It's, I think, to the detriment of politics that party politics exists.
I was in a conversation with Lib Dem's Adrian Sanders on what the point in parties was. He made a few points that were valid, but recently I found, watching Question Time, a perfectly sane conservative having to back David Cameron on his rolling along with The Sun in the Letter 'scandal'.
Any normal human would be able to take their own beliefs and criticise the person 'at fault', however because of party loyalty there is this rallying behind people simply because they are in the same gang as you.
At what point can we try to reach the people and get them interested in politics, when there is this lack of ability of politicians to talk even handedly when it comes to party matters.
The public doesn't like weasling and justifying, it turns them off. How can you reconnect with voters if the people they vote for have party-issued blinkers on.

Originally Posted by sevenhills

It's, I think, to the detriment of politics that party politics exists.
I was in a conversation with Lib Dem's Adrian Sanders on what the point in parties was. He made a few points that were valid, but recently I found, watching Question Time, a perfectly sane conservative having to back David Cameron on his rolling along with The Sun in the Letter 'scandal'.
Any normal human would be able to take their own beliefs and criticise the person 'at fault', however because of party loyalty there is this rallying behind people simply because they are in the same gang as you.
At what point can we try to reach the people and get them interested in politics, when there is this lack of ability of politicians to talk even handedly when it comes to party matters.
The public doesn't like weasling and justifying, it turns them off. How can you reconnect with voters if the people they vote for have party-issued blinkers on.

In principle I would entirely agree with that sentiment, or at least when it's been taken to the extreme degrees that we currently see, with vast amounts of money being wasted on short term government projects inspired by little more than party politics.

The only way I can see this changing is by proportional representation with no overall party having a majority of votes. As far as I can see that's the only way that policies which are for the benefit of everyone, regardless of whether they're left, right or centre, are discussed and considered.