Pro-EU Labour and Tory MPs look at forming a new centrist party

[Denzil_DC]

Tory and Labour MPs have held informal discussions about establishing a new political party in the event of Andrea Leadsom becoming prime minister and Jeremy Corbyn staying as Labour leader, a cabinet minister has disclosed.

Senior players in the parties have discussed founding a new centrist grouping in the mould of the Social Democratic party (SDP) should the two main parties polarise, according to the minister. Talks should be taken seriously, though they are still at an early stage, according to the source.

“There have been talks between Labour and Tory MPs about a new party,” the minister said. “A number of my colleagues would not feel comfortable in a party led by Andrea Leadsom.”

It is understood that MPs in both parties who campaigned to remain in the European Union believe there is an opportunity to build on the newly founded relationships between centrist MPs in both parties made before the EU referendum.

https://amp.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/09/labour-tory-mps-talk

So the tittle-tattle is that there's a new "tribe" finding common ground in Parliament's tea rooms.

Torn here: On the one hand, this probably needs to happen if Labour's ever to overcome its schizophrenia, though the timing's far from ideal. On the other, to a large extent we've been here before.

Splitting along Remain/Leave lines may be convenient "tribally" at the moment, but unless it's a single-issue pressure group, that centrism they're proclaiming is what's lost both the Tories and Labour votes over the years, for various reasons, and it's hard to see how the compromises they'd each have to make would lessen voters' impatience and confusion.

I may not be alone in giving the SDP, and particularly David Owen, credit for helping in great measure to ensure Thatcher's 11-year reign.

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. Seems more likely, as you say, to be tittle-tattle

It's to the advantage of both May and Eagle supporters to spread rumours of losing MPs and votes in the centre, to make people think "we shouldn't support the candidate further away from the centre".

[T_i_B]

2. May be the best way out of this mess

We need to unite the pro EU parties and groups, because it is very likely that the people who want to force us into economic catastrophe will be united at the next general election.

To me, the best starting point would be a formal alliance between the Liberal Democrats and The Greens. Labour clearly isn't fit to build such an alliance at present, but a split is looking increasingly likely.

And pro EU Tories are going to be very out of place in their party before too long. Especially if they elect Andrea Leadsom as PM. They will need proper representation too. We need to build a big tent.

[mwooldri]

3. There already is a centrist Pro-European party.

It tore itself apart by joining a coalition government with the Tories. Yes. The Liberal Democrats. The party David Owen didn't join.

Is history going to repeat itself again?

[T_i_B]

4. I've already made a long post on this subject...

...elsewhere in the UK forum yesterday.

Basically, even with all of their baggage from the coalition the Lib Dems are looking far more of an attractive option than Tories or Labour at present. Also, were it not for a long list of local factors I might even consider joining them!

IMHO, the best way forward, not just for the Liberal Democrats but for those of us in general who want to keep Britain in the EU would be the creation of a number of formal alliances. The obvious starting point would be a formal coalition between the Lib Dems and the Greens. The current divided state of left wing politics is a major impediment to preventing the Tories and UKIP from f**king up everything.

[Dworkin]

5. May masterstroke

Hi,

There may be no need for a new tribe. Looking more closely at Theresa May, her leadership could be in the 'One Nation' direction to satisfy middle ground electoral deciders. Pundits will be aware that this centre ground is where Tony Blair won three elections in a row. It will be telling to see what she does with Osborne. We know that May was for 'Remain' and I believe that Osborne was/is genuinely so.

It is true IMHO that 'A house divided against itself cannot stand'. If May can do this balancing act, and make Brexit seem palatable to a worried half of the population, including (hopefully) a nod to maintaining some social justice in our island, then the Tories will win a fair majority at the next election. Let us remember that it was May herself who coined the warning 'nasty party' for the Tory leadership. She knows the price and the prize.

Labour are stewed. What a shame.

D.

[non sociopath skin]

6. I very much hear where you're coming from, Mr. D.

However, a week is a long time in politics and, as recent events have proved, a month can be an era. And the cynic in me remembers that Cameron, too, originally pitched as a "centrist" caring conservative (as did Dubya, for that matter).

There's many a slip between Brexit and lip. I will be watching the space assiduously.

The Skin