Can we use the Lib Dems to break the Con/Lab stranglehold on British Politics?

[JAMC]

Unfortunately (to try and bring the thread back on topic), I think the days of the LibDems being in a position to break a tie are nearly over. It is a shame because as the natural choice for the protest vote they were in a unique position of influence there for a while. It seems to me they lost momentum when they lost chat show Charlie and they seem to still be floundering.

While I would agree that the perhaps have taken a backward step since appointing Clegg as leader, as long as they occupy 3rd place, they could concievably be king-makers.

Their main problem of course is that both the Labour party and Conservatives have spent the last ten years wageing campaign battles in the traditional central ground that once belonged to the Libs. For a while there when they positioned themselves to the left they were quite the effective opposition party, but I'm not sure there's enough ground support for them at the moment and they could be quite a big casuality at the next general.

Depends I think whether you think that
a) people will be turned off the big two because of i) the expenses scandal ii) disgust for the dominant thatcherite ideology of both parties.
b) people will turn to extreme parties in massive numbers - I mean numbers where they can win > 5 seats in parliament
c) The center (or rather what we've thought of as the center for the last 30 years) will still be the place where all the votes reside after the events of the past 18 months (recession etc...)

[Marxist Nutter]

While I would agree that the perhaps have taken a backward step since appointing Clegg as leader, as long as they occupy 3rd place, they could concievably be king-makers.

I met and quite liked 'talk like a tory act like a socialist' Ed Davy. I really don't know why he didn't stand s leader. I would have maybe stayed in the party a bit longer.

[Nicholas]

Suusex, people only vote BNP for one or two oftwo reasons:

1) Because they are racist (NOT THE MAJORITY I KNOW)
or
2)Because they want immigration to stop.

They don't really bother with other policies because every other party can beat them on them.
So they just stick with their card.

Yo have no idea what you are talking about!

[SussexWithLove]

gonna back that remark up with anything?

Is Smith going to back it up with anything more like.


Ohhh, there’s only 3 reasons why you vote labour.

1. You’re a Muslim
2. You’re from a minority group
3. You hate your country and want to wreck it some more


(I won’t back it up with any opinion or evidence though. In fact I don’t even know why I said this)