Why isn’t there a political party who sit in the middle

[UpcomingElection2024]

I’ve been following all the political news recently and watching the live debates and can’t help but think why isn’t there a political party that represent the majority of what I would call hard working normal people want. I’m aware that this means different things to different people but surely there are some policies that people in both labour and Tory camps would agree on such as:

proper control of migration:

1. allow in skilled workers to plug the gaps in labour, we should welcome people who add value to our country and want to contribute the society and allow them to apply for residency / dual citizenship after x years.
2. allow safe routes and channels into the country for those fleeing persecution in their own countries, but not when they have travelled through other safe countries to get here. I’m genuinely curious why they come to UK after they have arrived in France when they could stop there - what is the draw?
3. hard stop on illegal immigration, surely options 1 & 2 above are the correct viable options. If investment is needed in 1 & 2 then we should put it in place.
4. stop any type of benefits for group 1 above, they haven’t paid into the country to qualify and should work to fund being here.

proper investment in healthcare:

1. properly fund clinical staff in healthcare, overhaul managerial roles and invest in up to date IT systems to streamline services
2. Add in more frontline clinical staff to improve quality of care basically have a more sensible ratio of clinical to admin/managerial roles (more Indians less chiefs)
3. give PIP benefits to those who truely need it and ensure they can have a proper quality of life and support for families, the Kate Garaway documentary was heartbreaking.
4. reduce ambiguous PIP payments for hidden disabilities that can’t be properly proven. Why does ADHD need paying for? (Genuinely curious) it never existed before and people made adjustments to their lives to accommodate any needs.

Education:

1. make teaching an attractive profession again and support teachers to be able to teach and not be tied up with targets etc
2. stop school fines - it’s just a money making ploy

Councils:

1. hold them to account on their spending
2. invest more in public services, local swimming pools, maintaining public areas, the councils should work for the people who live in their communities and reflect their needs not be run like businesses

Energy companies:

1. again hold them to account and cap the profits they are allowed to make.
2. enforce them to reinvest in xx% beck into infrastructure

welfare/ benefits

1. It shouldn’t be an option to choose not to work because someone is better off on benefits, this baffles me that it’s a viable option for some.
2. why should workers fund those who choose not to work ( not those who physically can’t)
3. cap how long someone can be on benefits like in other countries. It shouldnt be there as an option to help short term to help get people back into work and shouldn’t be used as an alternative to working

I suppose my point is surely there’s a mid point in some of these topics that both Tory and labour voters would buy into that would make society a fairer and more united place.

once we get the country back on track we can then move forward but to me it feels like we’re in a sinking boat trying to get the water out with a teaspoon.

it’s frustrating to agree with certain policies from each party but none that truly take in the views of the majority. (Again maybe I’m disillusioned on what this is) surely there’s topics that the majority of the country agree on!

Couple of thoughts:

Choosing not to work and being better off just doesn't happen

Have you ever met somebody with ADHD?

@Bromptotoo yes to both:

my niece has ADHD and my sister has never claimed a penny. I also agree that some have severe ADHD and this should qualify for PIP. I also know a parent who tells their daughter to act on it so they continue to get their payment

secondly i know someone who is on benefits, goes on multiple holidays smokes goes out all the time and seems to live a better life than me! Not sure how

You lost me when you said adhd never existed before. Of course it did. Those people were just lisbled with stuff like bpd or left to struggle.

Also people on skilled worker visas already aren’t allowed benefits and already have to leave the country if they lose their jobs. Due to the nhs surcharge they also pay more into the system than us. It’s very stressful having a loved one in the country for that reason.

There is a party between Labour and the Conservatives: the Liberal Democrats.

