To join the Liberal Democrats?

[Burntcustard]

I have watched the Tory -UKIP- conference with a mounting sense of horror. The casual 'othering' of non-native British, the priority given to cutting immigration no matter what the economic consequences, the naked nationalism, the dismissal of the educated, the increased power in a PM who wants to bypass an elected parliament. This is not the tolerant, welcoming country I thought I lived in.

Corbyn has rendered Labour unelectable. Anyone else on for joining the Liberal Democrats?

[curryandrice]

I've joined. I think with hindsight Clegg managed to keep a lid on some of the more extreme Tory policies. I live in a very safe Tory seat but agree with sukey - we just need to vote for the politicians we believe in and if everyone does that things might change

[Sandsnake]

I would definitely vote Lib Dem if there was an election called tomorrow and would be tempted to join. The thing stopping me would be how transient British politics seems at present. The Lib Dems are a totally different party than they were two years ago, as are both Labour and the Tories. I wouldn't want to join a party only for everything to change again and then discover that they no longer represented my views.

[curryandrice]

sand joining gives you a chance to ensure your views are represented

[Sandsnake]

Good point curry. I've actually gone on the website and am considering it!

[RebeccaWithTheGoodHair]

I winder why all the disaffected Labour MPs don't just up sticks and defect to the Lib Dems. I really think they should, it would make the Lib Dems a much more credible opposition than Labour can be at the moment.

[raisedbyguineapigs]

I have voted Lib Dem in recent elections, even though where i live it was a wasted vote. I will vote for them again, but yes, they do need to get their act together. Teresa May has really played a blinder. The Tories effectively used the Lib Dems as their whipping boys. They took all the blame for Tory policies during the election, when it is apparent that they did an excellent job holding the government to account and curtailing their worst excesses. May is now appealing to traditional Labour working Class voters who might have voted UKIP, which will wipe out Labour and UKIP in one fell swoop. We need a centrist opposition. They are the only hope if only they could get their act together.

[RebeccaWithTheGoodHair]

wonder not winder

I do also agree that Nick Clegg should step up again, Tim Farron is good when he speaks but he just doesn't seem to get the airtime needed to put forward their arguments on TV and the radio.

[SukeyTakeItOffAgain]

Though I do wonder if Nick Clegg would just say "Ha ha, fuck off" if it was indicated to him that all was forgiven. He really did take one for the team, but people are realising in retrospect that he was actually one of the good guys. And it's no use spluttering on about tuition fees - what option was there?

[Mistletoekids]

Yes! I miss nick clegg too

Tory party atm are like something from a terrible nightmare, and im a lifelong Tory voter !

[SukeyTakeItOffAgain]

Did you all read what he wrote in the run up to the referendum? It was so bang on you'd swear he was a soothsayer.

Mind you, he was looking increasingly tired and sad towards the end of his stint as deputy PM. Maybe he doesn't want to come back.

[TempsPerdu]

I joined after the 2015 election (love an underdog, me!). IMO they're the only moderate, sensible option we have at present, and the only party who have offered a consistently pro-EU stance. Sadly my area's a bit of a Lib Dem wasteland, but they're slowly getting their act together and they have a real opportunity to seize the centre ground now that Labour and the Tories have embraced their respective lunatic fringes.

I'm in a 'Lib Dem Newbies' group on FB (over 3,000 members and growing) and the vast majority of posters there seem friendly, switched on and (above all in the current climate) sane! So far I'm liking their focus on grassroots politics and the inclusive and democratic approach - opportunities to shape/vote on new policy etc. Not overly sold on Tim Farron as leader though - preferred Nick Clegg but sadly tuition fees and the coalition seem to have done for him.

[GrimDamnFanjo]

I rejoined after Charles died. It made me want to give the party some support. I'm a die hard Liberal though so I'd never vote for anyone else.

[TempsPerdu]

Oh, and you can get a very snazzy membership card with socks and sandals on - what's not to like?

[RufusTheSpartacusReindeer]

I voted lib dem for the first time in the last election

Look how well that turned out

[TheSnorkMaidenReturns]

I agree about how it's becoming clear how much Nick Clegg did to save us from Tory excesses last time round. He was hammered by left and rightful trying to do something different.
I've met him and he was really lovely. So interesting, intelligent and normal!

