Does the UK need another political party?
Eight Labour MPs and three Tories quit their parties to form a new breakaway grouping at Westminster, called the Independent Group.
The new centrist grouping in potentially the most significant realignment in British politics in a generation.
After the fanfare and press conferences of last week, they will meet formally for the first time as a group on Monday behind closed doors at Westminster.
MPs Heidi Allen, Chuka Umunna, Anna Soubry and Mike Gapes arriving at One Great George Street in Westminster for the meeting
Ex-Labour member Chuka Umunna insisted at the weekend that they were not yet a party or a movement, with a fully worked out programme for government, but simply a group of independent MPs.
Members have said they are united by a shared “non-tribal” belief in “progressive” values combined with deep unhappiness at the directions their former parties had taken, particularly on Brexit. Among the ex-Labour MPs there was also anger at what they said was the failure of the party leadership to deal with the spread of anti-Semitism in the party.
However they are likely to face pressure to move quickly to formally establish themselves as a party – with reports that some former Labour backers are ready to help bankroll them.
Mr Umunna, a former shadow minister, played down reports that he was favourite to be the first leader, although he acknowledged that he wanted to play the “biggest role” in the group.
However former Tory Sarah Wollaston told BBC Radio 4’s The Westminster Hour: “I think we would all be very happy to see Chuka in that role, but we don’t know over the coming days and weeks whether others will join us and somebody else may emerge.
The MPs in the new Independent Group hold their first meeting
“But there’s clearly an appetite from the public to know who’s going to be our spokesperson and I think that’s reasonable.”
She predicted that more Tories would quit to join them following Mrs May’s announcement that she was delaying the “meaningful vote” on her Brexit deal to March 12 – just 17 days before Britain is due to leave.
“I think there are very many MPs who are interested in joining us,” she said.
“I think a lot of people are watching to see what happens this week. So I think some of my colleagues will also be considering their positions following that announcement.”
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Jo Swinson said she was expecting to meet with the new group later this week, having spoken with some of its members in recent days.
Ms Swinson said the Lib Dems were ready to “work with” the new grouping, though she played down suggestions of a formal pact between the parties, insisting she had no fixed blueprint for how they should co-operate.
“I think we need to be working together with the Independent Group MPs but we need to find a 2019 way of doing that and I’m open-minded about how that looks,” Ms Swinson told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
“I want to approach this with a very very open mind, potentially to have radical change. It is not very often we get a moment to break up the broken political system and we have that moment now.”
What do you think? Is it time the UK had a new political party and is this needed for change? Or should change come from reforms within the existing political parties? Have your say at Speakers Corner.
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We don't tolerate swearing, and reserve the right to remove any posts which we feel may offend others... let's keep it friendly!
She is certainly showing her true colours
the results of his 'promise' -- to ensure his re-election no
doubt!
Yes - the whole think is a mess! - there should have been
a coalition of parties formed to assess the implications involved
in leaving and to produce a document addressing these so that
the British voting public had an informed basis on which to really
decide if they wanted to pursue the option to leave.
To quote Jay Leno:
“Politics is just show business for ugly people.” (emphasis on ‘show business)
Just another name on the ballot paper on voting days
Perhaps the BBC should develop a People's Government Reality Show, where the public could vote for individuals who have demonstrated the skills to lead the country.
Oh really, perhaps someone can explain to me what is happening in HOC this week !!!
Just listened to Macdonald on R4 trying to sound like the voice of reason in this!! Words fail me!
What we do need is a parliament that would do their job of working together for the good of the country. Not one that is determined to pull the country to shreds. Especially when they had it clearly told them. Not try to use a referendum as a tool to kill off democracy to get the result overturned. Funny how they voted to activate rule 50 was that to make us feel ok?
They need shaking up and somehow made to understand that every one of them is a public servant and thats what they are there for....to serve not bolster their own grandiose plans.
