If you were a Lib Dem supporter in 2010...

[IntruigedAboutPolitics]

...and have changed your vote, who are you voting for now and why?

Likewise, if you're voting for them again this election, what is it that made you stay?

I remember the peak of Cleggmania and know that many people feel let down by the Lib Dems for their role in things like the university fees hike, but aside from that what is it that has changed your mind? Lack of belief in your Lib Dem candidate? Lack of belief in their policies? Lack of knowledge of their policies?

I'm in a Labour safe seat but have liberal leanings (the policies checker actually brought me out as marginally more Lib Dem than Labour which I was surprised at). My Labour candidate has a proven track record and has been a good MP so I have no qualms about voting for her, but there is still something niggling saying "what about the Lib Dems?". I've been squashing it and dismissing them, but I'm not 100% sure as to why I'm doing it!

Basically I'm hoping gathering some experiences and opinions will help me decide properly either way, and MNrs are usually a reliable port of call!

[SunnySomer]

I voted for them again this time because:

• I think my local MP is a good MP
  
• I think no party in a coalition will have everything it wants, so they would have to have given way on something. The university fees maybe higher, but they're not payable upfront, and are only payable once they're relatively affordable (potentially never if you don't earn enough)
  
• I don't like the constant lurching from left to right and like the idea of a stabilising, moderate presence in the middle.
  

That's about it really.

[Pico2]

I'm voting for them again - in a safe Tory seat. I've two reasons - one that I still agree with their core principles and the other that I've asked the candidates a couple of questions and got a great response from the Lib Dem candidate.

I think Nick Clegg needs to go though.

[ouryve]

Even if I hadn't lost trust for the Lib Dems, our local candidate is far from local and has just been flown in so they have someone standing. I used to vote Green quite often, but don't feel they have their feet rooted in reality, at the moment. We could do worse than the Labour MP we've had for the past 8 years, so I've voted for him.

[NCTimeAgain]

I feel conned and taken in by the Lib Dems and stupid for thinking they were any different from the other politicians. Since 2010 I also have 2 DCs at uni and one on the way there so it's all bit personal really. I voted Labour because I'm in a v v marginal tory seat and I don't want them to retain it. Clegg definitely needs to go. He's a posh boy liability. If they'd got rid of him earlier they'd have probably kept my vote

[IntruigedAboutPolitics]

Thanks for your replies.

I agree about Clegg, he hasn't done himself any favours and I think a refresh is needed to bring the party back.

MyHovercraft The NHS is obviously a serious issue and I completely agree about needing to prevent privatisation. I seem to know two sets of people when it comes to it though. Some think that they didn't have much power or sway in the government so what could the actually do, and others are in your camp and feel betrayed that they didn't do more to protect it.

It's just a bit of a mess really, and I don't think the lack of promotion (at least in my area) has helped. They seem to have dropped off the map completely, like they're just resigned to their fate. I guess it just doesn't fill me with confidence that they could turn it around.

[Thurlow]

I'm voting Lib Dem again, and did last time. In a safe Tory seat though so it doesn't make a huge amount of difference.

I don't feel betrayed by them over the things they didn't achieve from their last manifesto or the things they gave way to the Tories over. Being a minority coalition party is a very awkward place to be and they were always going to have to give way on something. I feel as though they have done the best they could do when the Tories were just trying to bulldoze them constantly.

Plus I still like Nick Clegg, though I appear to be in a minority. Danny Alexander, on the other hand...

Having said all that, it is still a slightly negative, least-worst vote. I'm not a natural Labour voter so they are the party who would need to win me over, and they haven't done so at all. I would have seriously considered the Tories but I'm anti-EU referendum. So Lib Dem it is.

[NotAllThisAgain]

Voted lib dem last time, voted labour this time.

[Trinpy]

I voted Lib Dem in 2010 because in the area I lived at the time it was locally between them or a Tory mp; I felt LD were the best option out of the 2. I've since moved to somewhere that has a Labour safe seat. Very happy to not have to vote Lib Dem anymore.

[PurpleDaisies]

I'm voting lib dem again because I think they've done a good job in government. If they'd called the tuition fees increase a graduate tax (which it effectively is) they'd have avoided a huge amount of bother. I still like clegg too...I think he performs really well on TV and radio. He was in a difficult position in 2010 and I think they made a brave choice to go into coalition. They definitely made things better than a Tory majority government so I've stuck with them. Safe labour seat where I am so will make no difference at all.

[member]

Tactically voted Lib Dem in 2010 in the belief that if they entered a coalition, it'd be with Labour.

Obviously felt disappointed afterwards/betrayed & thought in future that I'd vote with my heart rather than tactically against the Tories in future. However, I find myself voting Lib Dem again despite the prospect of them going back into coalition with the Tories. Despite his voting record in the HoC not opposing the Government as much as I would like, he does work hard on issues for constituents.

