Political

Implosion at Renew, one of the new centrist/pro-European parties

I don’t pretend to know nearly enough to judge right from wrong in the latest goings-on at Renew, one of the burst of new centrist/pro-European parties.

But I can spot a big political car crash:

  1. Party’s Principals issue a statement talking about potentially illegal access to the party’s data and about an email “purporting to be from the Renew Chairman”.
  2. Party founder, Chris Coghlan, shares a message stated as being from Renew’s Chairperson, saying a no confidence motion in the Executive committee and Board of Renew has been passed.
  3. Party founder resigns from party.

Renew Britain statement about access to party data
Chris Coglan tweet about Renew
Chris Coglan resignation statement

One thing the above illustrates is one of sometimes the under-appreciated benefits of the Liberal Democrats for pro-Europeans in search of a political home. For all the party’s flaws, it is a functioning political party with the ability to withstand, even in rather battered form, tough times. That resilience is something new parties often struggle to acquire – and is one of the reasons why new parties can fail to be successful.

4 responses to “Implosion at Renew, one of the new centrist/pro-European parties”

  1. Interesting. It’s clear that however hungry voters often are for change and a new, but sensible centrist approach, they cannot quickly be dragooned into supporting a new party, even for local elections, after some national publicity.
    Perhaps underpinning this blow up were the local results which were at the Monster Raving Looney end of the scale.
    Of course UKIP were around for over a decade before they made any impression and they had many a bust up and resignation or expulsion before they made their single big win in the EU Parliament, So it would not be reasonable to write Renew off immediately.
    If they continue to flounder, perhaps some friendly approaches might gain LibDem members?

  2. I understand that the Lib Dems have also changed their leader a few times?
    It’s perfectly normal for people to come and go. Coghlan founded the party but hadn’t been actively on the day to day since 2017.

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