• The profile of a JC supporter is clearly more nuanced than is often presented, both here and in the media. Here's a fun read!

• Regardless of my personal views on JC and the party, it can only be a good thing that he has engaged more young people into politics.

• It is clear that he's upsetting a lot of the establishment and corners of the media. Again, regardless of my views, I find it interesting to see what he has provoked.

• I'm always fascinated to read comments attempting to define what is and isn't mainstream. Some think "mainstream" is synonymous with "centrist" and for others it's synonymous with "popular". The thing which I keep in mind is that politics is more complicated than the linear far left - centre left - centrist - centre right - far right spectrum we are presented with, and that what's perceived as the "centre ground" is quite open to manipulation.

David Houssein:

The thing which I keep in mind is that politics is more complicated than the linear far left - centre left - centrist - centre right - far right spectrum we are presented with, and that what's perceived as the "centre ground" is quite open to manipulation.

Very true. I consider the one-dimensional left right spectrum to be inaccurate and outdated.


Americans are even worse as they subdivide society into two distinct camps of liberal and conservative with no third alternative and no middle ground.

David Houssein:

I think a lot of political influencers are motivated to keep the linear spectrum as the foundation of debate. It allows them to be divisive and position opponents as extreme. 

My mother's background is politics and economics. She says that the British political establishment, the mainstream media, and even large sections of the academic community rigidly adhere to this linear spectrum for their own convenience. There are alternative political compasses but none have received widespread acceptance outside of academic communities and nonestablishment political movements.