Lib Dems: Making a great comeback?
Discussion
Timmy40 said:
in all this uncertainty and mess they have a chance to look organised and offer clarity of vision whilst Labour and the Tories pull themselves to pieces. There's disgruntled business sponsors and votes galore to be hoovered up if they get it right. And as someone else has said for many the EU is an issue that trumps all others.
And although the tuition fee debacle haunts them, I think most people feel they did a very good job as coalition partners to the Tories. Not afraid to make hard decisions but perhaps softening some of the Tories political instincts.
The centre ground will be up for grabs if a post CMD Tory party swings right and Labour obliterates itself in a leftward spiral.
There will be a lot of seats for the Lib Dems to work on and UKIP (if they bother any further) will be disdained by any protest voters as people have now got Farage's number.
I think a lot of people have looked into the abyss now and the idea of monumental change is beginning to look a lot less appetising.
The idea of 'going over the top' just because you said you would, when you now know what's on the other side, doesn't have so much of a hold on people anymore.
There's more willingness to consider altering course when danger has appeared on the horizon.
The idea of 'going over the top' just because you said you would, when you now know what's on the other side, doesn't have so much of a hold on people anymore.
There's more willingness to consider altering course when danger has appeared on the horizon.
The best thing I think that could come about from the LibDems taking a bold position on the EU, is that it may force the others to follow suit and declare on one side or the other.
This is the significant division in our society that the parties should reflect, rather than splitting over a few % increases (or not) for NHS funding.
This is the significant division in our society that the parties should reflect, rather than splitting over a few % increases (or not) for NHS funding.
Mr Happy said:
This is a Lib Dem return to form IMO - they're in the political wilderness (again) with no chance of power so they can say whatever they like.
The whole furore around the student fees issue has probably caused an entire generation of voters to never vote lib dem again, either that or the students will have to u-turn and show just how short their short term memories are.
Student fees is a pretty trivial issue in the grand scheme of things, or at least it would be if people had a sense of perspective. The u-turn was not even much of a u-turn as the policy was obviously a complete non-starter for the Lib Dem's much larger coalition partner.The whole furore around the student fees issue has probably caused an entire generation of voters to never vote lib dem again, either that or the students will have to u-turn and show just how short their short term memories are.
If this move breathes life back into the Lib Dems we should all breathe a sigh of relief even if we're never going to vote for them ourselves. It would mark a small step back towards political normality in the UK and help foster a saner level of discussion.
Esseesse said:
The best thing I think that could come about from the LibDems taking a bold position on the EU, is that it may force the others to follow suit and declare on one side or the other.
This is the significant division in our society that the parties should reflect, rather than splitting over a few % increases (or not) for NHS funding.
I agree. Are the two main parties capable of picking sides or will one or both of them split? I do wonder if we're going to see some kind of SDP style splits followed by a centerist coalition.This is the significant division in our society that the parties should reflect, rather than splitting over a few % increases (or not) for NHS funding.
ATG said:
If this move breathes life back into the Lib Dems we should all breathe a sigh of relief even if we're never going to vote for them ourselves. It would mark a small step back towards political normality in the UK and help foster a saner level of discussion.
Good point. After Labour's collapse in Scotland we were in a position of possibly never having a viable opposition of any form. If the Lib Dems can come forward to a point where there's at least the potential for a multi-party opposition, it's got to be better.andy_s said:
Mr Happy said:
The whole furore around the student fees issue has probably caused an entire generation of voters to never vote lib dem again, either that or the students will have to u-turn and show just how short their short term memories are.
Students are only students for a few years, so that seems likely.Esseesse said:
The best thing I think that could come about from the LibDems taking a bold position on the EU, is that it may force the others to follow suit and declare on one side or the other.
This is the significant division in our society that the parties should reflect, rather than splitting over a few % increases (or not) for NHS funding.
The fundamental problem is that 52% of those motivated to vote completely rejected anything and everything the main political representation had to offer, and that includes the clegg. The problem is an apparent majority feel they have no real political representation, trust or respect for those in Westminster. I hardly see what that bunch of also-ran very much worship-at-the-alter-of-the-eu weasels that are the lib dems are going to entice them with?This is the significant division in our society that the parties should reflect, rather than splitting over a few % increases (or not) for NHS funding.
Tories or labour could take a election victory with a new no-nonsense "I'm going to get a deal for britain" that appeals to both sides- the promise of stability for the remains combined with more rights/powers for the leaves - fighting from the middle as do most successfull campaigns. But labour are a complete f
king shambles, tories aren't much better with boris but his stock is overstretched even with those who once supported him- I'm not sure he expected or wanted this.Underlying problem is a complete lack of real leadership and calibre in politics, even if better leadership would have let it come to a referendum they'd have convinced/galvanised the country to vote the way they wanted. Perhaps that lack of leadership and individualism in politics is an effect of succumbing to the eu, but whether we are in or out of the eu isn't the biggest matter - how well we do is all about leadership- to lead the country or to fight for britains place within the eu.
Back to the piffling squabble about in/out.
madala said:
loads of disgruntled young voters
Well they should have got out of their smelly pits and made it to the polls ...... the young are beyond a bore ...... they want it all on plate ...... I dislike them intensely ...... fck them .......
But next time, and there will be one this year, they will learn by their mistake & reverse this madness .Well they should have got out of their smelly pits and made it to the polls ...... the young are beyond a bore ...... they want it all on plate ...... I dislike them intensely ...... fck them .......
Silverage said:
Guardian poll taken over the weekend has the LibDems on 7%, less than half than UKIP, so I don't think they'll be getting back to the heady days of 2010 for a while.
It's all early days though. The response is just warmimg up.The Tory leadership contest gives everyone until September.
Both Britain and EU have shown their hands and Merkel et al know Britain doesn't actually have the appetite to swallow what it's bitten off.
The more disruption there is, higher petrol prices, more expensive holiday money etc - all of these things hit the poor more than the rich.
The urban areas where Remain did well will turn to the Lib Dems, taking seats from the Tories and Labour whose 'Leave because we have to not because we want to' attitude won't cut the mustard.
I can't see people voting for UKIP in future.
s2art said:
S10GTA said:
It looks like a GE is on the cards for the Autumn unless I am mistaken. This is a very clever move by the LD.
Cant see it. The Tories are not going to want a GE until the Boundaries Commission has done its job.Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff