Meet Britain’s newest political party: the Stupid Party

Amid all the talk of post-Brexit realignment, and the shattering of traditional party structures, one group has been overlooked. If we are to have new parties and forces unleashed to reflect the new dispensation, who is going is to speak up for really stupid ideas? There should be no discrimination and full equality of opportunity. Stupid ideas deserve an airing too.

Happily, there is such a party being formed it seems. Leave EU, the second-string amateur hour Brexit outfit that almost lost the referendum with its antics, has unveiled plans for a new party – already being dubbed the Stupid Party, although I have also heard it called the UK Incoherence Party. The Stupid Party will be a successor to UKIP and will be dedicated to “draining the swamp” and banishing professional politicians. It is the brainchild of Arron Banks, insurance tycoon and friend of Nigel Farage.

Befitting its likely name, the founding policies of the new party constitute a bold departure from parliamentary democracy and the British system of government.

“You would rate MPs by (undesirability) with Keith Vaz at No 1, and field a great candidate, a military guy, doctor, someone who has done something with their life. It would be a one-off attempt to drain the swamp. It would be highly amusing to tease career politicians with a hot poker,” Mr Banks told The Times.

Ah, the banter…

Leave EU reports:

“Mr Banks said that this new group would not take explicit party positions, and instead the candidates would stand on a one-term promise to push through fundamental change in Westminster. Among the ideas he thinks his new movement could support would be forcing through a change of the rules so that MPs can only hold office for two terms, abolition of the House of Lords and pushing for an elected senate, and insisting on a lower age limit of 40 for MPs to stop career politicians.”

Restricting MPs to two terms is an extremely stupid idea, as is the lower age limit which would have seen us do without Pitt the Elder and Pitt the Younger, not to mention Winston Churchill, Benjamin Disraeli, William Gladstone and Clement Attlee.

Under the two terms and you’re out rule, Margaret Thatcher would have had to leave the House of Commons in 1966.

It unclear whether professional politician Nigel Farage would be eligible for the new Banks-run Commons, because Farage has already served four terms as an MEP. Perhaps it doesn’t count if it’s abroad.

“It’s a very simple agenda…” (very simple agenda) “to destroy the professional politician,” said Mr Banks. “I like the idea of clearing the place out, setting new rules, maybe reducing the number of MPs. Not a party from the left or right. Just to clear out the worst lot.”

There may be as many as 200 of the Banks-funded candidates. Which is 198 MPs more than UKIP ever managed.