Comments on: The 12 Op-Eds of Christmas (Day 3) http://www.libdemvoice.org/the-12-opeds-of-christmas-day-3-17339.html Our place to talk - an independent website for supporters of the Liberal Democrat party in the UK. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:46:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: David http://www.libdemvoice.org/the-12-opeds-of-christmas-day-3-17339.html#comment-104249 David Sun, 27 Dec 2009 22:16:41 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=17339#comment-104249 If with the present system the % between both Labour and the Lib Dems were the same on say 25%, just how many more seats would the Labour party have? Cameron is talking about trying to change the boundaries so that each area would have the same number of voters in them, would this help? If Labour went down to their level after 1979 with Foot in charge, they will still hold 25% of the vote. The country was looking then for a middle of the road party, Labour became the protest party with their "Ban The Bomb" march, and the Lib Dems must make sure they are not seen as just a protest party. Mrs T was never loved by the people, but was seen as a leader, and once the right wing of the Labour party split with David Owen as its leader, as you said over 50% of people went with them. The mix of the two Davids nearly worked, and only because they did not agree at that time who should be the one leader that voters did not go with them. I think at that moment in time if David Owen had been seen as the main leader the people of the UK would have gone with them. The Lib Dems on their own will not overtake the Labour party, but it will need the middle ground to move over to them. If the Labour party were to split now it would still retain about 25%, leaving only 5% that would leave it. The Tory party with its right wing UKIP vote have about 45%, but a core vote of only just over 30%. That leaves a floating vote of about 15%, and this is the vote to win over. They will not leave to join a left wing party, a protest party, or one with a weak leader. They would want one that they feel would look after the British interests in the EC, while still staying in it. They do not feel at present the Lib Dems offer this. So how can that come about?, if the Labour party were only to win by a few seats the right wing would put pressure on Cameron for a in/out vote on Europe, and I think this would split the Tory party. This is when the Lib/Dems must offer their party as the home for these voters. It could be as early as 2011, if not it will happen by 2014. I go with Hugh this is the time to hold your own ground. If with the present system the % between both Labour and the Lib Dems were the same on say 25%, just how many more seats would the Labour party have?
Cameron is talking about trying to change the boundaries so that each area would have the same number of voters in them, would this help?

If Labour went down to their level after 1979 with Foot in charge, they will still hold 25% of the vote. The country was looking then for a middle of the road party, Labour became the protest party with their “Ban The Bomb” march, and the Lib Dems must make sure they are not seen as just a protest party. Mrs T was never loved by the people, but was seen as a leader, and once the right wing of the Labour party split with David Owen as its leader, as you said over 50% of people went with them. The mix of the two Davids nearly worked, and only because they did not agree at that time who should be the one leader that voters did not go with them. I think at that moment in time if David Owen had been seen as the main leader the people of the UK would have gone with them.

The Lib Dems on their own will not overtake the Labour party, but it will need the middle ground to move over to them. If the Labour party were to split now it would still retain about 25%, leaving only 5% that would leave it. The Tory party with its right wing UKIP vote have about 45%, but a core vote of only just over 30%. That leaves a floating vote of about 15%, and this is the vote to win over.

They will not leave to join a left wing party, a protest party, or one with a weak leader. They would want one that they feel would look after the British interests in the EC, while still staying in it. They do not feel at present the Lib Dems offer this.

So how can that come about?, if the Labour party were only to win by a few seats the right wing would put pressure on Cameron for a in/out vote on Europe, and I think this would split the Tory party.

This is when the Lib/Dems must offer their party as the home for these voters.

It could be as early as 2011, if not it will happen by 2014.

I go with Hugh this is the time to hold your own ground.

]]> By: Hugh http://www.libdemvoice.org/the-12-opeds-of-christmas-day-3-17339.html#comment-104236 Hugh Sun, 27 Dec 2009 14:36:53 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=17339#comment-104236 It might be wise to focus on the election about to be fought due to the damage that might be inflicted on the country by five more years of 'majority' government, rather than try to anticipate the political landscape in 2020 and build a strategy around that. After all, many anticipated in 2005 that it would now be the Tories who were vulnerable to being displaced. Given this the Lib Dems should be: 1. Fighting to hold what they have 2. Trying to pick up a few seats from Labour where they are clear challengers 3. Taking votes off Labour in Tory target seats 1-70 to prevent another Labour majority 4. Taking votes off the Tories in Tory target seats 100+ to prevent another Tory majority It might be wise to focus on the election about to be fought due to the damage that might be inflicted on the country by five more years of ‘majority’ government, rather than try to anticipate the political landscape in 2020 and build a strategy around that. After all, many anticipated in 2005 that it would now be the Tories who were vulnerable to being displaced. Given this the Lib Dems should be:
1. Fighting to hold what they have
2. Trying to pick up a few seats from Labour where they are clear challengers
3. Taking votes off Labour in Tory target seats 1-70 to prevent another Labour majority
4. Taking votes off the Tories in Tory target seats 100+ to prevent another Tory majority

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