New centrist political party may be formed in UK

[1andrew1]

Rebel Labour MPs set to quit party and form centre group
Growing discontent over policy on Brexit, antisemitism and Venezuela spur breakaway movement...
On Saturday night, three of the MPs widely rumoured to be involved in the plans for an initial breakaway – Angela Smith, Chris Leslie and Luciana Berger – refused to be drawn into talk of a split, and insisted they were focused on opposing Brexit. But they did not deny that moves could be made by the spring or early summer.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics...m-centre-group

[Sephiroth]

France and Israel are examples where start-up parties won the electoral day because of public disgust with the main parties.

A pity that the Kadimah party in Israel had a corrupt PM. A pity that France has that running dog Macron.

I hope a new centrist party in the UK learns the lesson, has some competent people and contains the right Tories.

[Mr K]

Problem with our electoral system is that it's impossible for any third party be that Libdems, UKIP, SDP (remember them? This sounds very similar). Best to try and kick the extremism out of the main parties, both seem to be deserting the middle.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by Mr K

Problem with our electoral system is that it's impossible for any third party be that Libdems, UKIP, SDP (remember them? This sounds very similar). Best to try and kick the extremism out of the main parties, both seem to be deserting the middle.

The only way I think this will gain traction is if a large bloc of moderate Labour MPs break away from Labour and promote their policies during this Parliament. That way, the electorate will get used to them and see them in action before the next General Election. Given the dissatisfaction with Jeremy Corbyn out there, this could work.

However, the votes for Left of centre parties would split, providing the Conservatives with the majority they are seeking.

[Sephiroth]

Or a coalition with the Conservatives, which I don't particularly mind.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

The only way I think this will gain traction is if a large bloc of moderate Labour MPs break away from Labour and promote their policies during this Parliament. That way, the electorate will get used to them and see them in action before the next General Election. Given the dissatisfaction with Jeremy Corbyn out there, this could work.

However, the votes for Left of centre parties would split, providing the Conservatives with the majority they are seeking.

In theory, a centrist party will gain votes from left and right of centre parties.

---------- Post added at 12:27 ---------- Previous post was at 12:25 ----------

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

Or a coalition with the Conservatives, which I don't particularly mind.

The last coalition seemed to dispense with the sillier ideas of each party and had a number of achievements to its name.

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

In theory, a centrist party will gain votes from left and right of centre parties.

---------- Post added at 12:27 ---------- Previous post was at 12:25 ----------


The last coalition seemed to dispense with the sillier ideas of each party and had a number of achievements to its name.

Quite.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

In theory, a centrist party will gain votes from left and right of centre parties.

---------- Post added at 12:27 ---------- Previous post was at 12:25 ----------


The last coalition seemed to dispense with the sillier ideas of each party and had a number of achievements to its name.

...as was proved from 2015 when Cameron was no longer restrained by the LibDems. To her credit, May has overturned some of these eg stopping Housing Benefit for young people, some changes to Universal Credit, looking into stopping the farce of putting sick & disabled people (who are never going to see an improvement in their condition) from being subject to repeated tests etc etc.

[jfman]

People don’t want a centrist party. They resoundingly rejected the Lib Dems so I fail to see what else one can bring to the table.

As for moderating influences in coalitions the last one gave as the benefit freeze, two child cap on benefits, tougher benefit sanctions and the bedroom tax. Hardly huge victories for moderates.

Oh I forgot my personal favourite- trebling tuition fees.

[Sephiroth]

People might be so fed up with the existing parties that a new party is what they'll plump for if the people seem right.

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

People might be so fed up with the existing parties that a new party is what they'll plump for if the people seem right.

Perhaps Jacob Rees-Mogg, Bojo, David Davis, IDS, and their ilk could start a new party?

[Taf]

If brexit goes against the wishes of the majority, beware of Farage waiting in the wings to pounce.

I believe that the 2 main parties started to become afraid of the support he was getting (if not votes, councillors and MPs), hence the sudden decision of Cameron to call the referendum.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by jfman

People don’t want a centrist party. They resoundingly rejected the Lib Dems so I fail to see what else one can bring to the table.

As for moderating influences in coalitions the last one gave as the benefit freeze, two child cap on benefits, tougher benefit sanctions and the bedroom tax. Hardly huge victories for moderates.

Oh I forgot my personal favourite- trebling tuition fees.

It wasn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but when Cameron obtained a majority in 2015, it soon became clear how much the LibDems had prevented the Tories from doing what they wanted to do.

The increased tuition fees will only affect those who obtain a well paid job at the end of it; most will never pay it all off and some won't repay anything at all. They could make the fees a million pounds a year and the position would be exactly the same. The two child policy is something that i've advocated for for years, but the Government decided to impose a benefit cap instead.....then they decided to impose a two child limit for some claimants too!

I don't agree with the benefits freeze or the bedroom tax.

---------- Post added at 15:54 ---------- Previous post was at 15:50 ----------

Originally Posted by Taf

If brexit goes against the wishes of the majority, beware of Farage waiting in the wings to pounce.

I believe that the 2 main parties started to become afraid of the support he was getting (if not votes, councillors and MPs), hence the sudden decision of Cameron to call the referendum.

I'm convinced that Cameron put the referendum in his manifesto simply to pick up extra votes so he wouldn't need the support of the LibDems and assumed that people would vote to stay in the EU. He got his majority, but the referendum spectacularly backfired, so he ran away and left others to clean up his mess.

[jfman]

I can’t think of any Conservative policy implemented since 2015 that is measurably worse than anything 2010-15.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by jfman

I can’t think of any Conservative policy implemented since 2015 that is measurably worse than anything 2010-15.

Hinckley Point specifically and energy policy in general are measurably worse.