How Does The Just Party Compare to Other Mainstream Parties?

The Just Party was founded with two principle aims:

1. A Thriving Economy
2. For a Caring Society

The party was started during the party conference season a couple of years ago when it was clear that none of the mainstream parties properly offered that combination.  It was not worth voting for any existing party, specifically because:

• The Conservative party had the right idea in promoting a strong economy, but for the benefit of a few, with less regard in practice for the many.  The “nasty party” as Theresa May herself famously described them when she was Party Chair.  If anything it’s got worse as the party has swung right.
• The Labour party whose socialist views on spending other people’s money inevitably backfire, as Gordon Brown proved.  The party has since swung further left under Jeremy Corbyn.
• The LibDems, whose Labour socialist roots show through in equally ineffective policies
• The Green Party which has many good ideas, but whose views on running the economy should be filed under fiction
• UKIP as a single issue UK Independence Party against membership of the EU.  Even Mark Reckless, responsible for trying to broaden their policies and the second MP to defect to them, has resigned to become independent, aligned to the Conservatives

Under the First Past The Post FPTP system, many people are forced to vote AGAINST who they don’t want.  This isn’t good enough.  The Just Party was born with two main aims that would appeal to such people, with more detail in this link:

1. A Thriving Economy
2. For a Caring Society

Indeed, ComRes confirmed that this centrist position is where most voters regard themselves, as in the lines in the diagram below.  It used to in the Blair and Cameron years that Labour and Conservatives would fight over this centre ground.  But with both these main parties shifting left and right respectively, there is a massive hole in the centre where The Just Party naturally fits:

VIEWS ON BREXIT

Then along comes the Brexit referendum.  The official positions of the main parties on Brexit are effectively:

• Conservatives:  Hard Brexit at any cost, thereby undermining their management of the economy
• Labour:  Hard Brexit but with a soft transition. Attempts being made to change long-term policy to remain in the Single Market, but that is subject to being passed at the forthcoming Conference, which is by no means assured
• LibDems:  Leave the EU, but making a big play on there being a second referendum on the final deal.  Too little too late
• Greens: Support remaining in the EU, but with no hope of the power to do so
• UKIP: Leave the EU quickly at any cost

 None of the parties have an overall position that supports a Thriving Economy for a Caring Society.  Key to this is staying in the Single Market and Customs Union, either in a specific arrangement or by staying in the EU.  The Just Party supports this, not just for the short term.  The far larger size of the EU means better trade deals can be negotiated with the US, China and the other emerging economies than the UK could possibly achieve on its own:

The Just Party has proposed a new arrangement with the EU based on an EEAplus, more than the type of EEA arrangement that Norway has.  That might satisfy a higher proportion of UK voters than the simple Leave/Remain choice which is still polling around 50:50.  But there are complications. There’s hope they can be overcome, as it is in both the EU’s and UK’s interests to do so. But if not, then the UK must stay in the full EU.  It’s #HalfBrexit or #HaltBrexit.

THE OVERALL POSITION

Overall The Just Party is positioned on the two political axes virtually in the centre, and thereby should have a ‘natural’ following far higher than any of the other mainstream parties.  That is represented by the people in the rectangle on this diagram, which is explained and justified in more detail here:

Persuading these people to vote for The Just Party is a challenge under the First Past The Post (FPTP) system. But that’s the system we have for the foreseeable future.  How can The Just Party be successful?

Money obviously, for marketing, campaigning and running the party administration.  Sums can be donated online between £5 and £500 through our GoFundMe site without your name being made public.  Higher sums by arrangement – do contact us.

In terms of getting coverage in the media, at least one MP would make a massive difference to whether The Just Party is included in political TV shows and other media coverage.  But we are far more ambitious.  We believe that at least 5 Labour and 5 Conservative MPs would be prepared to leave their existing parties and join The Just Party to deal with Brexit for the national interest.  The invitation is here.

If you believe in the need for a centrist anti-Brexit party do spread the word and donate what you can.  In any case, do let us know your thoughts in the comments below. Thanks!