Here’s a quick roundup of some of the things that the media are saying about Lib Dem Conference:
Steve Coogan and Carol Vorderman lead rally for proportional representation. Sky
Liberal Democrats face housebuilding targets row at Liberal Democrat Conference BBC
Man pleas for assisted dying reform at Lib Dem Conference Bourmemouth Echo
Lib Dems would double shared parental leave pay and increase leave Guardian
John Curtice: Lib Dems are losing support to Labour BBC
Lobbyists take a close up look at the Lib Dems BBC
Lib Dems plan to focus election campaign on ultra local issues Guardian
The 23 schools policies signed off at Lib Dem Conference – Schools Week
By-election could be a mess if Lib Dems an Labour don’t talk warns Vince Cable – Sky
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9 Comments
With respect they seem to be focussed on Brexit, much to our anoyance.
The only things I have seen, not going out of my way to look for positive coverage but seeing what I see, is probing for disagreement on Brexit.
@ theakes. No surprise there, theakes.
Despite EU membership being a prominent and distinctive Liberal policy going back to the Grimond days sixty years ago, much to many people’s annoyance, the current Leadership takes every opportunity to avoid any sort of commitment. This despite warnings from Sir John Curtice and growing opposition to the impact of Brexit in the polls.
How very very depressing!
A third of the south-west of England is there for the taking. Don’t squander this opportunity by wanging on about reversing Brexit.
The party leadership’s view is that Brexit is not high in the list of voters’ concerns, but the NHS is, so this is where their campaigning will be focused. However, in a recent survey of public attitudes, only 4% credited the LDs as having the best policy towards the NHS. Inevitably Labour were dominant, so campaigning on this issue will simply drive votes to them. The top score for the LDs was in dealing with Brexit (admittedly, still only 10%). It may not be the paramount issue in voters’ minds, but it is the one on which they could establish a distinctive voice. If they keep refusing to speak about it, they will just be seen as the southern, suburban wing of the Labour Party.
The media have picked up on the “hyper local” strategy. In my view this strategy is flawed because many voters even in target seats don’t vote tactically and are more influenced by the “air war” than the “ground war”. For example in 2019 in seats like Hitchin LD’s went from 3rd place to 2nd with a good chance of winning next time – that was because of the national campaign not purely tactical voting.
We pro-EU activists are NOT asking our leadership to ‘wang on about reversing Brexit’. It would just be good if they could even occasionally mention it! We could gain votes off Labour by doing so.
We need to capture the next big idea. With so many topics in the headlines like the cost of living, at least two violent wars and AI this will not be easy. As a minority Party we are more flexible and should position ourselves so we can take advantage of what is going to be the main talking point during the election campaign. It could be another pandemic, an increased threat of another major conflict or the reality of climate change coming ever closer.