Lib Dem Voice has polled our members-only forum to discover what Lib Dem members think of various political issues, the Coalition, and the performance of key party figures. Over 830 party members responded – thank you – and we’re publishing the full results.
The economy is recovering but cuts to public spending are going to be with us for some time no matter who’s in government. I wanted to test attitudes among Lib Dems to how the cuts are being handled. The questions below mirror those which have been asked by YouGov since summer 2010 (you can access the results here, from page 27). This is the second time we’ve asked these questions, so responses are compared with the previous results (in brackets) from December 2013.
Thinking about the way the government is cutting spending to reduce the government’s deficit, do you think this is…
Good or bad for the economy?
-
67% (+9%) – Good for the economy
26% (-5%) – Bad for the economy
8% (-3% – Don’t know
Being done fairly or unfairly?
-
33% (-4%) – Fairly
57% (+3%) – Unfairly
9% (=) – Don’t know
Necessary or unnecessary?
-
76% (+4%) – Necessary
18% (-3% – Unnecessary
6% (-1%) – Don’t know
Too deep, too shallow or at about the right level?
-
30% (-6%) – Too deep
7% (=) – Too shallow
57% (+6%) – About the right level
6% (=) – Don’t know
Being done too quickly, too slowly, or at about the right pace?
-
27% (-7%) – Too quickly
10% (+1%) – Too slowly
57% (+6%) – About the right pace
6% (=) – Don’t know
And who do you think is most responsible for the current spending cuts?
-
20% (-5%) – The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition
43% (+3%) – The last Labour government
33% (+2%) – Both
3% (+1%) – Neither
1% (=) – Don’t know
The overall conclusion from these results seems to be… Lib Dem members generally approve of the way the government is cutting spending to reduce the deficit. Most think the strategy is good and necessary for the economy, about the right level and pace, and that blame should be laid at the door of the last Labour government. However, there is concern that the cuts are falling unfairly on the most vulnerable in society.
* Stephen was Editor (and Co-Editor) of Liberal Democrat Voice from 2007 to 2015, and writes at The Collected Stephen Tall.
Follow @LibDemVoice on Twitter
Like us on Facebook
Subscribe to our feed
Sign-up for our daily email digest
Proof that Bluesky is primmer than the Victorians
Failed State: why our government is broken and how to fix it
Unease grows within Labour ranks
Digital Skills Training for people over 65
Nonconformistradical
Mark
Jennie
Robin AG Bennett
Peter Davies
12 Comments
Guardian today, leaked Lib Dem sources
“.What they’ll say
Zero to two MEPs “Disappointed with the result but the party remains resolute and this was expected at this point in an electoral cycle.”
Two to three MEPs “A good result considering the circumstances.”
Three to five MEPs “Very encouraging result and is much better than almost everyone predicted.”
This is what the party might try and trawl but no-one accepts it. 2 -3 a good result, whatever are they saying and 0 – 2 what might be expected. I ask you, if this represents the thinking of our party God help us.
Either of these scenarios represents an electoral disaster for a party advocating the EEC and should immediately produce a leadership resignation and a change in strategy to enable us to face the general election with any hope at all.
@ theakes,
I think that the very worst thing that the party can do at the moment is show a loss of nerve. Would anyone vote for a party that goes into a panic when faced with adversity? I wouldn’t.
Try reading Kipling’s ‘If’
It would revitalise many people and take us forwrd, how far that is a question. One thing seems certain we aint gong forward at the moment and most importantly lack credibiity, especially after the recent TV debates! That process will continue with the present establishment and outlook.
Would anyone vote for a party that changed direction after it got repeated hammerings in the polls? Actually I think some would and more than voted for it previously. I don’t know how we can fight a General Election with a leader that so few people will listen to and claim to be a serious Party.
The buck must stop somewhere. The Tories have been the party to have mostly faced the difficult economic crisis – yet, although they will lose MEPs – their prospects for success at the GE continue to rise – and are presently best placed to win the next GE outright. This will improve significantly if the dogged Norman Baker manages to get the results of the Chilcot Inquiry published by the end of this year.
I was watching a discussion on C4 News with a French politician. She was saying that it is ridiculous to try to condemn Farage for the views he expresses – clearly from the support UKIP is getting he is expressing the underlying views of much of the electorate – or they would not be supporting him.
She went onto say that a successful political party must try to understand the appeal of a new party like UKIP and offer policies that also fill the ground that is causing the attraction. This is precisely what Cameron has done [particularly with the offer of a referendum on the EU].
That space is now filled for the right – what is missing is a left of centre party that also offers an EU Referendum. This is the ground where the Party could flourish anew – particularly if NB manages to get Chilcot published and this seriously condemns the New Labour politicians connected to the Iraq invasion and reduces their popularity further.
Clearly NC could not lead a Lib/Dem Party wishing to follow that path.
Theakes typed
“Guardian today, leaked Lib Dem sources
“What they’ll say . . . . . . ”
Not any more they won’t :O)
Mentioned cuts fairly unfairly. Look at Steve Webb who champions single tier pension do you imagine the grey vote will thank you when many worked and paid into the state pension only to find that the winners will be very long term unemployed or self employed.
Add me on the list of unfair
Just a little thought for you take someone on £10k a year the .7% given for international aid means more tax to the tune of £70 a year many of these people might prefer the money to spend themselves or give to charity of their choice
The MP’s say they are listening my question is to who I fear it’s not to the folk with low income or hopes
John Roffey: “This is precisely what Cameron has done [particularly with the offer of a referendum on the EU].”
Would you say that’s gone well for Cameron? He’s now in a strait-jacket of his own making, and he has not stemmed the UKIP tide.
I have always been disappointed about the lack of discussion on how savings should be made, by tax increases or spending cuts
Too often right wing, economists are interviewed on BBC and other media advocating spending cuts are unchallenged and their views taken as Gospel truth
John Roffey, firstly I’m not sure I would want to be in a centre-left pro-referendum party, and would that not require the Lib Dems to change the constitution which is pretty pro-European?
Historically, the best-fit for that role was always Labour, even though it was divided on the issue.
UKIP wants patients to pay up front to see the Doctor. Whilst this may appeal to some, there is a big danger. American families pay £10 00 more than British families for the same level of healthcare If we start moving away from a tax payer funded collective system like the NHS to something like NHS, Bills will rocket and people will take out extra mortgages to pay for the same healthcare as we have now.
Those defending the NHS do not have the same resources or media backing as UKIP , but facts speak from themselves and when the public realise the true cost of private healthcare, UKIP will quickly disappear back to obscurity along with other supporters of privatisation.
.
UKIP wants patients to pay up front to see the Doctor. Whilst this may appeal to some, there is a big danger. American families pay £10 000 more than British families for the same level of healthcare If we start moving away from a tax payer funded collective system like the NHS to something like NHS, Bills will rocket and people will take out extra mortgages to pay for the same healthcare as we have now.
Those defending the NHS do not have the same resources or media backing as UKIP , but facts speak from themselves and when the public realise the true cost of private healthcare, UKIP will quickly disappear back to obscurity along with other supporters of privatisation.