The political left has become little more than an activist group and shows little interest in actually trying to win elections and do what it takes to do so. It's sad to see, because the country desperately needs left-wing ideas to fix things - but that won't happen until the left fixes itself :/

Instead, it's endless infighting and running off to create even more new parties with the same people who the public didn't like the last time. There's a refusal to grow a party to a point where it could become a real electoral force. There's a refusal to try and improve what doesn't work.

The left on the other hand have a habit of refusing to acknowledge when a leader isn't working out or when mistakes have been made. They seem to cling onto figures they give a god-like status to and refuse to do anything differently.

If things start going slightly wrong and public opinion turns, they've been ruthless to get rid of the leader and use the new one as a fresh start and paint it as a completely new government. They messed up with Rishi being unlikable, but it worked for them for a long time.

I do wish the left would just unite rather than creating yet another party, of which several have been started over the past few years to little avail. It just further splits the vote whilst the right are far more united and in a better place to take seats >.<

This is beautiful!! 💚

Up to now I'd say FPTP has allowed extremist parties such as reform to be kept safely at bay. But public mood has changed and the parties have started to overcome that huge barrier. A change of system that encourages coalitions is probably needed at this point.

How specific were you? With an FOI request you're best being ultra specific about what you want to minimise any possibility of getting rejected. Just emails in general can be too much work, but if you specify emails about certain things you may have more chance.

I forgot about all of that!! Makes more sense now why he'd ask Terese! :)