@Sometimesnot sorry I don’t mean it never existed I’m sure it did as we’re convinced my uncle had it. What I suppose I meant was mild ADHD that didn’t prevent him working.

i agree that in severe cases (like my friend and her son) proper support and care should be provided by the government but not for milder cases. Again maybe this is the current rules

reduce ambiguous PIP payments for hidden disabilities that can’t be properly proven. Why does ADHD need paying for? (Genuinely curious) it never existed before and people made adjustments to their lives to accommodate any needs

My Dd gets PIP for ADHD. Shes too anxious to go on public transport. Shes too anxious to talk to people. She’s in severe ND burnout and is too exhausted to do anything. It also pays for private medication as our city made 17 adult assessments last year. There’s about 4000 people on the waiting list.

Does that fucking shut you up?!

Or should she spend it on gin and cigarettes?

@Sometimesnot also sadly he took his own life as he didn’t get the proper care needed with his mental health later in life. Monthly payments wouldn’t have helped, but proper mental health support would have rather than him just being discharged from hospital after a few days

Why have you decided your set of policies is "the middle"?

"Make teaching an attractive profession" isn't exactly at odds with any political party. The real divide comes in how these things are done, and how these things are paid for.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow no need to be rude.

like I explained this is just my thoughts and happy to have a polite debate and hear others views.

my question would be would you rather the money or the access to the services to help her and address her needs? Surely the investment in medical support would be preferred?

Stop any type of benefits for group 1 above, they haven’t paid into the country to qualify and should work to fund being here.

Your group 1 already don’t get any benefits - including things like child benefit or tax free childcare. They also have to pay a health surcharge when they apply for their visa, which is just over £1,000 per year, on top of the taxes they pay.

@cheese? yes I suppose it does, from what I’ve read it’s the targets and lack of autonomy that most teachers don’t like, but again I’m not a teacher so other may correct me!

that and lack of proper funding, ratio of children to teachers

In order to get PIP you need to be over 16 and pass an assessment based on what you can/cannot do including preparing food, managing treatment and medication, washing/dressing, using the loo and interacting with others.

If you've got time to spare the guidance and scoring matrix is here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-the-assessment-criteria

I don't know how your friend does what you describe either. A couple on Universal Credit have £617/month to keep themselves fed, clothed and warm. Add two kids and it goes up to around £1200.

@Bromptotoo single mum, 5 children

I was with you until “reduce ambiguous PIP payments for hidden disabilities that can’t be properly proven”. That’s a terrifying thing to say.

How old are the kids?

Are any of them disabled?

@OriginalUsername2 i appreciate it’s a hard one to prove so maybe that’s a bit controversial but I just hear so many people, a family member included who is playing the system and getting all her children diagnosed with ADHD to increase monthly payments and then she doesn’t work because with everything else she gets she gets more than enough income per month.

her children don’t have severe ADHD

@Bromptotoo

17,14,19,6,4 none disabled 3 different dads

It’s not really the destination that differs between the parties - do any of them say they want unhappy teachers or loads of illegal immigration? It’s how they plan to get there and fund it that differs, and that’s where it’s very hard to find a central position.

We have the services to access her needs. But they aren’t there all the time.

Id rather have the money to pay for the services. The services are crap.

@OnceICaughtACold very true I hadn’t thought of it that way.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow i possibly have too much faith in what support is available . Sorry your daughter doesn’t get the proper support she needs. This ties into my point about properly funding frontline clinical staff

If she's fit to work herself the benefit cap will apply and max payable is c£1400/month and that includes rent!!

What a rude post.

the purpose of pip is to pay for extra costs from a disability not private healthcare. Not sure what extra costs your dd has from it as you haven’t explained. One of my dds is ND - she doesn’t claim anything.

I agree with op that we do need to look again at pip.

I love that you've decided your personal opinions are the 'middle'.

What the fuck are 'normal working people'????

The first step for anyone is to educate themselves about a) the reality of the existing policy landscape and b) the changes the existing parties intend to make - before calling for a new party with policies based on 'the thoughts I had in my head'.

To be fair the statement that ADHD doesn't need to be paid for was astonishingly ignorant of just how disabling it can be.