I don’t think they fall for smears. As you say, they’re sensible posters. I can only assume they’ve an aversion to Corbyn (their history dictates as much) and so they’ll frame things within that prism.
I'll be honest, I'll never forgive him for several things, in particular the part he played (or frankly, refused to play) that led to the biggest act of self harm this country has enacted, something which I don't think this country will recover from. I also think he's incredibly naive. His actions in setting up another party will only enable a far right government. I find that pretty extraordinary given his views are not far right. In an ideal world, you'd have spectrum to allow for wide ranging views. But we don't have a system for that right now, so splitting the centre to left side of the spectrum will only aid and facilitate a right wing unification, and a nasty far right one at that, unless Farage thinks he can walk into power without having to do so. My feelings are also influenced by two people I trust who are regulars in portcullis house who were aware of want went n behind the scenes and how he operated, and how he deferred. If he really wanted to give opportunity for a left leaning party to pick up decent vote share, he could have joined the greens very readily. I find it interesting he wants to be in a party on his own, leading on his own (Sultana won't be Co leader, maybe in her own head), even if that leads to a worse outcome for the country.
To some degree, along with the media. But why split the vote more when you could add to the vote share of the greens which would go further to gaining seats and opposing right wing parties. We both know split vote shares hinder more progressive parties under fptp. Corbyn know this. So why do it?
Labour have voted in favour of electoral reform at their conferences for several years now. It should have been in the manifesto last year and would now have been going through the normal parliamentary procedures to become law. Sadly for the country at large, it was left out and the government have shown no inclination to do anything about it.
You don’t pay to nationalise the water companies, you cap price increases and fine the companies/penalise the directors and shareholders if they fail to meet environmental and consumer standards. The companies go bust or admit defeat, then you ‘take on responsibilities as an operator of last resort’.
Speaking as a former Lib Dem activist - they position themselves as moderates and have two distinct wings reflecting the merging of Liberal and SDP parties and philosophies. There's both soft-Tories and soft-Labour at each end, with different parts in the ascendancy at different times. During the coalition years it was the Clegg-ites and Orange Bookers, under Kennedy and since the coalition it's the Social Democrats running the show - many Orange Bookers left to support the Tories under Cameron particularly as the coalition made then Lib Dems give the Cameron Conservatives a kinder hearing. In the country the Lib Dems are very much defined by opposition to the main party in power. In Labour seats they'll present as the more economically responsible party of the right. In Conservative seats they'll present as the more compassionate party of community and of the left. In seats where the Lib Dems are competing there's normally a historically dominant party of power, and a public that would never countenance going so far as to support that horrible Conservative/Labour lot - they find the Lib Dems naturally not the current politicians they don't like, but comfortingly enough the same that they don't need to worry about drastic change if they vote for them. Perhaps the most famous Lib Dem party election broadcast explains it well:
Very interesting. Co-pilot reckons current memberships are: Labour 309,000 Conservatives 123,000 Reform 229,000 So if [Your Party] converts the expressions of interest into signed-up members, it clearly deserves to be heard on an equal footing. But we all know who owns the media, and who they support.
You've put way better than I ever could, but I thought straight away that forming this party was more about causing mischief for the labour party than anything else. And I really didn't want to think that. The new party is one which will never get into power but will split the labour vote. (IMO of course)
400,000 now signed up. Whatever your thoughts or political leaning, that’s a heck of a lot of people.
It sure is. You'd have to think that those going to the trouble of expressing interest will in due course sign up to be members. If that happens, then clearly they'll be the best-supported party on the scene. They will need some serious organizational/party management expertise. I'd sooner see Corbyn ascend than Farage - that's for sure. But I still think the fly in the ointment could be Boris.
I think there's a fair chance the Tories will come to see him as their man to beat Farage. People have short memories. If he got in a members' run-off I think he'd walk it.
You don't have to explain a pisstake, and say you've signed up for the Fruit and Nut party. PS I haven't signed up.