The Spectator

Letters: The Politically Homeless Party are now a force to be reckoned with

issue 23 November 2019

Nowhere to turn

Sir: Like Tanya Gold and Matthew Parris (9 November), I too am feeling politically homeless. Over the decades my vote has wandered along the mainstream party spectrum but today that seems wider than ever and its constituents increasingly unappealing. A vote for the Conservatives would be to endorse utter incompetence in government of several years, whereas Labour’s neo-Marxist tendencies are not to be countenanced in power. As a Remainer, in ordinary times I might, as previously, be attracted to the Liberal Democrats, but their policy on revocation makes them no longer democrats. It is disingenuous of Matthew Parris to not worry about this just because they will never be in a position to implement it. It is a point of principle and who knows what horse-trading will occur in the event of another hung parliament?

As I find the narrow focus of minor parties unconvincing but believe we all have an obligation to vote, I fear I will have to spoil my ballot paper. Perhaps such disenchantment is more widespread than is generally recognised.
Clive Thursby

Hindhead, Surrey

Political homelessness

Sir: ‘We live in volatile times’ writes James Forsyth (‘Marriage of convenience’, 16 November). The most startling manifestation of this is the rise of the Politically Homeless Party. This new political force issues no membership cards, has no canvassers, and publishes no manifesto. Yet its supporters can be found in every corner of the land. They include Remainers who once voted for the Conservative party and Leavers who once voted for the Labour party. Its rank and file are the ‘disenchanted ones’ who have grown weary of the ideological paralysis that has discredited the House of Commons since the referendum. In three weeks’ time the PHP members will be coming home, yet there is not a single psephologist who has a real clue as to where this home will be.

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