The Brexit Party is wrong to seek to contest anything other than the forthcoming European Elections, when I shall be voting for it.
In calling for that old thing, an active boycott, the Morning Star knows perfectly well that many of its readers will never miss an opportunity to vote Labour while Jeremy Corbyn is Leader, and that many of them would never have missed that opportunity under anyone.
To the rest, in saying that the only two ways to vote explicitly for Brexit are UKIP and the Brexit Party, then it is coming as near as it can come to endorsing the latter. It is just that it could never possibly say, in so many words, "Vote for Nigel Farage."
The Brexit Party is not a party to the right of the Conservatives. Some people in it are. But, in itself, it is not. That is why it is going to win.
The sum total of people who would want a party to the right of the Conservatives will be the sum total of votes for UKIP and for Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, a total so small that it might very well translate into no seats whatever.
At that point, then it will be time to stop talking about that forlorn old Fleet Street standby. The rest of us will have been proved correct that the potential voters for it simply did not exist, not even on the occasion when the Conservatives had come fourth because the Remainers had at least had the self-respect to vote Lib Dem rather than CUK.
Farage, Corbyn, Vince Cable and everyone else should have great fun calling the Conservatives "the fourth party". But Farage should take the triumph at the European Elections and let that be that. Claire Fox and Ann Widdecombe will never be in the same party for Westminster voting purposes. Keeping the Brexit Party going for Westminster purposes would be, and it does now look set to be, a terrible mistake.
Another hung Parliament is coming, however, and we need our people to hold the balance of power in it. It has become a local commonplace that I am on 30-30-30 with Labour and the Conservatives here at North West Durham, so that any one of us could be the First Past the Post.
The Brexit Party is not a party to the right of the Conservatives. Some people in it are. But, in itself, it is not. That is why it is going to win.
The sum total of people who would want a party to the right of the Conservatives will be the sum total of votes for UKIP and for Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, a total so small that it might very well translate into no seats whatever.
At that point, then it will be time to stop talking about that forlorn old Fleet Street standby. The rest of us will have been proved correct that the potential voters for it simply did not exist, not even on the occasion when the Conservatives had come fourth because the Remainers had at least had the self-respect to vote Lib Dem rather than CUK.
Farage, Corbyn, Vince Cable and everyone else should have great fun calling the Conservatives "the fourth party". But Farage should take the triumph at the European Elections and let that be that. Claire Fox and Ann Widdecombe will never be in the same party for Westminster voting purposes. Keeping the Brexit Party going for Westminster purposes would be, and it does now look set to be, a terrible mistake.
Another hung Parliament is coming, however, and we need our people to hold the balance of power in it. It has become a local commonplace that I am on 30-30-30 with Labour and the Conservatives here at North West Durham, so that any one of us could be the First Past the Post.
I will stand for this seat, if I can raise the £10,000 necessary to mount a serious campaign. Please email davidaslindsay@hotmail.com. Very many thanks.
No comments:
Post a Comment