[TooTiredToTidy]

I have never been a member of any political party, I didn't think I was the 'type' but after the Brexit vote I was so horrified by the celebrations of the leave vote mirrored by the awful rise in hate crime. I am the daughter of immigrants and maybe because I lived for a long time in the ' Metropolitan Elite' London and now live in a strong remain area I thought this country was multi-cultural and enlightened about the immigrant population. But for the first time since I was a child and got racist abuse on the way to school I felt like I was unwelcome and when I spoke to my children in our native tongue that it might not be ok, and we would stand out.

It breaks my heart to imagine my own mixed race children experiencing racist abuse, pre Brexit I was so proud of this country and so pleased we were going to live in my country where their diversity is celebrated.

I've watched in horror as even Labour politicians talk about controlling immigration. The Tory party conference is even worse - they've turned into UKIP and the PM the embodiment of every Daily Mail readers dream.

If you watch Tim Farron's speech it's remarkable in the sense that what he speaks of, tolerance, being open, being outward facing is not cutting edge stuff but as Labour lurch left and Torys go right, it's suddenly the only voice that speaks for me.

I am actively helping the LibDems campaign in Witney - I want to help send the Tory party a clear message, we do not agree with your xenophobic rhetoric and your intolerance and repeating of the pernicious lies that immigrants take British jobs as toxic. And hit them where it hurts - the ballot box. The fact it's in David Cameron's seat and would reduce their slim majority would be even more sweet.

The LibDem candidate (Liz Leffman) is a longtime west Oxfordshire candidate. The Tory candidate isn't and voted leave (and will surely toe the party line)

So a long post but NO, YANBU!!

[ajcmullin]

I'm a member. With the way politics is going I am frightened we will have no liberalism and this is the only way I can see to fight for the country that I did love and really want to be a #liberalnation again...makes me well up just thinking about some of the abhorrent messaging that has been coming out. It's Lib Dem or leave in my view.

[Doobigetta]

I've flip-flopped in and out being a member- I left when I felt they weren't being assertive enough in the coalition, and rejoined after Brexit. I've always voted for them though. I'd love to see Remainers from Labour and the Conservatives join up with them- people like the Millibands, Tom Watson and Ken Clarke. I suspect they won't though, they've spent a lifetime talking the
LibDems down so it'd be too much of a turnaround now.

[wildcagedbird]

I joined in 2015 after I was impressed by the local Lib Dem parliamentary candidate and his team. Since then I've run for District Council twice, been to conference (which was amazing) and am headed to Witney on Sunday. The Lib Dems are the only party that represent my views the closest, and vitaly, the only party truly fighting for the EU and our EU friends and colleagues. To me, that is really important. I haven't doubted my decision for a second since I joined. The party is really gathering pace right now - especially after the ref, the Labour and Tory conferences and Theresa's May adoption of UKIPs manifesto. My husband also joined. People really are flocking from both Labour and the Tories at the moment. We see it on the FB groups every day.

[wildcagedbird]

And in case anyone missed it earlier in the thread, here's how you can join:

libdems.secure.force.com/LiberalDemocrats/NewMemberRegistration

[buzzbobboo]

I flip/flopped between Labour and the Lib Dems for years but the referendum made me realise that if I didn't become more political why should I expect anybody else to do it for me. Corbyn made me realise I'm not a socialist and the post-Brexit omnishambles that is Labour made me realise how very cross I am and will stay with them - when our country needed a functioning opposition they started fighting each other. So I joined the Lib Dems and I don't regret it - met some fantastic people including some members of House of Lords who are just brilliantly welcoming, getting involved with local party, supporting Witney from afar (did an Amazon order for office supplies just today!), went to conference and am thinking of standing for CC next year. I'm so glad I made that leap. Please do too!

[Huldra]

I joined straight after hearing the May speech but have been thinking about it for a while. I've always had Lib Dem leanings with a willingness to vote Labour on occasion, I am no longer wiling to vote Labour.

[itsawonderfulworld]

Come back Nick Clegg and Vince Cable, PLEASE - we need you!

[TheSnorkMaidenReturns]

Mumsnet agrees with Nick?

I just remembered this! We were ahead of the Cleggmania curse.

[Niamer]

Yanbu. I have joined in the last couple of months. They are the only party who speak for me at the moment. I have never joined a political party before, but I felt it was essential.