http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47306022
The Independent Group now at 11 members
oh wow look its actually shit status quo squad that's worse in every way than the lib dems. who could have seen this coming.
Can't believe the lib Dems are gonna become a fifth party overnight without there even being a general election
The idea of some MPs leaving both parties to form a new centrist one has been stuck in the rumour mill for so long, it's crazy that it's actually happening
these preliminary polls are totally misleading. never mind that they're essentially irrelevant until campaigning begins, but no significant amount of people will vote for a party (they aren't even a party - yet) with no policy.
Well this reduces the government majority (with the DUP) to 0.
Anna Soubry's statement says she's leaving over Brexit and the party's shift to the right
https://twitter.com/Anna_Soubry/status/1098177851365490689?s=09
I meant in numbers. Lib Dems are holding on with 11 and this group have hit 11 in 24 hours.
Oh right, my bad.
Nice to see these Labour MPs happy to work with those who have worked on implementing austerity for the past ten years.
We, the Independent Group, stand for some austerity, but not too much! We'll even give you a doozy social policy every couple of years to keep you sweet.
Blaireites and Tories, like peas in a pod.
https://twitter.com/Anna_Soubry/status/1098181942246367234
Seems it got deleted and recreated or something.
just call an election already, its patently clear nobody has a majority for anything
I know how Facepunch feels towards centrism, but I am that oddball that would define themselves as a centrist, and I'd really like to have faith in this new 'party', though I'm worried they'll either (a) fuck it up for themselves, (b) be Tories that refuse to call themselves Tories, or (c) Have stances that I don't identify with. I seem to bring it up in every god damn thread, but I am not happy with Labour or the Tories at the moment, and then there's the kooky Lib Dems that are as charismatic as a skip in an alley; I want to have faith in something new. Last time we had an outsider party dominate the news was with UKIP, and we all know how that went.
Awkward PMQs lol, neither party wanting to mention it
https://files.facepunch.com/forum/upload/165/5842e211-5923-46cf-b10a-2bc0932f81fb/Screenshot_20190220-133712.png
libdems and these guys don't want to work together but they cater to the same electorate
itll be like watching two bald men fight over a comb
And they'll both play the same role in a coalition - enabling tories
If the IG is going to be a new party there just is not room for them and the Lib Dems to both exist under FPTP, they'll cannibalise each others' votes
Weren't they touting something like the Reformist Party at one point? Which really begs the question of what they think they're reforming.
Honestly wonder if any Lib Dem MPs are thinking of jumping into this
Vince Cable says Lib Dems might not put up candidates against IG members
i'm sure everyone is absolutely gagging for another conservative coalition.
"It would be foolish for my party and this Independent Group to fight with each other," he tells the BBC, hinting at future co-operation in contesting seats.
"I have a completely open, positive approach to working with the Independent Group," he says, praising the "courage" of those MPs joining it.
As much as I'm sure this is appreciated, I still think there's a risk to either party as long as the other exists. Two small Centrist parties might be more effective if they combined into one, though I suppose they could still work together as though they were part of one party whilst still retaining their individuality. It honestly all depends on what IG stands for.
i think its bullshit they can quit the party without holding a by-election, hopfully there constituents make enough of a fuss to force by-elections
So, uh, where's the left-wing part?
They're modeling themselves after mainstream "centrists", I see. Basically CINOs.
what the cowabunga is this bollocks. this is the least centrist shit i've ever heard of.
they're the relative-centrist party, or the slightly less right (though I'd rank the osborne austarity as farther right than the current right)
now you need the slightlier less left party to challenge them
Leslie seemingly disagrees with some of Soubry's apparent positions on austerity though
What, other than Brexit, does he disagree on with Theresa May’s Conservatives? “I think there are real problems with their welfare policies, which have had a tin ear to the most vulnerable in society. On housing it’s been lamentable, assuming that the market will purely deliver.”
It's going to be interesting seeing how they can shape a policy platform
The hilarious thing about all this is that somehow Labour's fairly lukewarm centre left manifesto, one that any reasonable centrist could (and should have) probably get behind, has now once again been overton'd into the far left.
You can absolutely bet that the end result of this faux-centrist bollocks is yet again going to be slightly less Tory Tory policy.
Greening and Grieve are on the edge
Two senior Tories ready to resign if May fails to change Brexit ..
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