing that they "need to get the bloody thing sorted out", as Patrick does. Not exactly statesman-like, but it is obviously resonating with a section of the electorate. From a standing start Veritas has gained a membership of thousands in just three years, which is not bad going.

So where does Patrick see Veritas in ten years’ time? Again he responds with an honesty that one does not expect from a politician: "either we will no longer be around, or we will have an MEP or two. These things take time, and obviously a week is a long time in politics. But we have just started 'Young Veritas' so the future is looking positive ". Can you imagine another politician wondering whether his party will be around in a decade?

We talk about Gordon Brown’s recent decision not to call a General Election. Should he have? "Yes. He [Brown] has no mandate to rule. He would have called an election if he had been certain of winning it, but instead he has bottled it. It is an insult to the electorate, and in my opinion he will pay the price. This has undermined his authority ".

At the debate, Patrick proposed the motion: "this House believes that the UK should leave the EU". Yet, apparently, Veritas wants to keep "cordial relations with its neighbours" after it leaves. Is this practically possible? "I think so. The analogy I would use to describe this is 'an amicable divorce'. The model we would want to base our relations with Europe on is that of countries like Norway and Switzerland. They are able to trade with Europe, while not having to abide by all of the EU's rules and regulations. Switzerland recently did a cost-benefit analysis which calculated that they would be ninetimes better off if they stayed out of the EU."

Climate change is another issue Veritas takes a slightly contentious view on. There is an article on the Veritas website entitled "The great climate change swindle", which declares that "Environmentalism is a sort of substitute religion with a highly paid priesthood, even at town hall level", with thousands of jobs depending on "maintaining an atmosphere of doom, gloom and hysteria…on the hypothesis that climate change is largely driven by human activity ". Does Patrick endorse views like this? "The jury's out. There is global warming, and carbon dioxide levels may play a part, but that may not be the only factor. The climate moves in cycles. After all, in the fifteenth century they were making wine in London because of the hot weather there. What I do object to is using climate change as an excuse to raise taxes on cars, which then doesn 't go on improving roads."

Whether or not you agree with Patrick Eston or Veritas, you have to admire his drive for this latest venture. Setting up a new party is a thankless task, and we can do nothing but wish him the very best of luck!