[Kizzy]

Who are this new party... From where did they receive their 50 million in funding?!!

Smells fishy to me backed by tory donors but targeting the left leaning?
To me it's yet another attempt as UKIP was to split the vote and keep the tories in power.

'A new political party with access to up to £50m in funding has been secretly under development for more than a year by a network of entrepreneurs, philanthropists and donors keen to “break the Westminster mould”, the Observer can reveal.

The movement, spearheaded by a former Labour benefactor, is understood to have been drawn up by a group frustrated by the tribal nature of politics, the polarisation caused by Brexit and the standard of political leadership on all sides. It appears to have a centrist policy platform that borrows ideas from both left and right.

Senior figures from the worlds of business and charity are understood to be involved, as well as former supporters of the main parties, including a number of former Tory donors.

Sources say the project, led by the multi-millionaire philanthropist and founder of LoveFilm, Simon Franks, has had full-time staff members for as long as a year. Initial discussions are said to have begun at the end of 2016. Franks has set up a company, Project One Movement for the UK, which is likely to be the vehicle for the enterprise.

Some of those involved have apparently been keen for the project to concentrate on funding community activism, rather than becoming a formal political party. A final decision has not yet been taken, but there is said to be a consensus that the movement will run candidates at the next election, due in 2022, should the current parties be deemed to be failing. Some form of political movement could be launched later this year.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics...ster-uk-brexit

[Northern Monkey]

Smells like a conspiracy.Someone call David Icke.

But seriously.Can’t this be a good thing?A good thing for all those voters who’ve been left with nowhere to go after the commies took over Labour and who can’t stand the Tories.
Do we want to live under a two party system forever.
They possibly might have something good to say?

[jet]

Originally Posted by Northern Monkey

Smells like a conspiracy.Someone call David Icke.

But seriously.Can’t this be a good thing?A good thing for all those voters who’ve been left with nowhere to go after the commies took over Labour and who can’t stand the Tories.
Do we want to live under a two party system forever.
They possibly might have something good to say?

Sounds promising to me...

[Brillopad]

Originally Posted by Northern Monkey

Smells like a conspiracy.Someone call David Icke.

But seriously.Can’t this be a good thing?A good thing for all those voters who’ve been left with nowhere to go after the commies took over Labour and who can’t stand the Tories.
Do we want to live under a two party system forever.
They possibly might have something good to say?

I agree. It is certainly far too early to assume the worst. This country is crying out for more choice and a third party could be just what it needs. But until we know more about it - people, policies etc we can only speculate. But in theory it is a step in the right direction.

[LeatherTrumpet]

Sounds like a good idea

[chuff me dizzy]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics...ster-uk-brexit

A former LABOUR benefactor is tipping up the cash

[parmnion]

Finally, some new names to slag off.

[jaxie]

Sounds like a great idea to me. It might finally be something for those of us in the centre who feel we have no political home.

Not sure why the OP thinks it a Tory plot since it states it's spear headed by a former Labour benefactor.

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Northern Monkey

Smells like a conspiracy.Someone call David Icke.

But seriously.Can’t this be a good thing?A good thing for all those voters who’ve been left with nowhere to go after the commies took over Labour and who can’t stand the Tories.
Do we want to live under a two party system forever.
They possibly might have something good to say?

I don't mind having more parties on offer either.

I get where Kizzy is coming from, but I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt if they have got good policies.

[arista]

Yes we get this ever few years.

FECKING Simon Franks must Put UP
or Give UP


There is no room for them , Kizzy

[arista]

Originally Posted by chuff me dizzy

https://www.theguardian.com/politics...ster-uk-brexit

A former LABOUR benefactor is tipping up the cash

All kinds are
but its not enough Cash
to build a Proper Parliamentary Party.



UKIP took many years to grow.



Is The another SDP????

[Kizzy]

Well this is the Labour view, wonder what the govt think?... Wouldn't a new party have to account for 'donations'? it's odd how the benefactors in the original article are reported as tory donors and in this one labour.... hmmm

Even more strange is I posted this at 2am but the linked article says it was uploaded at 9.30am :/

https://www.theguardian.com/politics...centrist-party

[Toy Soldier]

If it is a Tory ploy to split votes then it's a crap one, because at this point a centrist party is as likely to siphon off Tory votes as it is Labour votes . Could be another Tory own goal, much like the 2017 GE.

[GiRTh]

A new party always seems to be a watered down version of the better traits of the other parties.

[arista]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

If it is a Tory ploy to split votes then it's a crap one, because at this point a centrist party is as likely to siphon off Tory votes as it is Labour votes . Could be another Tory own goal, much like the 2017 GE.

No its not

But its still not a proper party
yet.


Only Time Will Tell.

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

If it is a Tory ploy to split votes then it's a crap one, because at this point a centrist party is as likely to siphon off Tory votes as it is Labour votes . Could be another Tory own goal, much like the 2017 GE.

If it is a GENUINE 'Centrist' Party, then it can have MY vote, because I am peed off with the Government on a lot of policy decisions but can NEVER EVER think about voting Labour again while ever Corbyn and his like-minded cronies run the party.

[jaxie]

Originally Posted by kirklancaster

If it is a GENUINE 'Centrist' Party, then it can have MY vote, because I am peed off with the Government on a lot of policy decisions but can NEVER EVER think about voting Labour again while ever Corbyn and his like-minded cronies run the party.

Likewise Kirk. Unless they are all pro remain of course. Then I couldn't go there.

[bitontheslide]

Credible competition for votes is surely a good thing. Given that the lib dems and ukip are now finished as political forces for the foreseeable future an alternative is surely welcome, and if it keeps the main 2 party's on their toes, all the better.

[smudgie]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

Credible competition for votes is surely a good thing. Given that the lib dems and ukip are now finished as political forces for the foreseeable future an alternative is surely welcome, and if it keeps the main 2 party's on their toes, all the better.

I agree totally.
We need another party, one people can feel is worth voting for.
I will settle for just left of centre or just right of centre.

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by jaxie

Likewise Kirk. Unless they are all pro remain of course. Then I couldn't go there.

Same here Jaxie.

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

Credible competition for votes is surely a good thing. Given that the lib dems and ukip are now finished as political forces for the foreseeable future an alternative is surely welcome, and if it keeps the main 2 party's on their toes, all the better.

Good post BOTS - I agree.

[MTVN]

Under our system it's very hard for a new party to make any real impact, look at how Ukip were getting a huge number of votes in 2015 but ended up with only one MP. Best hope really is to persuade a few sitting MPs to defect who might then be voted back in under the new party

[DemolitionRed]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

If it is a Tory ploy to split votes then it's a crap one, because at this point a centrist party is as likely to siphon off Tory votes as it is Labour votes . Could be another Tory own goal, much like the 2017 GE.

I think it probably is a Tory ploy. If it splits the vote three ways but then forms a coalition with the Tories they can get rid of the DUP and carry on as normal.

Its called 'Renew' and it does want to remain in the EU and I believe most of the Tories want that too but don't have the courage come out with it.

[MTVN]

'Tory ploy', oh please. Why do people look for conspiracies in everything when there is literally nothing to suggest it

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by MTVN

'Tory ploy', oh please. Why do people look for conspiracies in everything when there is literally nothing to suggest it

Because anything is possible to keep the left from getting in power... that's why. If you don't believe that fine nobody is forcing you to are they? :/