After the latest by-elections, it has become clear that the political economy of this United Kingdom has become fragmented.
In years past, the red wall of the Labour party has stood for the working class, protecting as it always has done the interests of the general public who are more concerned with social democracy and trade unionism than the success of the larger corporations.
This year, it has been clear that these people no longer feel represented, as just like 2019, independent candidates and new smaller scale party organisations have arose to allow them to fight for the concerns they have about modern society.
Whether that’s Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, The Heritage Party or The Reclaim Party which was recently behind former actor turned politician Laurence Fox’s failed bid to become Mayor of London, there is clear desire for something different to the norm.
The Liberal Democrats and the Green Party have been that alternative over the past few years, with Nick Clegg’s Lib Dems once holding joint power of the country, however they just don’t appeal to the masses enough to gain the kinds of public vote that is needed.
However, with Labour being considered more socialist and left-wing than ever, while the conservatives operate on their traditional platform, what this does is leave a gaping hole in the centre which could be the perfect opportunity to reform the way we view British politics.
We are reaching a point where we could see the United Kingdom start to mirror the American model where the class and ideological divide leaves us in deadlock, only considering the lack of efficient representation believed to exist on the left, this would cause a shift where the political landscape may never recover.
Furthermore, the inflexibility and narrow-minded view which seems to lack partisanship, means that it seems inconceivable that they would ever close the gap and provide a broader level of representation.
Despite disrupting the strict, two-party dominance of the House of Commons, a centralist party solves this issue, while giving a balance of both public and private consideration that may allow for the emergence of a political system which will work towards the public interest versus a historical interest that is no longer representative of modern ideals.
You can see from Emmanuel Macron’s centrist En Marche! Movement that there is positive public response to such opportunities that will positively effect their lives.
However, with the history of the Social Democratic Party among others, the ability to break the mould and deliver such political change is a very challenging ask.
Photo Credit: Simon Frederick
