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Why Are The Libdems So Unpopular?
Clegg has gone from hero to zero, and I'm not sure why. He was even being talked about as a potential PM after his performances in the pre-election debates - hard to believe I know, but I distinctly remember it.
Flippant answers are welcome, but it's a genuine question, so I'd appreciate some proper analysis also.
Flippant answers are welcome, but it's a genuine question, so I'd appreciate some proper analysis also.
Answers
I was an undergraduat
09:28 Thu 13th Nov 2014
Libdems have for the last few elections been the place for the protest vote - those who don't want to vote for one of the two big ones.
The coalition rather puts paid to that.
It seems now that the protest vote goes to UKIP. I think hardly anyone voting UKIP seriously wants them to actually get any power.
The coalition rather puts paid to that.
It seems now that the protest vote goes to UKIP. I think hardly anyone voting UKIP seriously wants them to actually get any power.
...added to which Labour supporters who might be tempted by them feel betrayed that they went into coalition with the Tories. While a lot of Tories (admittedly not the sort who'd vote LibDem anyway) are angry with then because they feel let they've held back "proper Tory policies".
As a Labour supporter I'll admit that the first reaction is somewhat unfair, and over the last few months, with the rise of UKIP, and the unseemly scramble and panic by the other parties to "out-UKIP" them, the LibDems have seemed like the only voice of reason, and I've actually gone back to quite liking Nick Clegg again.
As a Labour supporter I'll admit that the first reaction is somewhat unfair, and over the last few months, with the rise of UKIP, and the unseemly scramble and panic by the other parties to "out-UKIP" them, the LibDems have seemed like the only voice of reason, and I've actually gone back to quite liking Nick Clegg again.
I am not sure if Cleggie was ever seen as a hero, and I can't remember any time in the past where the Libs were seen as heros either.
Cleggie is paying the ultimate price for supping with the Devil...he has found that his spoon wasn't long enough. Despite all the distracting noises off, from UKIP and the like, we still like our politics to be as simple as possible and a third party will always get squeezed in the middle.
Cleggie became Deputy PM by default, as a way for the Tories to become the Government. He and his Party served no other purpose. If the Tories had won a few more votes, then we wouldn't be talking about Cleggie at all.
I don't dislike him as a person, as he seems a decent enough chap but its his Party that is being ridiculed, not him. Before the 2010 election, not many had heard of him and I think that in a few months time, he will sink into obscurity again, just like Charles Kennedy before him.
Cleggie is paying the ultimate price for supping with the Devil...he has found that his spoon wasn't long enough. Despite all the distracting noises off, from UKIP and the like, we still like our politics to be as simple as possible and a third party will always get squeezed in the middle.
Cleggie became Deputy PM by default, as a way for the Tories to become the Government. He and his Party served no other purpose. If the Tories had won a few more votes, then we wouldn't be talking about Cleggie at all.
I don't dislike him as a person, as he seems a decent enough chap but its his Party that is being ridiculed, not him. Before the 2010 election, not many had heard of him and I think that in a few months time, he will sink into obscurity again, just like Charles Kennedy before him.
WR...the Libs have always had to put their principles into danger, in order to win some kind of power. How else would they ever get anywhere if they didn't ? There are few still alive that can remember a time when the Libs won an election, so if they didn't brown-nose with either Labour or the Tories, they would remain in the political wilderness forever.
Its my own opinion that Clegg could and should have done a deal with Labour in May 2010, and it was probably Gordon Brown that prevented it happening. For that matter, if Blair had still been Labour Leader, he would have won a 4th election victory.
Its my own opinion that Clegg could and should have done a deal with Labour in May 2010, and it was probably Gordon Brown that prevented it happening. For that matter, if Blair had still been Labour Leader, he would have won a 4th election victory.
// Correct me if I am wrong but wasn't Cleggie the politician who got in on a promise of NO charges for university education & then as soon as he was in power reneged on his promises ? //
Yes, but that's what all politicians do isn't it? Clegg seems to be singled out for special helpings of scorn in that respect.
Yes, but that's what all politicians do isn't it? Clegg seems to be singled out for special helpings of scorn in that respect.
I do remember Nick Clegg being temporarily a hero based on his performance on the live debates immediately prior to the election - but that was due mainly to his charismatic debating ability. After that I think Lib Dem supporters and most of the rest of us saw the coalition as just Nick getting into bed with anyone just to be in Government - and then not sticking to lib dem policies and promises once in. As they've also hinted they might be willing to join with Labour in a coalition at the next election then Nick just comes across as a tart.
I was an undergraduate student at the time of the last election. I remember constantly having arguments with people my age who were almost wilfully ignoring the signals that Clegg was a liar and extremely untrustworthy.
The libdems had been courting student votes for years - and his reversal on topup fees (despite being utterly predictable) within five minutes of gaining office was taken as a serious betrayal by a lot of students.
Outside of that, the Liberals were the only real left-wing option available (yes I know some people like to pretend Labour is a socialist party but it's just rubbish. Policy-wise Labour has been indistinguishable from the tories since the mid-90s). Seeing them do absolutely *nothing* as a supposed partner in coalition has annoyed a lot of people who thought the coalition might contain spme compromises.
To be clear - I don't consider myself in either of the above camps. Those wre just the things I get the impression of.
The libdems had been courting student votes for years - and his reversal on topup fees (despite being utterly predictable) within five minutes of gaining office was taken as a serious betrayal by a lot of students.
Outside of that, the Liberals were the only real left-wing option available (yes I know some people like to pretend Labour is a socialist party but it's just rubbish. Policy-wise Labour has been indistinguishable from the tories since the mid-90s). Seeing them do absolutely *nothing* as a supposed partner in coalition has annoyed a lot of people who thought the coalition might contain spme compromises.
To be clear - I don't consider myself in either of the above camps. Those wre just the things I get the impression of.
The strange thing is, lapsed Libdem voters seem to hold the view that they've generally betrayed their policies and done s0dall as part of the coalition.
However, Tory MPs and voters seem to believe they've achieved an awful lot in terms of stifling Tory policies and imposing an unwanted Libdem agenda on the Govt.
They just can't seem to win.
However, Tory MPs and voters seem to believe they've achieved an awful lot in terms of stifling Tory policies and imposing an unwanted Libdem agenda on the Govt.
They just can't seem to win.
Reluctantly, I must agree that Cleggie has stopped the Tories getting away with the most rabid of their plans.
But if he had refused to have anything to do with them in the first place, the Tories would have had no choice but to proceed on their own, an a minority administration. The result of that would almost certainly have been a early 2nd election and then who knows ?
But if he had refused to have anything to do with them in the first place, the Tories would have had no choice but to proceed on their own, an a minority administration. The result of that would almost certainly have been a early 2nd election and then who knows ?
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