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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Anyone else longing for a new political party?

181 replies

HelloMrBond · 04/10/2022 12:33

I’m early 40s, have voted conservative all my adult life but the latest offering of conservative MPs makes me wonder if they could ever form an effective government. They have lost their way. On the other hand, they have been allowed to loose their way by a completely inept opposition, I believe a strong party opposite keeps the party in government on their toes. If there was to be a GE tomorrow, for the first time in my life, I’m not sure how I would vote. The Labour Party do have a handful of good quality MPs with good ideas, but the current shadow cabinet are nothing short of a rabble, the idea that their leader doesn’t know what a woman is and the thought of Angela Raynor being deputy PM sends shivers down my spine. In my view, there is a current huge gaping hole in modern British politics for a centrist party who could potentially cause huge ripples at a future GE snd would stand up for and represent the average hard working, tax paying families and individuals of the country.

OP posts:
MarshaBradyo · 04/10/2022 19:08

PeekabooAtTheZoo · 04/10/2022 19:07

I genuinely wish the monarchy would have a more active role in the government, they are stable figures with staying power never seen in the governments du jour and that's really what you need from someone running a country. I don't actually care about democracy it hasn't covered itself in glory in any country anywhere and has just led to performers who like to argue going on to perform and argue a lot instead of getting things done, and they never think long-term because it doesn't benefit them.
I think a benevolent dictatorship would be better. I miss living in a country that had one and I know that's probably a VERY unpopular view.

I wouldn’t want this but I’m intrigued where did you live?

LexMitior · 04/10/2022 19:11

There is a new party. It's called the British Empire Party and it's in charge. Suella Braverman wants to lead it, and she will as soon as Truss is thrown over the side.

Braverman got an amazing reception for her speech.

Goodbye One Nation conservatives. You are either Limp Dem or you can join the British Empire Party as it goes full loony

Badbadbunny · 04/10/2022 19:11

PeekabooAtTheZoo · 04/10/2022 19:07

I genuinely wish the monarchy would have a more active role in the government, they are stable figures with staying power never seen in the governments du jour and that's really what you need from someone running a country. I don't actually care about democracy it hasn't covered itself in glory in any country anywhere and has just led to performers who like to argue going on to perform and argue a lot instead of getting things done, and they never think long-term because it doesn't benefit them.
I think a benevolent dictatorship would be better. I miss living in a country that had one and I know that's probably a VERY unpopular view.

The only reason the monarchy are tolerated in the modern world is that they don't interfere in the politics.

pilates · 04/10/2022 19:13

I want a government that rewards the working population. You should never be better off not working to working. Who cuts down on the benefit cheats and brings in controlled immigration (not shipping them off to Rwanda). Better management of the NHS. If anyone can tell me which party that is please let me know. Disillusioned with the lot of them.

WahineToa · 04/10/2022 19:15

Yes absolutely, I want a proper centre party. I cannot vote for either of these horrible main parties atm I will not budge on womens rights and as far as I am concerned Labour won’t get my vote because I think their position on self ID is misogynistic and so is the attitudes of many of their MPs. I never liked or voted Tory so they’re not a consideration. I am politically homeless.

User135644 · 04/10/2022 19:16

We need PR first.

Badbadbunny · 04/10/2022 19:21

User135644 · 04/10/2022 19:16

We need PR first.

Without minor parties getting enough votes, PR won't produce much of a difference to what we already have. A Tory or Labour majority still gives them the ultimate power whether they get there by FPTP or PR.

TooBigForMyBoots · 04/10/2022 19:21

...the idea that their leader doesn't know what a woman is...

PM Johnson didn't, you still voted Conservative. www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1501654/Boris-Johnson-GB-News-latest-Conservative-Party-speech-woke-cancel-culture-woman-cervix-vn/amp

stickystick · 04/10/2022 19:36

Yes.

I’d be happy with a pragmatic, non ideaological party made up of the rational end of Labour and the sane end of the Conservatives, which would sort out a more realistic relationship with the EU, commit to the environment, do a massive push on education and skills, and say no to Self ID.

I got all excited when Change UK was launched. And when Rory Stewart ran for Mayor of London. Unfortunately the main party machines are so well established and well financed that it is almost impossible for anyone to challenge them effectively. Tribalism is loathsome and it is also the force which keeps the parties together.

And no, the LDs are not the answer. They are the opposite of pragmatic - they don’t actually seem to want power.

Speedweed · 04/10/2022 19:38

Agree OP - it feels like the time has come for the parties to splinter and reorganise, much like the Whigs and the Tories a few hundred years ago after the Great Reform Act altered who could vote - nowadays it would probably take abolishing fptp to trigger such a change.

TeaKlaxon · 04/10/2022 19:40

Badbadbunny · 04/10/2022 19:21

Without minor parties getting enough votes, PR won't produce much of a difference to what we already have. A Tory or Labour majority still gives them the ultimate power whether they get there by FPTP or PR.

Show quote history

Its a chicken and egg situation. Smaller parties cannot break through in elections because of FPTP. Under PR more small parties would emerge and be viable.

Original poster
HelloMrBond · 04/10/2022 19:47

Well, what an interesting debate I’ve created. I’m relieved to see that I’m not alone in my assertions and there are many as equally frustrated. The real elephant in the room however, is that my fantasy idea cannot come to fruition and we are sadly stuck with ineptitude on both sides of the HOC. Let’s all just keep saying our bedtime prayers in the vain hope that something of substance emerges from some long lost woodwork…..

