Groupthink in Action - 'I don't know what the PM said, but I agree.'

Party politics is a real danger in the UK - as it is everywhere. Here is the Australian employment minister demonstrating Groupthink beautifully on the news yesterday. In an interview on Australian Sky News, the country's employment minister, Bill Shorten, is asked his opinion on the return of Peter Slipper, the speaker of the parliament, after a sexual harassment claim. At the end of the interview Shorten admits he does not know what his prime minister said on the issue - but says he supports whatever it was.



The problem that this clearly demonstrates is that when voters elect a member of a major political party, they empower that party's leader with the blind loyalty of their own Member of Parliament. This is seen time and again in the House of Parliament where MPs fail to consult thier constituents or take into account what their opinions might be, instead taking their instruction from major party leaders like Cameron, Clegg and Miliband and their party whips. Is this the kind of politics we want? Alarmingly, by voting for a candidate from a major political party a voter could be empowering a future party leader they haven't even heard of yet - let alone agree with or want to support. Only Independent MPs and MPs from Minor Parties will be free of that kind of blind and dangerous loyalty. They will consider their position as MP to be more fragile and precarious - and therefore more precious. Their compact with the people who voted for them is likely to be the only consideration for Independent MPs and take precedence over even Minor Party members' obligations to their party leaders. The leaders of Minor Parties simply can't afford to alienate the voters of a smaller number of members and so are likely to be more considerate of constituents' wishes. Voters will not get that from Cameron, Clegg or Miliband who think they automatically have votes for their candidates in the bag. Their eye is firmly on the power those votes give them personally as a leader - voter lending power to local MP who in turn gives it up through party obligation to party leader and/or prime minister. The only way to stop this is to vote in a greater number of MPs who are either Inependents or members of Minor Parties. Ultimately, don't people want a Member of Parliament who will listen to them and act on their wishes?

For more about the political dangers of Groupthink, click here.