I'm at a loss - why are the LD's being punished and who is voting Tory?

[smashingtime]

It feels to me as though the LD's are being punished for the Coalition but really it is mostly Tory policies which are in the process of ruining the country. The Tories haven't done badly in these elections so are most people really unaffected by cuts or is it the grey vote that is making the difference?

[kneedeepinthedirtylaundry]

LDs ? because they got into bed with the tories.

Voting tories ? daily mail readers.

[Mellowfruitfulness]

Who's voting Tory? It must be all those people who don't need jobs or schools or healthcare. I never knew there were so many bankers in Britain ...

[Chil1234]

It's down to expectation setting. If you vote Conservative you expect tight fiscal controls and reform of public bodies etc. So Conservative voters at the moment are getting pretty much what they expected (and I am one, and don't read the DM btw :) ) LD voters have only really experienced their party in opposition making very nice-sounding promises that had little realistic chance of ever being carried out. So the last 12 months have been very disappointing for an LD voter because they're not getting what they expected.

[MerylStrop]

Because the FibDems have sold themselves and the country up the swannee for a referendum on a change to the voting system that is not even in their manifesto/because their leader, despite appearances is unprincipled and power hungry. Their claims to being a moderating influence are clearly ridiculous. The folk that voted for them (not me) aren't getting what they wanted.

Tory voters, however, are.

[nickelbabe]

smashing - my thoughts entirely.

It's not LD's fault that they were royally screwed over.
(they should have seen it coming though)

all they could see at crunch time was their chance to get into power, but they didn't realise that that just wasn't going to happen.

I don't understand why people have gone to Labour in their droves, though - how does that help? wasn't it a year ago that everyone was moaning at how Labour had fucked up the country?

[wubblybubbly]

What Meryl said.

[Newgolddream]

For the Lib dems I thinks its definately to do with them jumping in with the Tories, and in particular an abandonment of all the pricinciples they stood for, ditching promises and pledges along the way.

[StroppyDad]

@nickelbabe: I don't understand why people have gone to Labour in their droves, though - how does that help? wasn't it a year ago that everyone was moaning at how Labour had fucked up the country?

When Labour left office we were out of recession and the economy was growing. After 1 year of Tory-led Govt, growth has stalled and unemployment is rising. That's why.

[DurhamDurham]

Because those that vote Tory are happy with the way things are being done. It's all part of the masterplan. Lib Dem voters feel used and abandoned. Nick Clegg has managed to set Lib Dems back by about 30 years, he hasn't managed to deliver on anything worthwhile or meaningful. And all to further his own career.

[meditrina]

If the coalition govt does deliver the growth and reform it promises, then support will return to the LDs - it's their only real hope.

The Tory share of the vote is held up because people are voting with their heads, not their hearts, and there is support for getting all the cuts over with and then going forward.

Also in local elections, people vote with their pockets and Tory Council tax is typically lower for a similar level of services.

[ModreB]

The meltdown in the support for the Lib Dems does not really have anything to do with policies or cuts. This is proved by the fact that nationally the Tory vote held up.

People who voted Tory last year have got exactly what they wanted. They are happy.

BUT people who voted Lib Dem got the opposite of what they wanted, and the oppposite of what they were promised. This is why the Lib Dem vote collapsed.

[JeffTracy]

When Labour left office we were out of recession and the economy was growing

Must have missed that bit

[nickelbabe]

repeat what Jeff just said.

[Becaroooo]

Their complete abandonment of their pre election promises????

Clegg licking Camerons arse????

Who knows????

[MerylStrop]

Thing is, even if the economy is in good shape by the next general election, the LibDems will have a problem convincing anyone other than hardcore party faithful that they are of principle and that they have any policies of their own. One of the main arguments used against them is theat they have never been in power. Now they will be able to counter that but ooh look, they didn't actually use any of their own policies.

I'm sure that Clegg is playing a long game, I'm not sure that the party is.

[smashingtime]

I totally understand the frustration of LD voters (having been one myself last year I feel I only have myself to blame for abandoning my Lab principles). What I really don't get is why the tory vote hasn't fallen through the floor. However I have seen a real change in the media over the last few months - particularly the BBC who seem to have taken a more positive stance over cuts.

I have serious doubts Clegg will end the term in office in any case.

[BristolJim]

Hear hear, small white cat.

Nick Clegg faced an impossible position just after the election, but for the sake of stable government did the right thing. Yes, the transition from party of protest to party of power has been rough, but it was always going to be.

I'm proud to be a LibDem. Just thought I'd share.

[newwave]

Very easy to understand the dislike of Clegg

You expect the Tories to punish, hurt and scapegoat those who are not "people like us" you dont expect the LD's to help them.

[wikolite]

They are being punished because there appears to a lot of people who believe that the Government can spend more than it collects in perpetuity or that if we ignore that the country has an enormous structural budget deficit then it will just go away.