About
A political movement built around an idea, not a permanent claim to lead it.
Honest Politics began with a frustration: government is too often rewarded for the good headline rather than the good decision, while party loyalty is treated as more important than whether an idea is right.
The movement is working towards becoming a party, while developing its platform, governance and compliance in public.
Why Honest Politics?
The name is the point.
Most parties contain people defending opinions they may never have tested because those opinions are conventional for their side. Honest Politics is meant to put an honest assessment of what will improve Britain before party loyalty, image or convenience.
It cannot fully assess every suggestion. But when an idea from any profession, party, country or member of the public looks promising on the surface, the movement should assess it on its merits, use it if the likely net benefit is stronger than realistic alternatives, and credit whoever developed it.
From Max
I started Honest Politics because too many governments seem to ask what will help them win next time before asking what will make Britain better over the next ten or twenty years.
I do not have every answer, and I do not believe starting the movement gives me a permanent right to lead it or makes me the natural future Prime Minister. My role now is to develop and test the ideas, build the movement and take responsibility for what it publishes.
If a more capable leader emerges, proper constitutional rules should allow that person to lead. Leadership should be earned and held by whoever is best able to serve the country, not treated as the founder’s property.
I do not know where this will go. I only know that widespread frustration with the country’s management changes nothing unless some people are willing to act.
Max
Started Honest Politics and currently responsible for its direction
An honest risk
Openness can be exploited
We do not know whether a more candid form of politics will succeed. A movement that is always accommodating can be exploited by opponents willing to deceive or act in bad faith. Honest Politics intends to be open without being naive, firm without becoming tribal and ready to challenge falsehoods directly.
Why try now?
The public may be ready for a different bargain
Years of mistrust, short-term management and promises that fail in practice have created an opportunity to test whether voters will reward candour, visible trade-offs and decisions aimed beyond the next election.
Current status
What Honest Politics is, and is not.
A movement in development should be honest about the authority and institutions it actually has.
What it is
- A political movement working towards becoming a party
- A developing policy and governance project
- Currently funded by Max Brocklesby
- Open to promising ideas, evidence, expertise and correction
- Currently directed and publicly accounted for by Max
What it is not
- Not yet a registered political party
- Not standing candidates
- Not accepting donations
- Not claiming a finished manifesto
- Not a permanent vehicle for one person’s leadership
- Not governed by an independent commission
What must happen before party registration
A future party would need a constitution, financial scheme, officer roles, membership and voting rules, leadership and succession rules, candidate selection, complaints and appeals, discipline and political-finance controls. Those rules should allow leadership to pass to the person best able to serve the country.