Hmmm - I'm not sure I personally would ever trust the Conservatives again (I used to be a member) but they have broken the trust of the electorate and the party is now filled with Lib Dems. Fool me once etc. Been fooled too many times.
I don't trust Reform. I've joined Advance UK - Ben Habib's new party. At least he is a genuine person, unlike Farage. There are so many political parties on the Left (including the Conservatives!) that there needs to be some choice on the Right. The left-right dichotomy is a meaningless division of course - we need anti-globalist parties to vote for.
This makes no sense at all. British Law is merely an umbrella term for English (and Welsh) Law, Scottish Law (and Irish Law for the UK). There are certain common laws (eg driving, leaving the EU, many others) that are incorporated into English, Scottish and Irish, that could be called British but exist on the statutes of the three strands of the UK.
Give them a chance. You are wrong about leadership. They both have better understanding of real leadership than the cheerleading shallowness of the much adored Nigel.
Remember the first principle of leadership is that boring quality, “Consistency”. (Principles of Leadership MOD). Both Lowe and Habib have that in spades. They have never changed their tunes nor deserted their posts.
Nigel flunks things at the last minute time and again, which is why thinking people don’t trust him. We’ve looked at his past record, including his performance on EU Parliament Committees and found him seriously wanting.
Reform is a wolf in sheep’s clothing and will likely be engineering to bring us our first Muslim Prime Minister. That doesn’t preclude them winning strategic votes from doubters but don’t dismiss the dissenters. They may be the only ones to save us later on. They may be the only ones with integrity.
I'm looking at getting odds on Farage bailing ahead of the GE installing Zia as leader in 2029.
Farage will be looking at this Annus Horriblus for Starmer, knowing that the country will be a pressure cooker in 2029, even poorer and weaker than right now, way way angrier, seeing how the bond markets in Darwinian fashion crushed Truss and may well do for Starmer and Reeves, and want nothing to do with trying to lead the nation as PM after 2029.
With Farage backing down on deporting all illegals and those with criminal records, what are we supposed to do? We need someone who will place them in detention centres awaiting deportation with no right of appeal.
I hate to be the one to break it to you Pete but the Tories have as much chance of winning the next election as Homeland Party. They betrayed us continually for 14 years and the betrayals got worse over time, culminating in Johnson. They’re done. Forget them.
This is a useful description of the situation, and for me, thought- provoking. I've long been sceptical of the existing party model, and see the situation you describe as evidence of this model coming apart. However, the party model is so embedded in our concept of representative government, that it seems impossible to conceive of such government without the concept of parties.
IIRC Lowe has stated it is about getting the ideas they are pushing to be spoken about in a different way, or at all.
The policy areas can then form a basis for a petition, which then means a conversation in the house. This could lead to Tory MPs speaking to it.
Long shot, I know.
It could well enable the Tories to see the strength of feeling on an issue and not be the one that mentions it first.
Who knows, the Tories could end up being robust enough to run with the ball on some of the policy suggestions and then form concrete policies around them.
As far as I can tell, though, the No1 issue needed to get right is the correct order and mechanism to back out all the Blair vandalism. That has to be done fast.
Good piece as ever Pete - you know I'm kind of torn on the whole 'internal democracy' thing. You eventually need it to make sure there's a conveyor belt of talent coming through, but the early days of any 'startup' are tough. You don't have a board of directors in a new company, just an owner/MD running the show. You need dynamism and agility.
The problem with Reform might not have been the model originally, of course it's now got to the size where 'shared stage' is entirely necessary and branches need a degree of autonomy if they've got the first idea what they are doing.
Farage might well be the right person to start a movement, but not to carry it on any further, you've mentioned the paradox around him before.
Lowe's move here is the more puzzling one, makes you wonder what he's going to do in four years or so. Might decide parliament is not for him and walk away.
As far as Ben Habib goes his heart is probably in the right place but he's somewhat all over the place in terms of policy and what he actually wants to do. Ben wants to do it democratically, but simultaneously he wants to get his way all the time. He may be in for a disappointment.
A lot of what you write is probably right but these are early days.
Of the two I think Lowe's Restore 'movement' will have more legs than Habib's Advance 'party' but we will have to wait and see what they do/achieve in the next 12 months.
Of course it is a given they need you on board and your father for that matter and may be the knock will come?
Reform treat their members with contempt and Reform members treat anyone who isn't Reform with contempt. Try criticising them, even constructively, and they fly off the handle and subject their critics with abuse. Try doing that on the doorstep and see how far that gets you. Blokey LibDems is what I call them.
What do you suggest we do then?
Pray for a Tory revival on the right basis.
Hmmm - I'm not sure I personally would ever trust the Conservatives again (I used to be a member) but they have broken the trust of the electorate and the party is now filled with Lib Dems. Fool me once etc. Been fooled too many times.
And when Reform break your heart, and millions of others?
I don't trust Reform. I've joined Advance UK - Ben Habib's new party. At least he is a genuine person, unlike Farage. There are so many political parties on the Left (including the Conservatives!) that there needs to be some choice on the Right. The left-right dichotomy is a meaningless division of course - we need anti-globalist parties to vote for.
We all make mistakes.
But your dalliance with Homeland and your strange promotion of Tories, even if getting Reform right, isn’t shrewd.
It’s 1 step forward, 2 back.
There will be a lot of movement over the next couple of years.
Alignments and re-alignment.
I am looking for genuine belief as a starter.
Habib and Lowe have this, so I believe, will act in the best interests of the UK, not themselves.
I’m still to see the Tories acting in the best interests of anyone other than themselves.
