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Lib Dem Polls - How Low Can They Go?

Lib-dems defending another seat last night - lost it to labour. So 4 by-elections with lib-dem incumbents since the coaltion was formed. They've lost two to the tories, one to labour and one to the greens
 
butchersapron said:
Lib-dems defending another seat last night - lost it to labour. So 4 by-elections with lib-dem incumbents since the coaltion was formed. They've lost two to the tories, one to labour and one to the greens
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Was that a Parliamentary by-election? Or a local council one?

I can't find the story anywhere on the BBC, Guardian or Independent or the Telegraph web sites (at least in their UK politics sections - maybe it's filed under Sport or something? :confused:).
 
Some analysis from the 'left' of the Lib Dems:

http://www.liberator.org.uk/article.asp?id=194604138

CLOUDS IN THE CRYSTAL BALLS
Not even historians now pay much attention to the National Liberals, the group that joined a Conservative-dominated coalition in 1931 and lingered on until 1968, though during the post-war period with only a name to distinguish them from the Tories.
...

The coalition agreement contains things that will both please and infuriate Liberal Democrats, which is inevitable in such a negotiation. Of the concessions the Lib Dems made, only one is instantly contentious, which is early public spending cuts. Having spent the campaign arguing about the dangers of cutting too far and too fast, the party is now complicit in doing just that.

When the promised further and deeper cuts really bite, the party will find itself in a novel role, for which it must be ready. For the past several decades, its main complaint has been being ignored by the public. The Lib Dems are instead likely to become robustly hated, in particular in those parts of the country that depend heavily on public sector jobs.

That could open up fissures in the party as Labour seeks to recapture these areas. More widely, all governments become unpopular, so what will happen to those who want to vote against the coalition in Tory areas where Labour now hardly exists? If the Lib Dems cannot continue to attract this vote by arguing that their presence stops worse excesses, a vacuum will open for the full chamber of horrors of UKIP, the BNP and local populists of various kinds.

It may be that the coalition delivers political benefits to the Lib Dems but, since it is now easier to see the pitfalls, it would be as well for the party to plan for these.

The party must not only remain independent and make its own policy, but also its leaders must encourage this. Sooner or later, it will need a platform on which to fight another election. Saying, “We're a bit like the Tories but not quite as much,” will not do.

Essential too will be tolerance within the party. A lot of people don't like the coalition and will blame it for local losses. If coalition supporters try to drive their opponents out, neither side will have a party before long.

It will also be essential to be clear what the party is for. It exists to advance liberalism, not to tone down someone else's philosophy. It hopes one day, aided by reformed voting perhaps, to lead a government, but it will not be able to do either of these things if it has been ruined by in-fighting, become an appendage of the Tories, or both.

Only a fool would make firm predictions now about the outcome of the next general election, but the many pitfalls and opportunities are obvious.

The pessimistic scenario would see the Lib Dem ministers slowly morph into the coalition's representatives within the Lib Dems, rather than the reverse, with the party detached from and resentful of the government, split, ineffective, and facing a massacre, alterative vote or not.
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I love that line "Lib Dems are instead likely to become robustly hated"
 
but why is it good that support is polarising round the two main parties? Surely it would be better if support for all of them was slipping.
 
Who said it was good? That was a brief summary of an expert opinion of what the polls suggest is taking place. What is good that lib-dems are being wiped off the face of the earth.
 
I am afraid after the sell out to the tories i couldn't give a flying fart for the libdems.the likes of cable ,clegg,laws,huhne will probablly be later day national liberals they are so comfortable in the tory party.Simon Hughes is the problem he as been left outside as has been said on here is a meglomaniac and will throw tantrums at some time
 
so it appears that the only positive thing the lib dems are able to deliver at the moment is keeping the far right of the conservative party (their backbenchers) from getting their policies pushed through. :facepalm: a bunch of w...kers
 
butchersapron said:
Cable was far from looking uneasy this morning on BBC1 - he looked very comfortable indeed with all this neo-liberal shit.
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True. Danny Alexander looked a bit uneasy doing the same thing on The Politics Show, but then Danny Alexander would probably look a bit uneasy if you asked him what time it is. :)

It is faintly amusing how the Tories are letting the LibDems do the "big interviews" about the budget -- but then the silly cunts should have realised that taking the number 2 and number 3 jobs in the Treasury would mean that they would get wheeled out when Gideon's too busy or too important to go on the telly.
 
'so it appears that the only positive thing the lib dems are able to deliver at the moment is keeping the far right of the conservative party (their backbenchers) from getting their policies pushed through. a bunch of w...kers'


er,I think you will find many of the far right lot are very happy with some of the policies, especially the ones on welfare, IDS's 'get on your bike' ffs!
 
@the button

I wonder if anyone has analysed the body language of the LD's leaders, etc to identify whether indeed they are giving 'signs' that they are uncomfortable.
 
the button said:
It is faintly amusing how the Tories are letting the LibDems do the "big interviews" about the budget -- but then the silly cunts should have realised that taking the number 2 and number 3 jobs in the Treasury would mean that they would get wheeled out when Gideon's too busy or too important to go on the telly.
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i am guessing that's to ensure the support of the remaining 55 lib dem mps for the budget
 
treelover said:
'so it appears that the only positive thing the lib dems are able to deliver at the moment is keeping the far right of the conservative party (their backbenchers) from getting their policies pushed through. a bunch of w...kers'


er,I think you will find many of the far right lot are very happy with some of the policies, especially the ones on welfare, IDS's 'get on your bike' ffs!
Click to expand...

yes, because the lib dems are not the party of the poor, they are the party of the fucked up rich people. i did not know that. i do now though.
 
Meanwhile, Caroline Lucas tweets relentlessly urging disillusioned LibDems to join the Greens.

(Making a play for people who enjoy being disappointed, presumably).
 
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