The most recent disasters to befall Change UK—Chuka Umunna’s determination to affix the Liberal Democrats and the occasion’s determination to alter its title for a 3rd time—are an excellent excuse to mirror on the unhappy destiny of probably the most ill-starred events in British political historical past.
It’s not that lengthy since Change UK was poised to revolutionise British politics. There are many the reason why that by no means got here to move: Heidi Allen proved to be an incompetent appearing head; the occasion didn’t model itself a “Stay occasion” however as an alternative dithered round making an attempt to reinvent the centre; it known as itself Change however demanded that, so far as Europe was involved, issues stayed the identical. However the largest cause of all was the outcomes of the council elections firstly of Might, by which Change didn’t participate. There was solely room for one anti-Depart occasion within the center floor of British politics, and the Liberal Democrats’ sturdy council-election efficiency ensured that it might be that occasion. From that time on individuals who felt as strongly about remaining within the European Union as Nigel Farage’s supporters felt about leaving gravitated to the Liberal Democrats.