So, could we form our own party?

[Destinysdaughter]

A lot of pp have said recently that they feel politically homeless and that even the WEP don’t represent us. There have been groups and links and activism and awareness created because of this recent fight so my question is, what can we do with all of this? Should we form our own party? Or pressure group? The fight is nowhere near from over, in fact it’s just begun. Would love to know people’s thoughts on whether they would want to get more organised, whether they think it’s possible and how could we make that happen in reality?

I think we're going to have to.

I hadn't anticipated how much I would struggle with no longer being a party activist and no longer having anyone I could stomach voting for. The feeling of impotent rage and betrayal is overwhelming at times.

The street leafleting phase of the FPFW campaign was a good way of feeling I was politically engaged but I'm struggling a bit now that phase is over. I'm hoping that some political party emerges from FPFW or WPUK and am ready to join and get stuck in.

I'd love to join a gender critical, green, caring but actually working party! If one existed.

What @Italiangreyhound said. I'd put some hours in too, fitting in around childcare and PT work.

How do you start a political party? Can Posie be the leader?

I remember when the SDP was established, and that never succeeded. This was partly because it was formed mainly from disgruntled Labour party members, rather than being a genuine cross party alliance. Aren't moderates from the Labour Party and Tories supposed to be having secret meetings to set up a party of the centre ground, or did I imagine that?

Posie's awesome, I think she's great.

But - she's best as a no-holds-barred agitator IMO. Not a political leader who needs to do diplomacy. That'd be putting a gag on her, wouldn't it?

Besides we'd need someone who can do direct yet nuanced and isn't a divisive figure (which Posie is sadly).

Datun I reckon!! @datun ever fancied a career in politics?

(Not that Posie can't do direct yet nuanced! But she is a divisive figure)

It seems that this issue has united people across the traditional boundaries of the political spectrum, feeling that a post-modern ideology is not the way forward for creating policies that relate to the practical realities of life. I feel very strange lately to be watching videos and reading articles with interest by those who, because of their political allegiances, I wouldn't have previously paid much attention to without sneering. I see it as a paradigm shift taking place, a new opposition needs to be formed if the main parties are not opposing each other on ideological terms any more. I think the rise of data collection has a lot to do with the way parties pitch themselves on the back of focus groups rather than actually standing for anything, and personally perhaps it didn't really hit me until this issue came up.

I think there is no choice but to do so.

I think you’d have to model it on how UKIP became successful. I don’t mean adopting their policies but essentially they forced David Cameron to give into a referendum. They were dismissed as a single issue party, hopeless in UK elections but tapped into the resentment and feeling of being neglected by Westminster that practically all regions of England and Wales feel outside of the major cities, especially London.

You’d have to get some major donors like UKIP had who funded everything.

I feel very isolated politically now. None of the main parties seem to be listening to anything other than themselves!

I'm politically homeless now, there's no one I fully feel comes close to representing me as a woman, mother and business owner.

Poise would be awesome but agree with pp about her best work being as an agitator and speaking freely.

I'm in!

Also women have been most affected by austerity and it’s been easy to shaft us as no one represents us! People hate the arrogance and smugness of most politicians.

We would easily have some very clear policies based on OBJECTIVE REALITY.

Surely everyone would have different viewpoints? We are united by the one issue.

I think a more achievable objective would be to create a website collating the information here into a fact-based authoritative resource with bullet points, that is kept up-to-date. I find it really annoying when journalists, for example, quote facts that aren't really facts - eg suicide stats. (Maybe there's already a site - I just haven't found it, as I'm new to this! )

Shady think tanks seem to have more influence than small parties. We could call ours the Institute of Menstrual Affairs so as not to offend anyone.

FlowersAndHerts - it is one issue, but it's also an ideological approach underlying this that isn't working, isn't it? I've felt isolated for a long time from a lot of my acquaintances who are extremely liberal and woke due to the circles I mix in. Blindly virtue signalling how much they approve of every new cause without fact checking or even listening to an alternative view. The issues rarely concern them personally, mainly they have led privileged lives, and so they don't realise any of the complexities that exist; when they are raised, they are on a hair trigger to make accusations of intolerance, even towards people with far more knowledge and experience than them. It's all about self-image and tribalism, forever reminding us that they are 'on the right side of history' when this is just tokenism, self-congratulatory. Their social groups remain homogeneous in terms of class and race.

cockblocker - while I agree with you, I think we are perhaps also fairly homogeneous. I am in my 50s, middle-class, white, left-leaning and with teenagers... It just reminds me of how the SDP started... and finished. Seeing the success of Stonewall, I think pressure groups or, as ProfWoland noted, think tanks, seem to have the most influence.

I was talking to DH about this only 10 minutes ago! I came to the conclusion that I would have to interview all the independents at the next GE to determine their GC views.

I'd happily join a new cross party alliance. I feel newly politically inspired since having an email conversation with my local MP about my concerns re self ID. But she has now fobbed me off forwarded my enquiry onto The Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP so I have reached a dead end for the time being. I need a new channel.

FlowersAndHerts - I'm no expert in what might be the best approach and would be grateful for a pressure group (or anything at all) right now. I was just dreaming of a party worth voting for.

cockblocker - yes, me too re the party. I think we are not alone there. But it would need to be a large movement, not just people on FWR. And I wonder if it is mainly ex Labour/LibDem voters who feel so disenfranchised.

I’m not sure of the correct wording, what about something along the lines of the taxpayers alliance? Or is that what FPFW are?

Instead of forming a party why not some kind of pressure group, work out which candidates in each constituency is GC, and throw your support behind them at general elections?

captainproton - yes, an information source on candidates that people can easily access is an excellent idea.

While the UK is stuck with first past the post elections it hardly seems worth the effort to start a new party. Much as I would like to see Lisa Muggeridge as PM.
A lobby group would probably be more effective. Especially if it could set up a fund to be used for legal challenges.

How about a website with clear information on the subjects that are discussed here, with the bare facts rather than discussion. Eg have pages summarising Stonewall/bbc/Guardian stance, backed up by links to their original stories/PRs. Pages summarising the people involved in all of this - avoiding libel! A resource to get the facts out, rather than the emotion.

Also, email all parliamentary candidates and get their statements on this issue, and add that.

Then research into where all the money comes from, in our spare time...

I think we are far more effective OUTSIDE.

We come from different classes, races, political persuasions - and that is our strength when we campaign for a better deal for women.

Between now and the next election, there will be issues that need our collective voice to put pressure on political parties. I hope WPUK, Standing for Women and Fairplay for Women evolve and take the lead on that

Come election time, I will have no qualms about actively campaigning AGAINST the parties with miserable records on the treatment of women. They will have to work hard and demonstrate their commitment with actions (fine words won't count)

As a new political party, as opposed to a single-issue party, we would have to draw up policies on things like Criminal Justice, Foreign Affairs and the Economy, to be taken seriously. it's a non-starter.

Best to take our leadership from the emerging women's movement and work on single issues like the GRA.