Rumblings Of A New Political Party

[Zacs-Master]

Still looks a bit embryonic and possibly in danger of looking a little Lib-Demish but I like the idea of potential candidates being asked to sign strict term limits, to stop the current practice that sees MPs in safe seats remain in post for decades.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/apr/07/new-political-party-break-mould-westminster-uk-brexit

[naomi24]

People are rooted in the two party system really. I'll be surprised if it succeeds.

[Zacs-Master]

I think in this political climate, with a general mood of disenfranchisement, I think it’s at least good timing.

[Khandro]

It is no use simply forming a party, just to be different - serious, identifiable policies are required from the electorate, as in the 2015 election, when UKIP arriving from nowhere came third with 4 million votes because it was clear what their policies were.

[Khandro]

By the electorate

[-Talbot-]

I wonder if it will be divided on Europe.


https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/09/labour-tory-mps-talk

[Hopkirk]

Well that's half the electorate alienated.

[Zacs-Master]

Yeah, I think we all realise that’s a basic requirement Khandro.

Talbot, that’s a very valid point and one which could scupper any new party’s chances before the off, if it isn’t a basic tenet of the party’s manifesto.

[Garaman]

I think there is every chance a new party could do very well. We are witnessing a shift in political thinking across Europe.

[dannyk13]

A new party, but will the members be new,I have visions of Blair, Osborne etc queuing up to join.

[Jackdaw33]

The fate of the SDP should be warning enough.

[THECORBYLOON]

The fact they have agreed to sit as the party's MP only for a limited period does not prevent them joining another party the day after an election and remaining as long as the electorate wants.

[ichkeria]

No chance.
It needs to come from existing politicians. You can't drum up a new movement like that. I'd be very wary of groups sponsored "in secret" by wealthy interest groups.
And if all it is going to be is some sort of ex-parliamentary pressure or campaign group.
As for the new "rules" I'd say that's a non-starter. The well-meaning Gina Miller tried to get support for some sort of "anti-lying" pledge by politicians. But this sort of idealistic and misguided stuff doesn't get anywhere.

[ToraToraTora]

well if it's going to work it can't be a remoaners only club or they'll alienate half the electorate.

[ichkeria]

But that is exactly what the current system does!

[Jackdaw33]

There are still two MPs left from the 1970 intake, Kenneth Clarke and Dennis Skinner. They will clock up 50 years before the next election.

[New Judge]

"The fact they have agreed to sit as the party's MP only for a limited period does not prevent them joining another party the day after an election and remaining as long as the electorate wants."

Or even - perish the thought - stand as an independent candidate!

[Gromit]

I see little of interest in this move.
Blair took Labour to the centre groundand we ended up with Tory Lite for 13 years. Cameron also repositioned more centrist, so that there was very little between Labour and Tory, resulting in the hung parliament of 2010, a small majority in 2015 and no overall majority in 2017.
Now there is clear distance between the parties again, May has been forced to lurch rightwards, and Corbyn has gone more leftwards. It seems like more of a choice than we have had for a long while.
Even if another party does set up tent in the centre, I am not sure any voters want a Blair/Cameron style leader and party.
A new party could be very disruptive to one of the main parties. The SDP effectively kept Labour our of power for two decades. Depending on the pitch of the new party, it could do the same to the Tories, or Labour again. Instead of being a good thing, it may possibly just keep the same party in power for a long time.

[ichkeria]

I have always been a labour supporter but if I was forced to choose (God forbid) between May and Corbyn as PM I would choose May.
And I am not the only one by any means.
Politics is changing: I'm not sure the old "left" and "right" means a lot any more. The fact that 80% plus people voted for one of the two parties in the last election I believe is somewhat misleading.
The problem is our electoral system, which makes it very hard for consensus politics.

[Garaman]

For a long time you could say that most people identified with the policies of either the Tories or Labour. They may have preferred that their party was a bit more one way or the other, but generally the party represented their views. It is questionable now whether that is the case. Some of the major issues of the day like Europe and immigration can’t be split between parties. I could certainly see the UK getting more like other European countries where there are more parties, more choice for the electorate, and of course the resulting coalition governments. I wouldn’t be a fan of that move, but I can see it happening.

[THECORBYLOON]

If the new party's MPs could sit only for ten years for example, would their leader need to step down even if they were the PM after ten years as an MP?

I know they could be given a seat in the Lords and lead the party still but I can't see that as being acceptable these days.