I understand where Delboy is coming from and often cant keep my mouth shut.
That's been my experience of three years on Surfers.
I'd vote almost anything to keep him out, even Tory again!
The point about anti-semitism, as we learned yet again in the Second World War, is that after the Jews have been despatched then the likes of Corbyn cast about for their next victims. Could be you and your family, anyone signed up to another political party, even hospital patients on long term care.
There are just no boundaries when anti-semitism gets going.
That are not influenced by the rich, big business and Multi nationals.
The role of the politician is to represent the people in his or her constituency.
Also MP's expenses need to be strictly scrutinised the figure published recently make eye watering reading.
e.g. David Lammy MP £1 million pund in expenses over 5 Years!!!!
Will they change their minds again next time the going gets tough or will their newly discovered loyalty and devotion to their fellow microbes be sufficient to keep the bacterial growth together?
They may think we the great unwashed were sympathetic to their honourable decisions to disagree with their respective parties’ policies and resign, but that would give credence to the assumption that they were any more aware of the concept of honour than the other admirable qualities they so readily abandoned. Traitors one and all, obviously the next government. Very soon elections, just like moral values will be a thing of the past, who needs then?
I know things are bad here but that would be infinitely worse.
I am weary of being blamed for giving up other pleasures to buy a house and a pension. I resent calling my state pension a benefit, it is a contract with the state that I paid for in advance through NI contributions, it would only be a benefit if I had got it without contributing. I am aghast at the idea that I don't still pay tax.
It is arguable and acceptable that travel passes, TV licences and even winter fuel payment could be means tested, even if this has darker connotations to some of our generation. What is not acceptable is to use these as a stick to bash us with, or as an excuse for inadequacies or incompetence in government, services and industries.
I say to those "rebels", be truthful, if you wish to ignore the referendum for your own ends say so, if you wish to be prime minister say so. We are not stupid, we see through your lies.
For many years now Scandinavian people look upon the HofC as a laughing stock with the ya boo shouting seen and heard across Europe. Add to that the tantrums thrown out by the Brexit "debate" really does make one wonder about this institution.
It's not a new party we urgently need but a top to bottom sacking of existing politicians and the top third of the politicised Civil Service. We desperately need a new electoral system - a version of Direct Elections would allow the public to hold politicians directly accountable. Now there's a good idea!
Perpetual Statutes such as Magna Carta and the 1682 Bill of Rights must be restored to the people.
A Referendum Democracy such as Switzerland has had for very many years works very well for them and could for us too. The voting public must be consulted on any major changes to the status quo. The referendum result is immediately binding upon the government and must be enacted.
The treason Act must be restored, but retrospectively.
According to the Coronation Oath our Monarch is ultimately accountable for good governance in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. She may be held to account for governmental failures. Let's have a referendum and choose three!
That lot should add to the neuroses in Westminster and disturb the many! About time too.
Sadly if these individuals did resign and a by-election was held then the electorate (who bothered to vote) would just send another equally detestable candidate to Westminster based on the colour of the rosette they were wearing.
My feeling is with a general election you vote for the party but in council elections you vote for the personwho gets things done . At this level of government the 'party line' is not usually adhered to.
I
The two main parties hate PR as it would cost both of them seats. The Liberal Democrats promoted PR until they got into power and did the maths for themselves, all of a sudden PR was replaced by “Alternative Vote”
The only thing you can 100% rely on with politicians is that the central driving force of every single one of them is self interest.
For that matter, the Liberal Democrat’s are not exactly doing well and, despite the need for a Green Agenda, the Green Party can’t get much traction.
In my view, we would be better served by politicians jointly working to reform the voting system. People might recall when proportional representation was last debated and voted on. The media made it into some kind of joke, making it seem complicated and silly. I don’t know why.
Just think, if we had vote for Proportional Representation then, we wouldn’t be in the horrendous mess we are in now.
So my conclusions is that we need a new voting system, not a new party.