The woman the Tories have parachuted in to contest this marginal has lied in her campaign literature & claimed credit for things that weren't her doing. I have a horrible feeling that people aren't reading the text of these as she has bombarded us with so much!

[MovingOnUpMovingOnOut]

I ditched them and voted Green. They have totally sold out their principles and they need to earn back my respect before they will get my vote again.

I think in my constituency, which is a marginal between the Torys and Lib Dems, the incumbent Tory will get back in and he's actually been ok for a Tory bastard so I've used my vote to bolster the national numbers for Greens. I share some core views with around education and schools and proportional representation in particular.

I'm hoping that by increasing the national numbers the more dominant parties will see there is mileage in some of their policies and start to change their position to one more like mine. Then I might vote for them!

[insanityscatching]

I voted Lib Dem last time have voted Labour this time in a strong Labour seat. Very disappointed in them, find Nick Clegg particularly odious so wouldn't ever vote for them again whilst he remains their leader.

[TroelsNextCampaignManager]

I was an ex-Lab voter when I voted LibDem last time and will vote LibDem again. I'm in a safe Labour seat so it won't make a button of difference, except to perhaps add one more vote to the LibDem national share of vote.

Reasons: I'm closer to LibDems in terms of policies. I think the past 5 years would have been worse if the Tories had governed alone. Local LibDems work hard in the community and are responsive to problems/ criticism.

[JohnFarleysRuskin]

I wouldn't say 'supporter' but I voted for them last time and I voted for them again. They are pragmatic, realistic party (imvho!) - They had to ally with Cons last time and they made some ok deals.

[highlandcoo]

Voted Lib Dem last time - and all the previous times too - but have switched to Labour for this election. For three reasons :

Not at all happy that they went into coalition with the Tories.

Went to the local hustings and thought the Labour guy was excellent. Intelligent and compassionate and engaging.

I am appalled by the Tory press's attacks on Ed Miliband; They have dug and dug for dirt on him: his "Marxist" father, his previous girlfriends, his appearance, his "speech impediment". Although not a huge Ed fan, I think he is a serious and decent man.

My vote could be seen as wasted as it's a Tory/Lib Dem marginal so no chance of a Labour win, sadly. I just thought I would vote for the guy I honestly thought would make the best local MP.

[LaurieFairyCake]

Voted Lib Dem last time

Voted Labour this time as they're now second (Lib Dem were second last time)

I'm Anti Tory to the Nth Degree

[LaurieFairyCake]

Voted Lib Dem in locals though - active in Local party

[nancy75]

I voted green this time, although I live in a borough that is so blue my one little green vote really won't count. I had intended to spoil my ballot but for some reason couldn't bring myself to do it. Green seemed like the least bad choice

[pregnantpause]

Never will I vote lib again. Not the current lot anyway , and a new lot would need a huge effort to regain my trust. The tuition fee issue is not my gripe- but rather that the mid way politics they sold did not happen- they threw the poor, the disabled, the sick to the wolves and didn't appear to put up a fight- nor apologise in the aftermath.

I've gone plaid, though I am thankful they are an option as, were I in England, a vote for milliband would stick in my throat as much as a vote for clegg

[MovingOnUpMovingOnOut]

Well it looks like they blew it.

[JohnFarleysRuskin]

Poor Lib Dems. They really were punished - I thought they did the right thing/the only thing, but hey ho.

[EcclefechanTart]

I can totally understand former Lib Dem voters being so disillusioned that they turn to Labour, Greens etc. What I CAN'T understand is the large number of Lib Dems who have swung Tory - what's that all about??

[OnIlkleyMoorBahTwat]

I voted Lib Dem last time because I don't really like our now ex Labour MP.

However, I didn't want a Tory MP so voted Labour this time. Sadly it didn't work .

Hopefully it will be a wake up call to my fellow constituents. We are not a Tory area but they have been let in because some of the traditional Labour voters voted for bloody UKIP.

[HesterShaw]

I voted LibDem in 2010, and I wanted to vote Green this time, but I voted for LibDem because it was either him or the Tory candidate. Our LibDem MP has done a good job for us in Westminster since '97, and he is an outspoken advocate of the NHS and supporter of environmental issues. I even donated some money to their campaign and had signs on the house. I figured the Tories don't give a flying fuck about the environment. All their care about is increasing crappy jobs and reducing welfare spend.

Our result has yet to be declared (no guesses where I am then), but it looks certain to be a Tory.

It seems like the LibDems are being punished for going into Coalition, but as Ecclefechan says, why then the huge swing to Tory? Why? I don't get it, unless the last few days of scaremongering about the SNP and Labour in No10 has worked beautifully. The Tories are now going to use this as a mandate that everyone in the country supports their awful agenda after all.

It will make a good topic for a dissertation in a few years time when the dust has settled.

I'm going to vote Green for everything from now on. I'm just going to go with my conscience.