Comments on: Polly Toynbee: vote Liberal Democrat

By: Dr Geoff Morley

Dr Geoff Morley — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 09:48:53 +0000

After last nights tv show with Nicky about Christians whereby Polly was asked for her opinion
I was shocked of what she said!
I voted for her as a liberal democrat myself I do not think anyone should vote for her she is liability and I will do everything in my power to stop her being re-elected

Yours Disappointed
G Morley

By: Geoffrey Payne

Geoffrey Payne — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 21:35:51 +0000

I am amazed at this story. I remember when she refused to join the Liberal Democrats because she preferred David Owen.
At the time we felt like saying “good riddence” as she was far too right wing for us.
I imagined she would always have a grudge against us, and for a long time she did.
Since New Labour were elected however she has wanted to support them, but found it impossible to do so. Her critique of New Labour is a Liberal one and I think we should welcome her into the fold, albeit as a voter rather than a member.

By: Cllr Patrick Smith

Cllr Patrick Smith — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:38:32 +0000

I can see that if New Labour has the fright of its life on June 4th. then many of the taking what Polly Toynbee says seriously conscionable Labour members will look closely at the straight talking Nick Clegg and then look in the mirror.

It is possible that the post June 4th fall out will revisit 1980, when Roy Jenkins and Shirley Williams were asking direct `Mould Breaking’ questions about how Britain should be governed.

These questions need to be re put today, to include our residents’ opinions and views.

Government should no longer depend on the views alone of a narrow wedge of time serving `Band of Political Brothers’, whom have become splenetic moribund slaves, to parliamentary convention and many of them, lifeless to real constitutional reform.

By: Painfully Liberal

Painfully Liberal — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 10:52:37 +0000

I think this endorsement is a good thing on balance. I do wonder about Polly’s motives though, specifically I wonder whether she wants Labour to tank in the Euros to provide the impetus required for them to ditch Brown for Alan Johnson.

Still ulterior motives notwithstanding, Polly does have influence with some people so I’d say her endorsement should be cautiously welcomed.

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 09:28:48 +0000

Polly’s commitment to the poor and social justice means that quite a few of that part of the progressive coalition might be considering joining us. That is an undoubtedly good thing as it falls right into political territory that should be our natural home. As long as we avoid the class-based bashing, in favour of a real concentration on the causes of social immobility, we should undermine a core part of Labour’s support. If we want to overtake Labour, this is not just nice but necessary.

By: Niklas Smith

Niklas Smith — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 06:47:11 +0000

Today’s Guardian editorial is probably the closest they have ever come to an endorsement of the Lib Dems: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jun/02/editorial-local-european-elections

“The case for supporting the Liberal Democrats is now very strong. Anyone who believes Britain should be an engaged member of the European Union – who does not believe scare stories about the Lisbon treaty and who wants to back a party that campaigns on this – should vote Lib Dem. So should anyone who cares about constitutional renewal…”

By: Oranjepan

Oranjepan — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:21:19 +0000

Groucho Marx’ line about not wanting to join a club which wanted to have him as a member is worth remembering in this context.

Should membership be about what I can do for the party, what the party can do for me, what we can do for each other, or what we can do together?

By: Sesenco

Sesenco — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:47:11 +0000

Note the unusually high level of support the polls are registering for the fringe parties, none of whom has a blanket coverage of candidates in the county elections.

The wide fluctuations in Lib Dem support in local polls probably has much to do with where the fieldwork was done. If it was done in a county, then the Lib Dems will score highly. If it was done somewhere where there are no local elections this year, then the Lib Dems will under-perform.

I will be interested to see what happens to the Labour vote in Bristol, and in Exeter. Something approaching wipe-out is possible in both cities. I would also not be at all surprised to see Labour emerging with no seats in Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey, East and West Sussex and WIltshire.

Nick Clegg needs to stick to his eyes-to-the-camera straight talking stuff. Neither the smarm of Blair nor the flamboyant showmanship of Cameron. Clegg is looking better by the day.

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:42:53 +0000

Polly endorses us – thats the kiss of death then..

By: David Allen

David Allen — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:35:30 +0000

If Polly Toynbee is supporting us Labour must be doing something dreadfully wrong!

By: Tom Papworth

Tom Papworth — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:29:48 +0000

If Polly Toynbee is supporting us we must be doing something wrong.

By: Raincoat Optimism

Raincoat Optimism — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 21:56:44 +0000

It has come at a time when Labour popularity has dropped to the level of the Lib Dems, and since the point of the article is about consistent party line on Europe (not support for Lib Dem in any general sense), and tactical voting against the blue wipeout, I’d stop well short of the delusion that Polly has switched to the Liberals. She just doesn’t want to keep that nose peg on at the Euro polls.

By: Hywel

Hywel — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 21:50:29 +0000

More seriously

“It is bad for local government when councils are voted in or out regardless of quality, and bad too when virtually all councils are of one colour.”

Recent council elections have shown a much more mixed pattern of localised results than was the case in say 1995-6

By: The Grim Reaper

The Grim Reaper — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 21:28:27 +0000

I wouldn’t crow too much about this if I were you. Polly hasn’t been able to decide what she thinks of Brown. First she loved him, then hated him, then loved him again and now hates him again. This same pattern will be repeated with Pollyanna and the LibDems.

By: Tristan

Tristan — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 21:18:17 +0000

Polly Toynbee is definitely not the sort of person you want endorsing the party.
Remember she was Brown’s biggest cheerleader, she’s the epitome of the anti-liberal, upper class ‘socialist’ who thinks that mother knows best (so long as that mother’s her of course)

By: Silent Hunter

Silent Hunter — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:37:03 +0000

I think Pollys message must have been too much for the pro Labour editorial team at the Guardian – they’ve just shut down the comments section for the night. LOL