Are the Lib Dems a legitimate threat?

[Republik]

I will be watching the debate tonight with interest as I've been impressed with Nick Clegg and Vince Cable over the last few days. A lot of people also seem to be predicting that the Lib Dems will win a lot of people over after tonight.

My question is, do you think the Lib Dems are a genuine threat to power or is a vote for them still a wasted vote?

My prediction is that they will increase their vote share by taking away Conservative voters meaning a hung Parliament, which none of us want.

[ewenm]

Republik said:

I will be watching the debate tonight with interest as I've been impressed with Nick Clegg and Vince Cable over the last few days. A lot of people also seem to be predicting that the Lib Dems will win a lot of people over after tonight.

My question is, do you think the Lib Dems are a genuine threat to power or is a vote for them still a wasted vote?

My prediction is that they will increase their vote share by taking away Conservative voters meaning a hung Parliament, which none of us want.

They could wield quite a lot of power if there's a minority government of Tory or Labour - the Lib Dem MPs could then pick and choose which policies to support in the house and which to oppose with real impact on the success/failure of those policies.

[elster]

I hope not, I can't afford to have them in power.

They may have a minor role in a hung parliament.

[Yelly]

I live in an area which is famously "red". I am "blue". Therefore, there is 0% chance of the Tories of winning this seat. I either don't vote, or I vote Lib Dems, as they are the only party with a chance of competing against Labour in this seat. If the Lib Dems won this seat, then that would increase the chances of the Tories getting an absolute majority.

I don't actually like the Lib Dems; I am just tactical voting. I'm sure that Labour voters vote Lib Dem in strong Tory areas, when the Lib Dems are the second biggest party.

If that results in the Lib Dems gaining a few seats, then that won't strengthen their position greatly, compared with the damage that could be done if the Labour Party/Tories had won that particular seat, depending on which side of the fence you might be sitting on.

I ran this theory past my missus last night. She agreed, and reckons that maybe as manty as 50% of the people who would vote for the Lib Dems are doing it purely tactically.

[Bing o]

Republik said:

I will be watching the debate tonight with interest as I've been impressed with ... Vince Cable over the last few days.

As are most people who, like Cable, know fk all about international finance and global economics.

[Republik]

/\ I don't claim to know the first thing about it. I just want the right man in charge like we all do. For the first time I'm questionning who to vote for after years of voting Tory.

[elster]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

Will Clegg know what to do or say without Cables hand up his backside operating the mouth doing the Ventriloquist thing ??

Looks fking sad that they have to do EVERYTHING together.

Bit like Brown and Mandy too.

[pss1]

Bing o said:

Republik said:

I will be watching the debate tonight with interest as I've been impressed with ... Vince Cable over the last few days.

As are most people who, like Cable, know fk all about international finance and global economics.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vince_Cable

Vince Cable:

Natural Sciences and Ecomomics BA (Cambridge 1966)
Ph.D Economics (Glasgow 1969)
Lecturer - London School of Economics and Glasgow University

Chief Economist Shell PLC 1995


Obviously he's learned nowt along the way then - shall we compare:
George Osborne - BA in History (Oxford)
Darling - Advanced level slug-balancing