Originally Posted by
jackal2
The Labour Party shouldn't be a "middle ground" party. It's supposed to be a S/socialist Party representing the Left of British politics.
Likewise, the Conservative Party's job is to represent the Right of British politics.
This is what gives electorates a choice. And if they genuinely do want a "middle ground" party then that's the job of A N Other party, be that Liberal Democrat or whatever.
The idea that the leading parties of the Right and Left in Britain should move towards the middle ground is poison for democracy, opening the door for career politicians who simply pretend to represent the views of whichever party badge they think will give them the best chance of election in a particular area. And the more of those types of politician infest a party, then the more its core ideology and purpose is weakened, opening the door for unelected bureaucrats and the media to influence and dictate policy.
At various different stages of my lifetime, the media and others have had it that the Labour Party or the Conservative Party were so unfashionable as to never be electable again, and the follow-on argument is invariably that they should look to appeal more to the centre ground. This is, in effect, the deep state protecting itself and telling people they should choose between different cheeks of the same arse.
In reality, fashions change and public satisfaction or anger changes, and the best democratic interests of the ordinary person in the street are served by having a proper choice and clear blue water between at least two parties, if not more.