Are political parties essential for democracy?
No, political parties are not essential, however they can be a force for good or they can be malign, as is currently the case. Your suggestion seems to suggest a Presidential approach, similar to the US. The outcome would not necessarily choose the most competent, nor would the incumbent necessarily choose the best subordinates. And what exactly would be the ‘people’s agenda’. In order to mitigate the corruption inherent in the party system I would change the UK system in this way. 1. All party organisations would have to be local or at the most county size. This would ensure that selected candidates were locally selected, no more parachuting in of cronies or selection by diktat from above. I would allow local parties to form national alliances but there would be no central control, no ‘leader’. 2. All MPs would be ‘independent’ and the role of PM would be elected from within the Commons. In fact you could do away with a PM and just have the Speaker. This person would nominate the mini
