"I will say it is underhanded though - these are views of party members, but in an attempt to come off as electable, the more extreme aspects are silenced from within the party."
Like Ruth Kelly?
Yep, Ruth Kelly, The Muslim Council of Britain, numerous literalist Christian and Muslim MPs, Blair himself ('we don't do God' A.C.) . . . . and so on - all had their more extreme views silenced (or at least tempered) for much the same reasons.
"I will say it is underhanded though - these are views of party members, but in an attempt to come off as electable, the more extreme aspects are silenced from within the party."
Yep, Ruth Kelly, The Muslim Council of Britain, numerous literalist Christian and Muslim MPs, Blair himself ('we don't do God' A.C.) . . . . and so on - all had their more extreme views silenced (or at least tempered) for much the same reasons.