Over the last week or so, Lib Dem Voice has invited the members of our private forum (open to all Lib Dem members) inviting them to take part in a survey, conducted via Liberty Research, asking a number of questions about the party and the current state of British politics. Many thanks to the c.250 of you who completed it; we’re publishing the results on LDV over the next few days. You can catch up on the results of our exclusive LDV members’ surveys by clicking here.

First up, LDV asked: What is your view of Nick Clegg’s performance as Lib Dem leader?

Here’s what you told us (with April’s figures – the last time we asked this question – in brackets):

Very effective 9% (14%)
Effective 60% (62%)
Ineffective 24% (18%)
Very ineffective 4% (5%)
Don’t know / No opinion 3% (2%)

In total, then, 69% (76% in April) of LDV-reading party members regard Nick’s performance as effective or very effective, compared with 28% (23%) who do not: a net satisfaction rating of +41% (+53%). This is a bit of a dip compared with April – I suspect not least due to Nick’s lower profile over the summer months compared with the period leading up to the English local and European elections.

I also made one subtle adjustment to the wording of the answers, changing ‘fairly (in)effective’ to the blunter ‘(in)effective’, and it’s possible that might have had an effect on the overall results. My guess is that Nick’s standing, both in the party and nationally, will get a conference boost. We’ll see.

LDV then asked: Do you think, as a whole, the Liberal Democrats are on the right course or on the wrong track?

Here’s what you said (with April’s figures in brackets):

The right course: 77% (79%)
The wrong track: 15% (11%)
Don’t know / No opinion: 8% (10%)

In the almost-six months since we last asked this question, there has been a very slight dip in the net approval for the general direction of the party among LDV forum members: the +68% of April is now at +62%. Again I would expect this figure to increase post-conference.

The comments submitted by those who completed the survey will very shortly be published in our private members’ forum (ie, as soon as I have moment).