Lib Dem Voice readers: 61% say Clegg was right over David Davis

For the last 10 days, the debate has raged here on Lib Dem Voice and on various Lib Dem blogs. But the result of the most recent LDV poll is pretty clear: by a 2:1 margin our readers think Nick Clegg did exactly the right thing in deciding the Lib Dems should not field a candidate against David Davis in the by-election the former Tory shadow home secretary has triggered to force a debate on 42 days and Labour’s war on civil liberties.

Here are the results in full. We asked:

Did the Lib Dem leadership make the right decision not to stand a candidate against David Davis in Haltemprice & Howden?

You said:

• Yes, it was the right decision – 42 days is an issue which unites Lib Dems and Mr Davis: 384 (61%)
• No, it was the wrong decision – we should always offer voters the opportunity to vote for a Liberal Democrat: 209 (33%)
• Don’t know – there are good arguments on both sides 41 (6%)
Total Votes: 634. Poll ran: 12th-23rd June 2008

And the result of the poll before that…

In all the excitement of David Davis’s resignation, I omitted to post the result of the previous LDV poll on road pricing, set up following the party’s announcement of its in principle support for the policy in return for cuts in VED and fuel duty. The poll provoked a fierce debate and one of the closest results we’ve had.

We asked:

Do you support Lib Dem plans to introduce road pricing in return for the abolition of vehicle excise duty and cutting fuel duty?

You said:
• Yes, I do: 146 (43%)
• No, I don’t: 159 (47%)
• Don’t know: 34 (10%)
Total Votes: 339. Poll ran: 3rd-12th June 2008.