If it happens I’ll be delighted.
If it happens.
But all I see is Tory politicians manoeuvring for leadership.
Habib and Lowe have the approval of Musk, not a bad start.
When Blair came to power he was able to manipulate the legal system.
Somehow, nobody is able to do what Blair did?
Why?
A court case over the Runcorn by-election result (raised by the English Constitution Party) is being heard in October.
It will raise the question of what is superior, English or British law.
This isn’t just an intellectual discussion, it has serious implications for UK law.
This makes no sense at all. British Law is merely an umbrella term for English (and Welsh) Law, Scottish Law (and Irish Law for the UK). There are certain common laws (eg driving, leaving the EU, many others) that are incorporated into English, Scottish and Irish, that could be called British but exist on the statutes of the three strands of the UK.
English Law came before British Law and still applies.
That is part of the case being brought by ECP over the Runcorn election.
The establishment are worried enough to have 4 barristers (1 a senior partner in an international legal company) to fight the ECP.
Check the English Constitution Party on YouTube.
Give them a chance. You are wrong about leadership. They both have better understanding of real leadership than the cheerleading shallowness of the much adored Nigel.
Remember the first principle of leadership is that boring quality, “Consistency”. (Principles of Leadership MOD). Both Lowe and Habib have that in spades. They have never changed their tunes nor deserted their posts.
Nigel flunks things at the last minute time and again, which is why thinking people don’t trust him. We’ve looked at his past record, including his performance on EU Parliament Committees and found him seriously wanting.
Reform is a wolf in sheep’s clothing and will likely be engineering to bring us our first Muslim Prime Minister. That doesn’t preclude them winning strategic votes from doubters but don’t dismiss the dissenters. They may be the only ones to save us later on. They may be the only ones with integrity.
I'm looking at getting odds on Farage bailing ahead of the GE installing Zia as leader in 2029.
Farage will be looking at this Annus Horriblus for Starmer, knowing that the country will be a pressure cooker in 2029, even poorer and weaker than right now, way way angrier, seeing how the bond markets in Darwinian fashion crushed Truss and may well do for Starmer and Reeves, and want nothing to do with trying to lead the nation as PM after 2029.
The other problem is the talk of civil war.
Expanding the armed forces due to Russian attack appears more of an excuse for the possibility of internal strife.
What a situation - due to the calamitous opening of the borders. The same happened in Lebanon and civilian life during that war was harrowing.
Good point! We wait but not holding our breath - this will take time to unfold.
With Farage backing down on deporting all illegals and those with criminal records, what are we supposed to do? We need someone who will place them in detention centres awaiting deportation with no right of appeal.
He’s not backed down on deportation of all illegals or criminals at all.
I hate to be the one to break it to you Pete but the Tories have as much chance of winning the next election as Homeland Party. They betrayed us continually for 14 years and the betrayals got worse over time, culminating in Johnson. They’re done. Forget them.
This is a useful description of the situation, and for me, thought- provoking. I've long been sceptical of the existing party model, and see the situation you describe as evidence of this model coming apart. However, the party model is so embedded in our concept of representative government, that it seems impossible to conceive of such government without the concept of parties.
IIRC Lowe has stated it is about getting the ideas they are pushing to be spoken about in a different way, or at all.
The policy areas can then form a basis for a petition, which then means a conversation in the house. This could lead to Tory MPs speaking to it.
Long shot, I know.
It could well enable the Tories to see the strength of feeling on an issue and not be the one that mentions it first.
Who knows, the Tories could end up being robust enough to run with the ball on some of the policy suggestions and then form concrete policies around them.
As far as I can tell, though, the No1 issue needed to get right is the correct order and mechanism to back out all the Blair vandalism. That has to be done fast.
Good piece as ever Pete - you know I'm kind of torn on the whole 'internal democracy' thing. You eventually need it to make sure there's a conveyor belt of talent coming through, but the early days of any 'startup' are tough. You don't have a board of directors in a new company, just an owner/MD running the show. You need dynamism and agility.
The problem with Reform might not have been the model originally, of course it's now got to the size where 'shared stage' is entirely necessary and branches need a degree of autonomy if they've got the first idea what they are doing.
Farage might well be the right person to start a movement, but not to carry it on any further, you've mentioned the paradox around him before.
Lowe's move here is the more puzzling one, makes you wonder what he's going to do in four years or so. Might decide parliament is not for him and walk away.
As far as Ben Habib goes his heart is probably in the right place but he's somewhat all over the place in terms of policy and what he actually wants to do. Ben wants to do it democratically, but simultaneously he wants to get his way all the time. He may be in for a disappointment.
A lot of what you write is probably right but these are early days.
Of the two I think Lowe's Restore 'movement' will have more legs than Habib's Advance 'party' but we will have to wait and see what they do/achieve in the next 12 months.
Of course it is a given they need you on board and your father for that matter and may be the knock will come?
Reform treat their members with contempt and Reform members treat anyone who isn't Reform with contempt. Try criticising them, even constructively, and they fly off the handle and subject their critics with abuse. Try doing that on the doorstep and see how far that gets you. Blokey LibDems is what I call them.
Reform are a mile wide, but paper thin and brittle.
And when does Farage convert his PLC to a proper political party?
More and more I'm thinking he bails ahead of the GE installing Zia at the helm.
Farage wants to remain the ultimate agent provacateur, the dynamite under the system.
First Brexit, now smashing the Uniparty.
He just doesn't want to be the person who has to put his neck on the chopping block, try to enact policy and deal with the fallout and failure.
Criticism of Habib and Lowe is entirely legitimate. Lowe floated a new party for months.