Interesting Alternatives to Boring Nasty Politics

Melanie Mikecz

Almost without exception, most of us are thoroughly fed up of politics, most politicians and media pundits that don’t hold them to account (here and abroad). It’s obvious that it’s not just the political parties that are not working, but politics overall.

One party gets elected, makes some good and some dumb decisions, which are then reversed when the next party take over, and here we go again. They get good salaries and a good pension, and everyone else is left wondering if the world will go to war, disappear from climate change or we’ll be broke.

In Denmark, they have a movement called The Alternative, which is a political party, but more a movement. About grownups who share ideas from skilled experts, and act like adults, when debating. How refreshing!

For example, anyone here who votes for a particular political party, is expected to toe the party line (MPs even have ‘whips’ to make them behave, or else they could get thrown out of the party).

But it has other problems too, as we are all individuals with individual beliefs. For example:

You may vote Green (but believe in local power, so can’t understand why they want to support the EU and build wind turbines without permission (you may not agree with legalising drugs).
You may vote Labour, but are dismayed at how the government cut winter fuel allowances for some vulnerable people, are planning to build a nuclear plant on Anglesey and ‘Keir, never here’ is always going off to China or somewhere to ‘build up trade’, instead of focusing on local issues.
You may vote Conservative because you believe in less state interference, but get fed up of all the back-biting and nastiness, and ripping up of climate agreements.
You may vote Lib Dem, but don’t want to go back to the EU, and think they are wishy-washy, as they went back on promises when last in government.
You may vote Reform UK due to worries about illegal immigration. But are concerned at their climate policies (which would cause more heatwaves, floods and wildfires) and likely destroy our remaining endangered native wildlife.

So you see, there’s never one perfect party, especially as today we live in the era of ‘personality’. You may like the party but not the leader, or the other way around! Fair voting systems would help (Single Transferable Vote used in Ireland is the most recommended).

Things look hopeful, because all the minor parties (including Reform UK) would bring it in, if elected. We may now be in the death throes of two-party politics.

A Few Alternative Political Parties

These are very small parties, but fringe parties can create change, especially when elected for local councils:

Climate Party is different from the Greens, in that it is focused more on restoring nature and protecting our waterways than ‘Green New Deals’, and classes itself as centre left/right, as an option for people concerned about the planet, but are not ‘left enough’ to vote Green. The founder is a already a local councillor (in Buckinghamshire).

The Peace Party has a very nice website and lovely ideas, but no councillors or MPs at present. Its policies actually sound rather lovely, kind of a ‘less state interference’ and eco-friendly policies, so good for floating voters and climate-friendly ex-Tories?

Animal Welfare Party is a fringe party inspired by Party for the Animals (which gained MPs in The Netherlands leading to national changes in the law including a ban on importing calves and requesting an animal welfare minister). It does have some local councillors already, including one in Northumberland.

Its policies include CCTV for all abattoirs, phasing our factory farming, replacing animal experiments with humane research and increasing penalties for animal abuse.

Animal welfare parties in Australia and New Zealand have had much success (the latter only started a few months back, but already a household name).

TheyWorkForYou is a fantastic open-source website (so anyone worldwide can use the software to create a similar site). Use it to find out how your MPs voted on everything!