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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think we need a new Centrist party like in France?

37 replies

MacarenaFerreiro · 12/06/2017 08:40

Conservatives lurching to the right, Labour to the left, nobody occupying the centre ground any more. Seems to be working out well for Macron in France - brand new party created out of nothing and on course for a landslide.

Who do we think would be the best person to lead it?

OP posts:
Runny · 12/06/2017 08:44

Yes, why don't we have politicians as hot as Macron in this country? Blush

Seriously, though yes I agree. I think New Labour under Tony Blair was the closest we've come to it in the UK, but most people I think are neither left or right and are somehwere in the middle.

Original poster
MacarenaFerreiro · 12/06/2017 08:48

I'm certainly very centrist. I voted for Blair in 1997 but have never voted Labour since and certainly wouldn't ever vote for Corbyn. I currently vote Lib Dem as they are the most centrist party but I appreciate that they're fairly niche.

OP posts:
Trampire · 12/06/2017 08:51

I'm exactly like you OP. The last time I voted for Labour was under Toby Blair. I normally go Lib-Dem although they never totally enthuse me. This time I actually went Tory with a heavy heart as I wanted Brexit to be handled smoothly (if we gave to have it) Haha.

I would vote for a serious Centurist Party most definitely. It's amazing what Macron has achieved.

Trampire · 12/06/2017 08:52

Toby Blair 😂 - Tony's younger, more sleazy brother?

MrsPorth · 12/06/2017 08:57

As a centrist I agree. I'd like the new Cons leader to be from the left of the party if we can't have a party like Macron's.

lessworriedaboutthecat · 12/06/2017 08:58

That's a great idea we could call it the Social Democratic Party

1ofthesedays · 12/06/2017 09:00

Macron is not centrist at all, he only only quit the socialist party to have a chance to win the elections, which worked very well. The man is obviously very clever. If you read a little bit about his policies, he is very much a socialist.

Jenijena · 12/06/2017 09:01

Apparently Alastair Campbell was planning precisely that when May anouncesd the election. Source Michael Rosen, who has axes to grind but it feels credible

theresamustgo · 12/06/2017 09:02

No thanks.

Carolinesbeanies · 12/06/2017 09:03

Who do you think the 'centrists' voted for this time OP? Corbyn, the press, MN, would argue hes going in exactly the right direction...which is left of left. Centrist policies are responsible for the demolition of the Labour party. Just strikes me a strange time to be calling for new 'centrist' blood, when clearly the opposite is in the ascendancy.....allegedly.

eurochick · 12/06/2017 09:05

But maybe that is because there are no centrist options at the moment?

EnthusiasmIsDisturbed · 12/06/2017 09:13

Maybe might be a good time to get the wheels in motion

But right now with Corbyn support running high I don't think it would be hugely popular give it another year when the labour party really do move to the left as Corbyn and McDonnell have the mandate to do so now and deselection process starts it will have broader appeal

BillSykesDog · 12/06/2017 09:15

It would be good. But the problem is that if it came from the Labour Party it would be tainted by Blair's toxic legacy.

And it would have to be centrist on everything. The left under Blair/Brown was quite extreme on issues like immigration and the curtailment of freedom of speech and expression.

Runny · 12/06/2017 09:18

I consider myself slightly to the left of centre. Ive voted Lib Dem in th past, but this time voted Labour as I just absolutely loathe the Tories and it will be a cold day in hell before I ever put a cross in their box on a ballot paper!

I must admit I quite like the Green Party as well. I like a lot of their policies, but I think they are seen as a bit too hippy/alternative for the main stream.

SeamstressfromTreacleMineRoad · 12/06/2017 09:21

You are kidding..??? Shock Haven't you heard of 'The Gang of Four' - they had similar ideas to you in 1981 -- and ensured that the Tories were in power until 1997..!
If you oppose what the present lot are trying to do to the NHS, Education, Social Care etc, then learn the lessons of history - and don't repeat the mistakes made then...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Democratic_Party_(UK)

Doublechocolatetiffin · 12/06/2017 09:26

I'd love a centralist party. I don't want to vote for any of the current political parties. Corbyn's Labour scares the hell out of me with huge amounts of spending. May's Conservative party is too austerity driven and they've had far too many bad policies. Lib Dem's I would have voted for if they didn't have the policy to legalise cannabis. UKIP - never, Green doesn't have a broad enough policy range. Urgh. I'll back you!

Davros · 12/06/2017 09:29

I agree. I don't feel there's a party for me but then I don't like it when people are party devotees so maybe that's the way it should be? I've got hopes for the Women's Equality Party but it is very young and I'm not quite sure what they're about other than the clue in their name!! I grew up in a very hard left family and saw so much prejudice and bigotry I could never vote Labour. Other than that, I kid myself that I float. I didn't actually vote last week because I was really ill and spent half the day in A&E, it was strangely liberating!

TiggyD · 12/06/2017 09:56

Who do you think the 'centrists' voted for this time OP?

I'm centre left. I voted Green. I might have voted Labour but they're too far left.

elevenclips · 12/06/2017 10:10

Yanbu

Conservatives are most successful when they are only just right of centre.

Labour are most successful when they are only just left of centre.

Extremism doesn't work for either party.

I am central and this time I did not vote.

ErrolTheDragon · 12/06/2017 10:40

YANBU but the prerequisite is that to work we get rid of our undemocratic voting system. If you look at votes per seat, it is clear that the current system means that any new centrist party (or alliance)wouldn't get a fair share, as was demonstrated by the experience of the SDP/libs during the 1980s - 1983 was a particularly stark example https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/UnitedKingdommgeneralelection,,1983 or 2010 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/UnitedKingdommgeneralelection,,2010 - popular vote 36:29:23 %, seats 306:258:57.

The knowledge that a vote for the centre party may be 'wasted' leads to the further problem of tactical voting which is liable to reduce their share.

And of course, it is so much in the interests of both Labour and Conservatives to retain the FPP system, which so grossly distorts the outcome in their favour that we're stuck with it.

20nil · 12/06/2017 10:43

But you have the Lib Dems. They are as centrist as they come.

ErrolTheDragon · 12/06/2017 10:56

Jeremy Corbyn focussing so much on tuition fees (a policy Clegg and Cable didn't agree with in the first place, and which was not a major point in the 2010 manifesto Hmm) was IMO precisely intended as a cynical ploy to head off natural centrists returning or moving to the libdems, as well as bribing young people. (Its actually regressive not progressive if you think through who benefits).

TheNaze73 · 12/06/2017 11:00

The LibDems should be filing that void but, really aren't.

A party mixing the talents of say Ken Clarke from the right & Chuka Umanna from the left would be very appealing.

ParadiseLaundry · 12/06/2017 11:02

YANBU op, I echo what elevenclips said.

It would have made sense for Lib Dems to step up to this position instead of going more left to meet Labour. Saying that I don't really think Farron is the person to do it. If we have to have another election (ffs) I'm actually considering spoiling my ballot paper and I never thought I'd ever do that. If their was a good centrist party I would vote for them in a heartbeat.

ParadiseLaundry · 12/06/2017 11:03

Cross post theNaze, great minds Smile

I agree with your mixed party idea too.