A group of allegedly rebellious MPs are once more threatening to set up a new centrist party. As such, any reasonable journalist would ask:
Okay. You’ve actually told us this 43 times, now – do you think you’ll go through with it this time?
The Observer said:
Okie dokie – let us put that on the front page for you.
But is something else afoot?
Scam
Some thought talks of a new centrist party were the work of a hoax caller – one who preyed on the Guardian writers’ wishful thinking and lack of curiosity. Other pointed out these stories usually come out at the weekend; possibly because Chris Leslie cuts loose on Friday nights and drunk-calls anyone who’ll listen.
The truth has now been revealed anyway. It turns out the whole thing is a betting scam. As one bookie told us:
I kept noticing this shifty looking guy coming in and placing bets on a new centrist party. Every time the party never actually materialised, the odds went up. They’re up to 20,000,000/1 now, and that’s when I realised – the guy who kept coming in – it was Chuka Umunna. Obviously we’ve suspended all bets in response.
Busted
A spokesperson from the centrists has now said:
Yes, it was all a scam. Obviously there’s no need for a new centrist party. No need whatsoever. As such, we will now return to what we do best – drumming up noise about everything other than our actual politics.
In other news, a man who bet on the centrist party never actually forming has won 75p from a £10 bet.
Featured image via John Shafthauer / Graeme Maclean – Wikimedia
