This week has been a relief from the usual Brexit conversations. The long talked about rumours of a centrist party have finally materialised, as eight Labour MPs and three Tory MPs defected from their former loyalties. Already, polls are in claiming that the Independent Group is more popular than the Lib Dems. But just how promising is its future? James Forsyth argues in this week’s cover article that even if they don’t get electoral success, they can still alter the face of British politics, just like the SDP and Ukip. On the podcast, Katy Balls talks to James and pollster Joe Twyman, Director at Deltapoll, as well as former Labour MP Gavin Shuker – one of this week’s splitters – about the group’s potential. Gavin sets his sights higher than James does, even arguing that the group can ‘short-circuit’ the British party system to become a major electoral force. Listen here:
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