The need for a new party in UK politics

Ryan.ㅤ
Ryan.ㅤ
Jul 20, 2017 · 3 min read

Today, Sir Vince Cable was announced as the new leader of the Liberal Democrats after no one else put their names forward to succeed Tim Farron.

Admittedly, a very tough job faces him. Throughout the last election campaign, Farron was ridiculed by the media and, unlike Jeremy Corbyn who had received similar treatment, by the vast majority of the UK population. Whether it was due to the revelations of his Thatcher posters, hesitations at homosexual relations or broken-record anti-Brexit campaigning, he managed to decrease the party’s vote share from 2015, despite the polarisation of both Labour and the Conservatives.

Vince Cable is not going to absorb the 45% of the population who consider themselves centrist either (according to a 2016 poll). His last tweet before the announcement of his leadership was a link to an article supporting Philip Hammond, Theresa May’s Chancellor.

https://twitter.com/vincecable/status/888023228698025984

As for his other political beliefs? He supports the £9,000 a year tuition fee cap, which effects tens of thousands of young people every year, and has even called supporters of its removal “populist.” He is more in keeping with his party with his position about Brexit- supporting a second referendum and believing that it should be stopped.

Cable becoming leader is also concerning for another reason: it increases the risk of younger people in society being ignored, and feeling like we don’t have a voice in politics. For the first time in history, the 3 biggest UK-wide parties all have leaders over the age of 60- it provides the image that youth cannot succeed in our system. It also promotes instability within the Liberal Democrats themselves- at 74, Cable is unlikely to contest the next election, and therefore means that today’s announcement will provide several years of in-party jostling to become the next leader. If, of course, any of them decide to stand.

A new party in Britain is needed. Now, no party can claim to hold the centre ground: Labour’s position is seen as too left-wing by many, and the Conservatives are seen as increasingly right-wing by a sizeable portion of the nation. The Liberal Democrats are now seeming more sympathetic to moderate Conservatives than ever before- far from the positions held by former leaders Clegg, Kennedy and Ashdown. The “traditional” Lib Dem no longer has a voice.

Once the party of youth, Labour has now stolen their previous support. But how long will this last? Once Corbyn is no longer the leader (whenever that may be) there are strong indicators that the younger vote will once again scatter. Perhaps to the Green Party, perhaps back to political apathy.

Labour have also taken the more traditional moderate position on another issue: Brexit. And while their opposition to the single market and freedom of movement may be unpalatable to many “liberals”, the position as anti-Brexit simply rejects a democratic referendum and is unsuitable for many — a 2017 YouGov poll indicates that only 21% of the UK now believe that Brexit must be stopped.

The signs indicate that the middle ground is opening- a 6th party may now emerge. A party which supports a moderate form of Brexit, an opposition to the bank-breaking £9000 pa tuition fees, a modern and futuristic party which has it’s own vision apart from following those on each side. A party that young people can relate to, both in policy and leadership. But while you may point to Caroline Lucas and the Greens, economically many see them as unsustainable and unsuitable, and want an anti-austerity but affordable faction to support. And these were once positions held by the Lib Dems, and these are still held by many in the UK.

Two party politics is back? Only because people saw 2 sensible options. A new, moderate third party is needed to provide balance between austerity and near-populism, balance between “Brextremism” and anti-democratism, balance between individuality and consensus.

And we are waiting.

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Ryan.ㅤ

Ryan.ㅤ

Just an 18 year old who decided to set up a blog. I like writing and moaning. My own semi-satirical views of the world.

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