We have to say now we think the character of the party has changed so far it will take something very exceptional, something really out of the ordinary line to make us be convinced there's a chance of winning back the party.

In this quote, Shirley Williams, a prominent British politician, reflects on her disillusionment with the direction of the political party she was once a part of. She suggests that the character of the party has changed so drastically that it would take something truly exceptional and out of the ordinary to convince her that it’s possible to win back the values and goals that originally defined the party. Williams is expressing a sense of loss and frustration, indicating that the party’s transformation has moved so far from its original ideals that it would require significant change for her to believe in its future.

Williams' statement also speaks to a broader theme of political disillusionment and the difficulty of returning to a previous state once a party or movement has undergone significant ideological shifts. In her view, the party’s changes have been so profound that reconciliation with its original purpose or values feels almost impossible without drastic reforms or actions that break from the current trajectory.

The idea of something out of the ordinary being needed for the party to regain its integrity suggests that Williams believes extraordinary measures are required for meaningful change. It points to a belief that the current state of the party no longer aligns with the values she once supported, and thus, only a remarkable and unprecedented shift could potentially bring it back to a position of trust and effectiveness.

Ultimately, this quote encapsulates Williams' sense of political frustration and her perception of the challenges involved in trying to reclaim a political identity after significant ideological shifts. It serves as a powerful critique of the changes within the party, emphasizing how deeply those changes have affected her confidence in its future.