Sunday, March 18, 2018

Start Again? Lib Dems in talks about new party with moderate Labour and Tory MPs

Embed from Getty Images

From today's Sunday Times (behind its paywall):
Senior Labour MPs appalled by Jeremy Corbyn’s performance over the Salisbury poisoning have been in secret talks with the Liberal Democrats and at least one Conservative MP about forming a new political party called Start Again. 
Plans for a new pro-European centre party have been openly discussed as part of cross-party discussions on Brexit, according to sources present. 
One of those involved in the plotting — a former member of the shadow cabinet — told The Sunday Times that Corbyn’s refusal to blame Russia for the attack would cause MPs to abandon Labour. “This is a watershed moment,” the MP said. “It has caused a number of people to question why we are in this party.”
There are not many names named, but Chuka Umunna, Chris Leslie and Anna Soubry all get a mention.
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There would be an irony in calling a new party Start Again unless it turned out to be devoted to something more than maintaining the status quo.

6 comments:

crewegwyn said...

If it happens then - after nearly 40 years as a Lib/Lib Dem - I will be able to spend more time on my other interests ...

(Searches for grim emoticon)

Phil Banting said...

After a few months/years Start Again merges with the Liberal Democrats to create Liberal Democrats Again, leaving behind a rump anti-merger Start Again Again and continuing Liberal Democrats, some of whom merge with the continuing Liberals...

Anonymous said...

Why not call it 'The Liberal Party'? That kinda worked before...

Anonymous said...

What is this philosophy called "Start Againism"?
There is a good reason why no one has seriously started a new party given how hard it is under our electoral system. We should just tell them to join us instead.

Anonymous said...

I am clearly missing something with the picture chosen for this story.

David Milsted said...

Oh Sod It works for me