Kiss of death? data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7
If, and it's a big if, they retain their seats.
It's always a big If, but they could follow a similar trajectory to the Liberal Democrats. If a bit faster. We are not in a normal political cycle so anything is possible at the moment depending on how brexit unfolds and the events that triggers.
We'll have to see if the speculation about the IG gaining 50 MP's through defections from both main parties by the end of March turns out to be the case or not. If that happens then we are in a slightly different ball game.
I'm guessing it'll be a big, big if. The right don't like them, the left don't like them, leavers don't like them.
It's a shame, but I think they're doomed to fail if they become an actual party.
Quite possibly they are doomed to failure (but you have to admire their courage for trying however foolhardy it might appear to be), but the question for them is can they carve out support from voters who dislike both main parties and tempt them back to the ballot box in big enough numbers, while peeling off voters from both main parties to make a dent. Either it's business as usual or a political realignment is in progress. It's anyone's guess at the moment.
I admire their courage to an extent, I'm very cynical at times though so still question the motivation of at least some of them.
If anecdotal evidence was reliable, I'd say they'd be relying on disenchanted Lib/Tory supporters, I've seen nothing but hate from the majority of Labour supporters I know (disclaimer, most I know are pretty die hard Corbyn fans though)
Kate Hoey doing down the Independent Group - Heidi Allen looking like she had been slapped in the face with a Kipper..data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7
Was just thinking about these this morning? Suddenly seem to have disappeared....or have I missed some stuff?
Otherwise looks like that early momentum lost already. And no other MP's defected have they?
BBC News - Independent Group 'in talks about becoming a political party'
Independents 'in talks about forming party'
The Independent Group is in talks with the Electoral Commission about becoming a fully-fledged political party, group spokesman Chuka Umunna has said.
Next (1st) annual convention should be good. The phone box on Llandudno sea front has been booked.