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!

Apparently Vince Cable has lost his seat

I think a lot of people thought they were voting against UKIP by voting Conservative. I suspect much of these Tories got in off the back of "tactical" voting that has turned out to be anything but.

I don't think the Lib Dems are poor anything. They didn't have to enter into a coalition with the Conservatives, they could have gone Labour. They could also have been more vocal about how they were moderating the Tories (if they were and if they weren't they deserve to go).

I feel that this time round we, the electorate, have decided even if I'm not happy about the result. Last time it felt to me like we got a government we didn't elect.

Yes Vince has lost his seat. His constituency is near me and a very similar demographic to my constituency and similar in terms of it's a pretty much a two horse race (or used to be) between Lib Dem and Tories except he's always been pretty well regarded before which had made him safer.

I think the people of Twickenham feel a lot like the people in my constituency and I reckon I'm pretty typical.

I voted with my conscience and I agonised about it Hester. But having looked at the results this morning the winning candidate had 58% of the vote so I feel I made the right decision. I'm pleased my vote gets to count in the nationals because it couldn't have changed the result.

I voted LD in 2010.

I voted for them this time because-

• I liked the incumbent LD MP
• the alternative was a Tory.
• I held my nose very tightly.

I've watched the LDs absolutely crucify themselves over the last five years. Years ago I was a party activist. I was heavily involved in the 97 campaign. The party I joined was one of normal people with an optimistic view of society, who wanted to find out and fix what local people wanted fixed, and which believed that society should - and could - be tolerant and environmentally focussed. During that time, the LDs increased their MPs and vote share but, more importantly, they became a major force in local government.

Now, they seem to have morphed into a smaller version of the two big parties. They have been utterly undone by hubris, something from which they used to be immune. They've lost almost all their MPs, almost all their councillors, and half their party membership. I wouldn't be surprised if the party is unable to put up a full slate of candidates at the next election.

I think politics should be organised from the ground up. It gets people involved, and that makes for better government. That's what the LDs used to try and do, but Labour and the Tories never have. Maybe the LDs can return to that view and recover, or maybe the Greens can pick up the mantle. However, either party will be starting from way, way further back than in the 90s or even the 80s.

Also, the UK - except perhaps Scotland - seems more inward looking and focussed in the past than it used to be. I don't see much scope for the LD approach in that environment, but I hope I'm wrong.

I'm dismayed, to be frank

I agree ToadintheHole - they just haven't differentiated themselves enough. People perhaps thought what is the point of voting LibDem, they might as well choose between Labour or Conservative. I voted libdem this time, as well as the previous two general elections, and I am gutted they have done so badly. But they have paid the price of going into coalition and this has effectively made them all but disappear in the minds of the electorate. Libdems now need to think about offering something really different.