Mike Parr is a regular commentator on this blog. Over recent weeks, he has been writing about setting up a support network for independent candidates in the forthcoming general election that has now been called.
Mike is now launching this, with colleagues. He sent me this yesterday, and because I think a diversity of opinion is valuable in politics, I am publishing it today to encourage just that. I have no involvement in this project.
As the next election draws closer a number of sites have appeared aiming to support independent candidates. The most recent can be found here: www.indy2024.org.uk
The organisation, founded by readers of this blog says that it aims to do the following:
1. recruit people that want to stand as independent candidates or want to be supporters
2. provide a secure location for independent candidates and supporter to discuss ideas and formulate policy
3. offer a place where candidates and supporters can find policy information
4. develop collateral to be given to the general public on important topics such as “how are governments funded”, “what to nationalise and how”, “education, what needs to happen?”
5. help candidates and supporters develop localism, i.e. identifying areas where locals by working together can (own and) provide important services, locally.
Each independent candidate could, all on their own, do this. But in the view of indy2024 this smacks of wheel reinvention. By definition, independents are not a political party, but there is nothing to stop them talking to each other and exchanging ideas, for example: what works on the door step, what doesn't.
There is one word that the indy2024 organisers will avoid using, “left” (or “left-wing”). They note that there is nothing left wing about:
- clean rivers and seas,
- good education for all,
- fairly priced energy,
- an NHS that functions effectively and efficiently etc.
In their view, the use of the word is a tactical mistake and gives a lever for Labour to undermine independent campaigners.
Most English people are by inclination conservative with a small c. Given this, indy2024 is counselling candidates and supporters to pitch their message carefully. Collaboration with Greens is welcomed, and of course support to any and all independent candidates that have already declared they are standing.
Indy2024 has engaged a cartoonist and are seeking those with video skills. Their view is that the election will be won or lost on the Internet. Finally, Indy2024 welcomes all readers of the blog to join, there is no fee, apart from time and expertise.
Mike can now be contacted via this website.
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Congratulations. Good luck.
Splitting the vote? sounds like a dangerous game to me, isn’t this why the left sit in opposition for the majority of the time. The Labour party are a long way from ideal but I cannot support this.
Sorry.
Each to their own
But Labour is not anywhere near the left now
So, why vote for them?
“Splitting the vote”?
Splitting what vote? The old certainties have gone. Only people over seventy have real Party commitments, representing a ‘community’ of some kind, if even of common interest. Forty years of individualism has created – individualism. In the digital age, nothing lasts lang. Add to that, there is in effect only one Single Transferable Party (STP) in the UK, whomsoever you vote for. What exactly do you believe you are defending?
If you wish to ensure you have any chance to change anything, you have to start with PR (and that is only a starting point), and that is not even on offer as a substantive political option.
Same from me. Good luck.
Great idea – hope it works . So much more difficult in a GE context as against local elections. Maybe it will work best where an ex-Labour MP stands as independent?
A short response to comments: splitting the vote.
We are a support org & have no intention of telling people where (or where not) to stand. That said, I have contacts with other parties (not Lab or Tory) and if a candidate has a good chance then Indys can make the decision to support that candidate. I understand that in some “traditional” tory seats dissatisfication re tories is running @ 75% (based on samples of 800++ households) – this opens up possibilities. Those that read the blog on a regular basis know that Labour has quasi identical policies to the tories. Todays blogs ask questions to which neither tory nor labour candidates have an answer. So what to do? Vote for “Buggins Turn next”? or vote tactically and give fresh faces a chance.
Which leaves the open question: how to communicate this to the population.
& a PS: I heard on the grapevine that Sunak may be booted out post haste and the election cancelled – numbers of tory MPs imitating Munch’s “The Scream” after hearing of the 4th July date.
“Only people over 70 have real Party commitments” says John S. Warren with certainty. I am 77 and this ageism really irks me. I am supposedly in favour of Brexit – not so. I am right wing in my thinking – not so. I admit to being a Labour voter all my life but, I have to say, I am uncertain at this election. The purge of the left has left me feeling homeless politically and I am open to alternatives. I am used to being unrepresented, however, as I live in the Tory enclave of Southern Scotland.
All people my age are workshy, self-entitled, endlessly offended snowflakes with no perspective or understanding of the “real world”. This stereotype is applied to us without even being remotely factual, yet the things you note are at least borne out in the statistics – Brexit was voted for by the elderly. The Tories were, by and large, voted in by the elderly.
I congratulate you for being different to your peers and not supporting Brexit – thank you, sincerely. It’s a shame more over 70s didn’t join you. Maybe try not to take comments like John’s so personally if they don’t apply to you; it’s something my age group have had to do.
I’ll still be voting for my MP, Stephen Flynn, as he seems decent whenever I’ve spoken to him and there’s no alternative in Aberdeen that I could swallow, but I’m really not happy about the choices given me anymore. Before, SNP was at least a means to an end even if you didn’t fully accept their governing, but now it doesn’t feel like even that.
I agree with all of your points BUT
at least we can make a choice, in Scotland, that at least offers the possibility of change.
England doesn’t have that luxury.
Like young adults, Scotland and the Scottish Government will only truly flourish when they “leave home”
I will only vote for someone representing my socialist, pacifist, environmentalist convictions. That appears to be nobody. Just as unrepresented. (And I too am sick and tired of being labelled a Brexiter/Tory/racist: I am am 74. Sod statistics.)
Agreed: sod statistics
Mike and I are intending to provide a home for the politically homeless; to show that things can get better – and show them how it can be afforded.
We are offering a choice – and think there are enough people looking for a viable choice to get sufficient Independent candidates elected to force the new government to think and behave differently from what they are currently promising (‘cos both promises are dire!)
But we need help to get this message out……..
Great news, thanks!
I admire your initiative with this new site and, despite being a long-time Green Party voter, I have signed up as a supporter. One word of caution for those who want to challenge the big beasts: make sure that you are the strongest alternative with the widest possible local support. This is key to not fragmenting the vote with multiple alternative candidates. Those who want to challenge their local sitting MP, must very cautiously weigh up the strength of their support to be certain that they do not barge ahead of someone who might be a much stronger candidate.
Months ago people in Keir Starmer’s Holborn and St Pancras constituency were coalescing behind one man who they judged to be the strongest potential candidate to beat the current leader of our hapless ‘transformed’ opposition Labour Party. That man was the Jewish son of a Holocaust survivor and former ANC member of the South African Government under Nelson Mandela, but Andrew Feinstein did not rush to take up the mantle. Although many people were frustrated waiting for him to finally commit, Feinstein was carefully testing the waters to be absolutely certain that he really was the strongest candidate. After Saturday’s London march, I asked him if he was going to stand and he told me he would publicly confirm his candidacy on Tuesday.
A number of cautiously selected candidates have already been put forward and supported by various organizations. This process demonstrates that their viability has already been tested and approved. Following this local vetting, we have a number of Independent candidates who have declared that they will stand; will you automatically list them on your site or will they need to sign up individually? Ousted former Labour MPs like Jeremy Corbyn, who just declared today, should be listed on your site. The Green Party candidates are not supported by major financial contributions or unions; consequently they are virtually ignored by the BBC and press coverage. I wonder how long it will take before the mainstream media catch on to the fact that Independents might challenge the sclerotic political status quo in the UK.
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