LibDem party conference.

[Workingman]

It will be interesting to see how this goes, for the party as well as Nick Clegg.

The LibDems have done some good things in the coalition by tempering some of the Tories' excesses, but they have failed miserably on others.

They are currently running fourth in opinion polls: behind Labour, Tories and UKIP. It will be a miracle if they can pull a rabbit out of the hat at the next general election, and for Clegg to stay in charge. The mumblings of tough negotiations when forming a new coalition look to be a tad optimistic.

[Kaz]

They lost me four years ago

[cromwell]

It will be tough for them in the next general election. They will hang on to some MP's but imo they will lose more than they keep.

[Suff]

So long as they keep thinking that people don't understand them, rather than people don't want what they are offering, that's good enough for me. After all, how insulting can they get? I don't understand? I'm an idiot?

I'll peruse the news on it but don't want to see anything live. My blood pressure is high enough...

Right now my biggest worry is that traditional labour voters think it's safe to go back to Labour now the Coalition has "fixed" some of the mess and the economy turning up again. It's one of the most dangerous things about Cameron and Osborne's plans, that people begin to think it's "fixed enough". With a UKIP split on the Tory vote, that could be calamitous.

Because I've heard the same trite nonsense coming from some of the Tories recently. Apparently we don't "understand" what they are offering or what they stand for.... Death Knell.

[pederito1]

The Liberal Party died with Lloyd George for me./

[Workingman]

At the last election the electorate was fed up with the government, but had no appetite for a full-blown Tory government, so we got the ConDem coalition.

This time the electorate is fed up with the government, but has no appetite for a full-blown Labour government. The trouble this time is that there could be a situation where neither of the two biggest parties can get a majority, even with their natural allies.

A government of National Unity anyone?

[KateLMead]

Frank I listened to Cleggs vitriolic speech, he sounded on the point of hysteria, almost shrieking
The man sounded mentally unstable, any one who votes for him needs his or her head testing.
his audience included. God save us from these chancers (all of them!)who are and have systematically destroyed this country.

[Suff]

A government of National Unity anyone?

A Government of Expediency or disunity more like. We could wind up with what Sweden has. Every other party swearing they won't work with the Sweden Democrats. Yet the Sweden Democrats are now the third largest party. The voters just keep on voting for them in ever larger numbers. Eventually democracy will take over and the Sweden Democrats (meetings with Nazi uniforms and all), will garner the largest vote. Will the EU then step into the election, the way they did in Austria and force changes to the party to make it more "compatibile" with EU designs?

If the main parties don't start listening to the people, we could find the same happening in the UK. It took more than a decade in Sweden with the Sweden Democrats initially polling less than 2% of the vote. Yet over successive elections, their vote mushroomed. From 5.6% to nearly 13%.

Whilst UKIP is no Neo Nazi party and never has been, it's rise has been driven by the same reason as the Sweden Democrats. Uncontrolled immigration of people who refuse to conform to their society. Now I know Sweden and you will probably be surprised to learn that they are quite intolerant people. Not of rights or skin or race or creed. No these they are extremely tolerant of. But they are utterly hidebound in observance of the rules of their society. I've said this before but, perhaps, not quite so clearly. One of the most common forms of annoyance, in Swedish society, is with non Swedes leaving fluff in the communal tumble dryer. There are a lot of communal services in Sweden and also communal living, to make this tolerable everyone must conform to a rigid set of rules. Another one is using the washing machine after 10pm if you happen to have one in your apartment. Total Nono.

So people in the UK are not hearing a solution to their problems. The problems get worse every day and very few of the parties are talking solutions to those problems. The major difference is that we don't have Proportional Representation. If we did, UKIP's rise would grow and grow.

That is one place PR really does work. It' shows people that their vote can really work for them. If they are upset enough about something they can come out in their droves and vote, then really see the result of their vote. That is harder in the UK but not impossible. By any means.

So, today, I see all the major parties playing the same games in the same way. Hold Fast to the _Message_ and all will be well. The voters need to be swayed, convinced, not listened to.

I think this is one of the fundamental changes of social networking today. Governments and political parties, are no longer able to sway and control the conversation between people. Hyde Park Corner just became the entire world and anyone can stand on their soap box and tell it the way they see it. The audience, just like the physical corner, can be as large or as small as the interest in the person speaking. However, unlike the physical world, if someone has a message they want to get over and people want to hear it, they can, from their living room, study or bedroom. Or even from work. They don't need to buy a newspaper, listen to the news, read and listen to some version of what was said, spun by the parties of political power or there adherents. They can get it completely undiluted.

Over the decades I think this will change the way our people vote. Maybe. If they can stop gawping at naked celebs long enough.....

[cruiser2]

Watched Clegg on TV this morning. He would not answer any questions--what's new and repeated what he has done in this parliament not what he will do if re-elected.
The two by election results will be interesting

[KateLMead]

The man's an absolute nit wit..