OP posts:
LoobyDop · 04/10/2022 20:01

PeekabooAtTheZoo · 04/10/2022 19:07

I genuinely wish the monarchy would have a more active role in the government, they are stable figures with staying power never seen in the governments du jour and that's really what you need from someone running a country. I don't actually care about democracy it hasn't covered itself in glory in any country anywhere and has just led to performers who like to argue going on to perform and argue a lot instead of getting things done, and they never think long-term because it doesn't benefit them.
I think a benevolent dictatorship would be better. I miss living in a country that had one and I know that's probably a VERY unpopular view.

No evil dictator starts out intending to be evil. They all think they want what is best for the country.

DismantledKing · 04/10/2022 20:03

PeekabooAtTheZoo · 04/10/2022 19:07

I genuinely wish the monarchy would have a more active role in the government, they are stable figures with staying power never seen in the governments du jour and that's really what you need from someone running a country. I don't actually care about democracy it hasn't covered itself in glory in any country anywhere and has just led to performers who like to argue going on to perform and argue a lot instead of getting things done, and they never think long-term because it doesn't benefit them.
I think a benevolent dictatorship would be better. I miss living in a country that had one and I know that's probably a VERY unpopular view.

It’ll be an unpopular view because it’s mental. There’s no such thing as a benevolent dictatorship. Democracy is flawed but it’s the best thing we have.

TheRubyRedshoes · 04/10/2022 20:05

Same op.
I'm fed up with them all.
I'm a swing voter and have voted labour

TheRubyRedshoes · 04/10/2022 20:08

More than conservative.

However I'd never ever vote for labor as is.
Id never ever vote for anyone saying Tory scum.

ThinWomansBrain · 04/10/2022 20:10

with the undemocratic first past the post system, the likelihood of any new party establishing a foothold, let alone getting a modicum of power is negligible.
I can think of a few new parties started in recent years - none have come to anything.
So I'd rather have a democratic voting system first - and that would probably enable new parties to flourish.

cansu · 04/10/2022 20:19

No I would vote for the Labour Party. I fully expect people who vote Tory usually to struggle with voting Labour because of their preconceived ideas. The fact that your main issue is their leader doesn't know what a woman is shows that you are struggling to articulate a genuine reason. I would hardly describe the opposition as a rabble.
Keir Starmer Former director for public prosecutions
Rachel Reeves former economist at the bank of England
Annalise Dodds lecturer in Public policy

I could go on. Google them before bullshitting and describing them as a rabble. They are educated people.

the80sweregreat · 04/10/2022 20:19

Fair enough about Angela Raynors comments
She apologized
Boris Johnson has been equally horrible about people of colour and homosexuals, Im not sure if he said sorry, but they all do and say and write dubious things they shouldn't
If we only had people in power who didn't say or do anything wrong , half the cabinet would have to resign I bet.
The perfect political party doesn't exist that will please everyone. Sometimes you have to compromise

Frazzled2207 · 04/10/2022 20:22

mnetters bang on about how Labour “doesn’t know what a woman is” but there is no utter way the Labour Party could demonstrate a fraction of the incompetence that we have seen from the tories in recent months.

in the main, they’re decent (and in some cases pretty clever) people looking out for normal families and they don’t lie.

MarshaBradyo · 04/10/2022 20:26

I fully expect people who vote Tory usually to struggle with voting Labour because of their preconceived ideas.

Labour lost a lot of voters at the last election though so it stands to reason many who voted Tory last time had voted Labour before.

WahineToa · 04/10/2022 20:34

The fact that your main issue is their leader doesn't know what a woman is shows that you are struggling to articulate a genuine reason

This just hardens my position. I don’t want to be part of a party that views womens rights as not worthy of concern. The Labour Party want to introduce sex self ID which would make the existing rights women have in the equality act no longer be meaningful. If the definition of women changes, this affects the rights of half the population. It is also a big concern of mine that a leader would lie about something so important. He knows exactly what a woman is and that humans can’t change sex, he’s lying about it because he doesn’t think our rights matter. Neither do a lot of Labour supporters. I find that completely abhorrent and an incredibly valid reason not to vote for them.

HRTQueen · 04/10/2022 20:50

We all know that Boris has made terrible comments he is also a skilled manipulating liar and skilled at being the manipulative politician he managed for years to worm his way out of wrongdoings we haven’t seen the likes of him and thankfully I don’t think we shall again so it’s pointless using him as an example of what he did compared to others. No one has ever got away with what he has David Cameron certainly wouldn’t.

that isn’t the issue when it comes down to election time the problem is Labour have to win people over against a backdrop of intense Tory media. Voters will be reminded of the Rayner scum remarks, Starmer’s comments about women will come up with the question does Starmer know what a women is

as much as some dislike political spin and manipulation it’s part of politics

the best thing for Labour would be to have Murdoch on their side yes it’s painful for some on the left but it’s the way it is

Fairislefandango · 04/10/2022 20:51

in the main, they’re decent (and in some cases pretty clever) people looking out for normal families and they don’t lie

How naïve. Of course they lie. Keir Starmer is lying when he pretends he doesn't know what a woman is. Do you think he'd have trouble identifying one if he were looking for a potential girlfriend?

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 04/10/2022 20:55

Braverman got an amazing reception for her speech

Her speech was awful. And a Tory conference clapping a right wing bigot. What’s new there then?

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