From Matthew T’s site, a chap who adds high quality comments to this one. I think research into this area could fuel a few phD theses, on the subject of whether the Conservatives face a secular fall in their safe vote. Reflect on the fact that they did better under Major, during a recession, after [...]
Posts Tagged ‘Liberal Democrats’
8 May
Oh, how existential risks focus the mind
At several points in the last few months it has seemed ‘obvious’ to armchair politicians like me that, post election: Labour would indulge in lunatic blood-letting; lose the mantle of CentreLeft-ness to the Lib Dems; do something daft like elect Ismizing Cruddas or not-awfully-popular Balls as leader and that, from a Lib Dem perspective it [...]
8 May
I used to be furious at the voting system; now I’m a bit scared of it
I mean, check out the actual results. Conservatives: increased vote share by about 12% of their previous total (32.2-> 36). Increased seats by over 45% (from 209 to 306). Labour: reduced vote share by about 17% of their previous total, lost 25% of their seats. Liberal Democrats: increased their vote share by 4-5% of previous [...]
6 May
Two interesting reads for Election day
1. The FT. Britain is not broken, it has been getting better. It does make you wonder about their Conservative endorsement, huh? FT research shows that even the most deprived local authorities have shown signs of improvement over recent years when looking at figures ranging from crime and truancy to teenage pregnancies and children living [...]
5 May
Several more reasons that I am voting LibDem
Let’s cut to the chase Economics No doubt Gordon Brown feels aggreived – he did the right things over the financial crisis, and was right in allowing the deficit to rise to accommodate private sector dissaving. LeftOutside has a collection of quotes from leading US economists wondering aloud about why we would ditch a premier, [...]
5 May
Liberalism is about dissolving power
Reason number two for my support of the Lib Dems is their abiding concern with concentrated power. In Vince’s policies it is about dissolving the power of banks and other monopolies. In education it is about moving power down to where headteachers and local authorities can make decisions. In electoral reform it is about ensuring [...]
5 May
Why I’m voting LibDem, part 1
There are plenty of candidates for Reason Number 1, but perhaps the best of all was demonstrated by the ferocious reaction from the right wing press after Cleggmania. It is hard to calculate how deeply set is the corrupt nexus between press coverage, fundraising, the ability to swing marginal seats in our potty electoral system, [...]
4 May
Tactical voting – really, it’s simple
I agree with those finding it distasteful, and in all likelihood counterproductive, that Hain & Balls have come out with a call for tactical votes. Of course, people should vote how they want, and that might be framed in negative terms: if I had Beelzebub standing locally, I would vote for whoever beats him. Or [...]
30 Apr
Two contrasting endorsements
You’ll know this – the Economist has backed David Cameron, though in a surprisingly reticent way: I can’t remember their New Labour endorsements being so coy as to leave a picture of an invisible man on the front cover. For the first time I can recall, the Economist is forced to explain why they are [...]
28 Apr
#bigotgate distracts from important message: IFS very +ve for LibDems
Prior to #bigotgate, I had hoped that the world would tune in, agog, to my take on the IFS’s take on the fiscal situation. Fat chance now. (I think the best observation comes from my favourite tweeter.) Anyway, back to business. You will have read commentary such as this from the Guardian which tends to [...]
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