The “centre ground” commands much of the political stage. Bookshelves creak with new works from famous authors analysing what fellow centrists get right and wrong. Podcasts launch on a near daily basis hosted by self-proclaimed centrists aimed at an audience that is sometimes described self-mockingly as “centrist dads” – the mockery a sign of confidence. In the political arena, Keir Starmer hails Labour’s return to the centre ground. Tony Blair gives interviews most weeks celebrating his party’s occupation of the terrain he has always appeared to occupy. The centre ground is getting crowded.
But what is this much sought-after terrain over which so many political and media stars seek to coalesce? The answer is far from clear. The ubiquity of the term and its unique imprecision distorts the way British politics is perceived and conducted. In order to highlight the lack of clarity, here is a brief guided tour of the centre ground via its most articulate advocates. The tour could be a lot longer.
