dr wadd

Is it appropriate for a political party to radically change their stance on an issue simply because they lost votes at an election? The various parties have different policies on Europe, ranging from further integration to a complete withdrawal. There is a party that most people can vote for that reflects their opinion on Europe, be that Labour, Tory, UKIP or something else.

Listening to the opinions of the public and shaping policy in that manner is one thing. To do a radical about face on a policy is another issue entirely. I do not believe it should be a case of saying whatever the public want to hear simply to gain more votes, a party should stand or fall by its policies and have the courage of their convictions to stand by them even if it does mean that there is a dent in their popularity.

To have anything else would be to undermine the whole point of having a multiparty system in this country. One group could effectively run the country and just radically update their policies whenever there is a change in opinion. While it might be argued that there would be some worth in adopting anarchy in the original sense of the word, as the system currently stands I do not think that political parties should chop and change simply for the sake of popularity. To do so speaks volumes about their lack of integrity.