Why support a small party like Popular Alliance?

People often ask me what the point is in supporting a small party like Popular Alliance. After all, we're never going to get into power right? What can such a small party do against the big three or even UKIP?

Fair points, but easily answerable. The most obvious response to these criticisms is that a person's allegiance is worth little if it is not based on principle. I have never voted for a party just because I thought they would win an election (though I did vote Labour for Blair's first election) but because I supported and agreed with their ideas. If we all want to vote for a party based purely on their odds, then we may as well scrap every party except Labour and Tory right now.

However there is a stronger, more compelling reason to join a party like Popular Alliance: it's the only way to truly reform the system. No I don't mean 'reform' in some sinister, ultra radical, Communist way. I simply mean clearing all the corrupt, disloyal, insincere politicians out of Parliament.

Let's face it, there is little to no ideological difference between the big parties anymore. Imagine Boris Johnson switching to Labour or John Denham joining the Lib Dems, it's not atall difficlult is it? What this means is that each of these groups is under the grip of the same lobbyists, the same money politics and will behave the same way.

The only cure for this is to form a party from the ground up. A party that is built on solidarity and a need for change and, most of all, from people with principle. There is no shortcut to this, because trying to find one would mean going begging to the kinds of people we have just talked about.

And small parties can make a difference. Many councils in the UK have resident's associations on their board. Small parties in parliament can often tip the vote on big decisions. Labour (the old one) was formed by working people. It can be done.

So while it is unlikely you will see us - or any other minor party - running the country anytime soon, it's still, in my opinion, a crucial job we are doing in laying the foundations for a party to grown and strengthen in the future. Still, the clock is ticking for the UK and we need all the support we can have, so get involved!

Straight talking parties

Craig of the Popular Alliance is one of my favourite bloggers simply because he says (or rather, types) exactly what he thinks and feels. In fact, that's what I think is so good about the Popular Alliance. They are the rarest of breeds - a straight talking party. Veritas and Free England are the only other examples I can think of. Maybe UKIP to some extent, too. But what makes Popular Alliance extra special is that the also have an excellent set of policies and a very 'down to earth' style of running the party. That quality is an essential foundation for any party that plans to expand whilst keeping its integrity. I guess that is the true challenge, to keep straight talking whilst mounting a serious bid to get in government.