The Times indulges itself in fantasy politics:
A survey by the National Centre for Social Research found that more than 56 per cent of the British public do not feel any of the political parties represent the views of people like them. Although between them Labour and the Conservatives swept up more than 80 per cent of the votes at the last election their dominance is more fragile than it appears. What is missing is a credible alternative and a leader who can capture the mood.
Imagine if David Miliband announced that he was returning to Britain to set up a new party. It would be socially and economically liberal, internationalist and domestically reforming, including of capitalism. Opposing Brexit would be part of its agenda, but not its whole identity. The movement would quickly gain traction. The Lib Dems would almost certainly fold into it. Sir Nick Clegg says “I’m a Lib Dem but it’s not the be all and end all”, and I am told that Sir Vince feels the same. “It’s the values not the vehicle that matter,” says one Lib Dem strategist.
Labour moderates would then have to decide whether to stay with the antisemitic, misogynistic bullies of the hard left whose politics they despise, or join an alliance that would be recreating the party of Clement Attlee, Harold Wilson, Neil Kinnock and Tony Blair. Some pro-European Tories might be persuaded to jump ship too, if the prime minister continues to pay more attention to Jacob Rees-Mogg than to them. In fact it’s possible to see the former leaders of three different parties — Sir John Major and Mr Blair as well as Sir Nick — all throwing their weight behind a new centrist party, along with a host of business people, scientists, actors and writers.
Dream on. It will never happen.
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