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For voters, the choice is still between the established parties. A more rational politics remains tantalisingly out of reach
It’s always good to be an independent thinker, right? You can make up your own mind rather than follow the fashion. You trust the facts more than the dogmas or the vogue. You think sensibly, around corners. You call out emperors with no clothes, and warn against the folly of the crowd.
Well, maybe. But when it comes to politics, being an independent is more complicated in practice. In particular, it depends on the circumstances and the political system. To be an independent is very important in times deadened by orthodoxy. It matters just as much in times of polarisation, when those in the middle struggle to have a voice. But when something big is at stake, the independent reflex can seem a bit precious, or worse. So, how does all this apply in 2023?
Martin Kettle is a Guardian associate editor and columnist
