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Politics

Nick Clegg or Chris Huhne: no one can change the Lib Dems’ failure to find a niche

Stephen Pollard

Wednesday, 17th October 2007

Stephen Pollard on the Lib Dem leadership race

Politics has moved on, but not much has changed for the Lib Dems. David Cameron — who is now the longest-serving party leader — is taking the Conservatives towards the centre, a prerequisite of victory. But to make that real, the Labour party has to be seen, as in 1979, 1983, 1987 and 1992, as having forfeited the right to power. Saddled with Gordon Brown, that looks more than a possibility.

That leaves the Lib Dems pretty much where they have been since 1983 — struggling to find a purpose or a niche. The party’s leadership contest is, somewhat hilariously, being presented as a battle between those who want to target potential Conservative voters and those who want to ape Charles Kennedy’s strategy of being more left-wing than Labour. Hilarious, because if the party wants to maximise its vote at any given election, it has little choice in how it presents itself. As a vehicle for protest votes from those who are unhappy with either the Labour or Conservative party, it must position itself in reaction to the electorate’s view of the main parties. With a resurgent Conservative party, it would be crazy to target the Conservatives. With an ever-weakening Labour party, it would be crazy not to target disillusioned Labour voters.

Nick Clegg or Chris Huhne: the party’s vote might dip and bob a few points, but the Lib Dems will remain what they always have been.

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Frank Leader

October 18th, 2007 6:32am

At Prime Minister’s Question Time 17th October 2007 Answering a question from Vince Cable Gordon Brown, Paid tribute to Sir Menzies Campbell. He then congratulated Vince Cable on his temporary Leadership of the Lib. Dems. He then said “If things continue at the present rate of change in this parliament”. “Every single Liberal Member will have the chance to be MEMBER of the Liberal Party”. Was this his way of helping?

stephen Deaves

October 21st, 2007 2:29pm

Excellent article. Who cares who is leader of the Lib Dems? I thought that whoever got the job then had the right to lose two elections. What has happened? The Lib Dems will lose the biggest asset they had as the nice party. They will be percived as harsher than the other parties!

Alan Joel

November 16th, 2007 6:01pm

with 25% of the vote the Lib Demsshould have had approx 150 seats under any propotional system as happens world wide with democradies od more than 2 parties so everyoneelse is out of step !

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