The Phoenix Newspaper - November 2025 by The Phoenix Newspaper

Are We Saying Goodbye Large Parties, Welcome Smaller Ones?

By:

Lecturer and Author in African Diaspora Politics and History)

For the better part of two centuries, Britain has relied mainly on a fairly stable two party political system.

While not perfect, this arrangement has been at the heart of the electoral system, despite a few occasions where we have had coalition governments which existed for short periods. The last general elections resulted in the Labour Party winning with a clear majority. Although only being in office for just over a year, recent polls suggest things might not be so straight forward whenthenextgeneralelectionisduein2029.

The two largest parties seem to be declining in popularity at the expense of the smaller ones. Couldthisbeasignalforthemoveawayfromthe two-horse race towards future coalition governments with smaller parties holding the key to power? A recent report in the Mail Newspaper onlinesuggeststhattheReformPartyissettowin the next elections with about a 200-seat majority atthegeneralelection.

The bookies Ladbrokes makes the party 10/11 to form the next government. Labour is 15/8, the Conservatives6/1,andLib-Dems33/1.Thereport claims that because of Labour’s lurch from crisis tocrisis,theywouldnotbesurprisedifanelection is called before 2029. According to the Express polling expert Professor Sir John Curtice, the Conservatives will win fewer seats than even the LiberalDemocratsatthenextelection. t

The paper claims - based a recent YouGov Poll - that Reformisoncoursetowin311seats,fallingjust15shyof anoverallmajority.BycontrasttheConservativescouldbe further wiped out, losing 76 of their existing seats and being reduced to a rump of just 45. This would be far fewer than 78 seats for the Lib-Dems and 144 for Labour. If these projections should come true, we could witness a complete switch in which the two largest political parties become the smaller or minor ones, at the expense of Reform,theLib-DemsandeventheGreens.

Of course, it has to be taken into consideration that sometimes during the period between elections, we observe some degree of protest votes carried out in anger or frustration against the ruling party. Because the next general election is still some years away, a lot can happen to change peoples' minds and thereby determine which partygetsclosesttothefigureof325seatsinParliamentto have control of the government. If these predictions are correct, and Reform wins, but falls short of an absolute majority, which of the Lib-Dems, Labour or the Conservatives would form an allegiance with them to controlParliamentandgovernthecountry?

Ifthepollsarecorrect,wecouldbeheadingforatightrace with Labour and the Conservatives possibly having to do deals with Reform, thereby giving rise to a coalition government. Only time will tell whether we are seeing the beginning of the end of the two big parties dominating British politics or just experiencing another mid term passingphase.

It was a crucial meeting that ask government-appointed Windrush Compensation commissioner crucialquestionsabouthisroleand responsibilities.

Themed ‘Future Development for Windrush Compensation’, Rev. CliveFosterM.B.E.stooduptoa barrage of questions as a selected audiencequeryingthedelays,and ignorance, of the huge number of applications made in respect of compensationsduringthemeeting at Beacon Evangelical Church, in Birmingham. Along with fellowpanellists, which included the director of JDUK (Jamaican DiasporaUK-WestMidlands),Ben Cunningham, its Regenal Coordinator, Jenifer McIntosh, Rev.MaxineDouglassofWMFIA (West Midlands Faith in Action) and Bishop Melvin Brook –amongst others - an often-heated meeting was filled with questions that, to today, has still not been answered.

GATEKEEPERS 16

Argent and Sable Moth Credit Butterfly conservation

Red Admiral

Hen Harrierr

Residents and visitors gatheredalongKentonRoad afternoon to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Kenton Festive Lights Switch-On,organisedbythe Kenton Area Traders’ Association.

TheeventbeganoutsideThe Vision Clinic on Kenton Road,wherepupilsfromSt Gregory’s Catholic Science College, Uxendon Manor Primary School and The Mount Stewart Schools performedfestivesongsand a Diwali dance, reflecting the area’s rich cultural mix and community spirit. The highlight of the afternoon camewhenCllrRyanHack, Mayor of Brent, and Councillor Anjana Patel, Mayor of Harrow, led the countdowntogethertolight up Kenton, marking the official start of the festive seasonforbothboroughs.

This event, now in its tenth year,demonstratesthefantastic community spirit of Kenton. Wewouldalsoliketothankthe pupilsofStGregory’sCatholic Science College, Uxendon ManorPrimarySchoolandThe Mount Stewart Schools for singing and dancing so beautifully.”

CllrAnjana Patel also praised the dedication of the local traders and community supporters,adding:“Kentonis veryfortunatetohaveanactive Traders’ Association, which works hard to improve the street scene in Kenton and without whom we would not have the flower baskets and festivelights.

Cllr Ryan Hack thanked organisersandlocalschools for their efforts, saying: “TheMayorsofHarrowand Brent would like to thank the Kenton Area Traders’ Association for organising theannualswitch-onofthe KentonFestiveLightsonce again.

“

The Mayor of Brent and I wouldliketocongratulatethe Kenton Area Traders’ Association for their achievementsandpaytributeto all the local businesses, organisations, schools and councillorswhosupportthem.”

Both mayors ended the celebrationbyextendingajoint festivemessage:“Maywewish everyoneofallfaithsandnone a peaceful, happy and healthy festiveperiod.”

sharing footage of the destruction. Images of White House, a fishing village on the west coast and home to several thousand people, revealed how it bore the brunt as Melissa, as early every structureappearedtobedamagedordestroyed.

leave the country “Thousands of people were placed in shelters, withtherebeingsignificantlossestotheagriculturalsector.Fruit plantations were hit and soil was saturated.” As one world of human beings – we pray for everyone in stood in the path of HurricaneMelissa!

government, for one, chartered flights to help British nationals leave the country “Thousands of people were placed in shelters, with there being significant losses to the agricultural sector. Fruit plantations were hit and soil was saturated.”As one world of human beings – we pray for everyone in stood in the path of HurricaneMelissa!