Party Politics
-
Jenrick shows his best in Newark
Robert Jenrick was welcomed into the Reform UK fold early this evening with an event that specially marked his defection and signified the initiation of a forward drive for the party hoping to achieve more than triumph in the polls.
His declaration of support for Nigel Farage solidified a long held ambition for Clacton’s famous MP. He’s tried many times before to enter Parliament, but his success in 2024 was only the beginning of seeking to fulfil his real dreams.
Robert Jenrick MP (Newark/Reform UK) shows his rhetorical skills for Nigel Farage MP (Clacton/Reform UK). Farage has told many like Jenrick of his pip for power as something that drives him as an Englishman, and he says it’s grounded in values that he’s felt and picked up on across the country during his prolonged career on the political stage.
Jenrick is of a similar hue and glistens with vision in his own eyes, and so the two are bedfellows. The progress of his beliefs in the party may be at odds at times with those that are less progressive, but he has the same spirit as the party membership has as well.
-
Nigel Farage is a game changer
Nigel Farage MP (Clacton/Reform UK) is a classic example of marksmanship in UK politics. He’s said to not be understood but polling suggests he’s understood by most people. The model of fitting paper thin accusations against the relevant days events allows for an ongoing, long-running narrative of decline. It’s not true, however, that Farage does this in our political system at all.
He’s known as a sociable, affable chap amongst many different types of people. It’s hard not to be. There are many “decent” people in politics, as he usually says to me, and it never dims in his spirit. He’s always been a welcoming part of the Westminster folk, even if his prior platforms were European-based. He’s not been accused of racism by any of our major, leading institutions. It’s tattle that follows him otherwise.
-
Westminster Week: Away days
Tuesday
This government’s policy on the EU doesn’t yet feel resolved into any particular office, or purpose as it appears. It’s down to us, then, to trust what he or she says. It’s not easy to do. It may or may not constitute a real sets of events that’s accurate or at least recent. To this effect, the Chancellor says this morning, “we’ve reset our relationship with the EU”, and this is meant to be since the election last year. It’s tough to find any credible evidence of it on the ground, at least.
*
According to Heidi Alexander MP (Swindon South/Labour), the Transport Secretary, the railways are due an update, but it’s a cloud in the sky if it doesn’t happen.
Wednesday
Former PM Liz Truss is again a bugbear as the Prime Minister implies the Leader of the Opposition is auditioning for “The Liz Truss Show” as the guest star.
-
Your Party is dismantling itself
Your Party is struggling. It’s believed Iqbal Mohamed MP (Dewsbury and Batley/Independent) has left the startup on grounds of internal divisions. He’s said as much via a post on his X profile. It means the party now has a problem with dismantling itself before the public.
This is ironic, and a humorous turn of fortunes for a party built on the idiosyncratic hopes of a minority. Perhaps he’s saved himself from a sinking ship, or rescued his dignity after a poor cruise. It’s his choice, and he returns unharmed to lone working.
-
If an election were held today…
If an election were held today, the result may tip the balance of what would have been a fraught year or so at the helm for Labour.
The ongoing demise of the Prime Minister’s popularity as well as the struggle of his Cabinet to make their own away above the noise and clamour of news media would have reflected in a poorer result.
It’s likely Labour regions may have held firm, or groups of constituencies that see the promise in more affordable housing and intervention for failing or struggling businesses and industries.
However, single constituencies with less confidence in Labour’s broader plans could have fallen away to vote Conservative for a more open minded plan for change.
The Conservative party itself would have made significant gains because its leader is promoting herself and her policies with gusto.
This usually achieves a bounce in its membership and may be enough to help them peak above 200 seats to comfortably challenge an incoming Labour government.
-
The conservatives are coming out to play
The Conservatives have the biggest audience share in the UK for conservatism. They have a sizeable number of MP’s in the Commons, compared to rivals Reform UK.
The numbers also add up to this conclusion. The declared donations for them in April to June this year shows the Tories raised £4,508,968 against £1,540,301 to Reform.
The fact they’ve held out against Labour in this regard shows the party is still gaining ground back after a brutal election defeat. It also proves that alternative parties are viable in a broad church.
-
Polanski is a crazy firebrand
The new leader of the Green Party is certainly making waves, but only amongst the membership. His crazy way about politics is hardly endearing to the wider public. He has all sorts of views, far beyond the cosy confines of climate righteousness and into the deep end of an ongoing liberal rights saga. The maelstrom is overwhelming at times and it’s as populist as his targets.
Zack Polanski speaking at his party’s annual conference in Bournemouth (via YouTube). The right way ahead for him is shouting to the rooftops about the same issues as before. He may be able to pump a room but the doorstep is a much different encounter. He needs to find warmth in his soul to counter the arguments people already have. The UK public is dead set against many of the policies he chooses to trumpet, and have long harangued those promoting their worth.
-
Do Your Party run the risk of a revolt?
The Your Party brand has barely launched and already socialist groups are jumping at the opportunity to unite to defeat the country. An X account for it suggests the grassroots movements that populate our streets time after time with hateful slogans should form a super-group to take on the “failed political class”. This is no mere glass of grass juice, it’s the reorganisation of agitators into a much larger force.
The need to clarify events is pressing now on the fledgling party. This is to reassure the rest of the political class that it doesn’t have designs on power – or our lives. It will take some doing. Most people are aware of the disruptive effects of activism in our towns and cities. They know its roots and its shoots. The need now is to move away from such revolt and turn back to democracy. This is the hope of most of us now.
-
Chaos reigns in not-yet-Your Party
Jeremy Corbyn MP (Islington North/Your Party) is no stranger to criticism. His familiarity with controversy has continued in a new party he’s setting up with fellow independent MP’s – principally Zarah Sultana MP (Coventry South/Your Party) – as an electoral force.
It’s already fracturing as legal threats swirl. The problem is in part a rights issue (not unusual for a socialist crowd) over the new protocols for membership. The reciprocal letters now issued show a determination to establish who says what, how, and why.
The call in of lawyers is an escalation that isn’t usually predicted for a very new effort in Parliament. It usually comes after a long time and a lot of dispute in between. There again, the Left (its former base of support) is basically a brief history in short thrift.
-
Dorries defects to Reform
Nadine Dorries, a former Conservative MP, says she’s defected to Reform UK. It’s a move that further strengths the top tier of the party.
It may help to bolster the chances of the upstart in a future general election. The evidence so far is the party benefits by such support.