If I vote Lib Dem, what exactly am I voting for?

[ARatinaCage]

Because they can't win can they?
I think I am leaning towards lib dem but I'm unsure what would happen if they did well. Would there be a possibility of a collalition? With who?
Am I just looking to reduce the power the conservatives have? Or could I end up splitting the vote in some way that I haven't thought of? They can't overturn Brexit as I understand it, particularly as they wont be the party in power but could they influence a softer Brexit?
I'm leaning towards them as I have no faith in labour and am concerned about cuts to the disabled, the NHS and education. There seems to be quite a few people moving toward them but I'm not sure I fully understand the repercussions of them doing well. I would be very grateful for any insight! Thanks!

If they got into coalition they could force another referendum to approve the final Brexit deal. It's a sucky option as ONLY stop-Brexit option to Remainers, but it's the best we have.

You need to look at last election results in your area to figure out if you'd be better off voting for another party to keep a Tory out.

It depends where you live. If you're in a Tory/labour marginal and you're voting against the tories then it's maybe a bit of a wasted voted as you're splitting the left wing vote. However, if you don't want a labour MP either then of course it isn't a waste, and any vote is better than not voting at all. If you're in a safe seat than a vote for any party is much the same.

Personally, I am considering voting lib dem in my Tory safe seat as a vote against a hard Brexit and to hopefully re-open debate about electoral reform. Never in my many years of voting has my vote mattered one jot as I've always lived in a seat with a 30%+ Tory majority. I'm hoping that if parties like the greens and lib dems again get such poor representation than the number of votes they received that the need for a more proportional system will be brought to attention again.

Re coalition - they have said they've ruled out going into coalition with any party but who knows. I'd be inclined to believe them due to the disastrous effect it had last time. If the tories don't achieve a majority though they will likely have power in holding the tories to ransom on the final deal. Without a majority I find it unlikely that they will be able to force a referendum on the final deal though.

Thanks, that's really interesting. Depressingly I am in very safe conservative seat with the next popular party being ukip I guess it doesn't really matter but I really want to make the best use of my vote.

Sorry, should say, so I guess my vote won't really matter

UKIP aren't doing so well now are they, so what did it look like before. I am in the same situation but a labour stronghold. We've had the same MP for longer than I've been alive and I'm in my 40's

If you stop UKIP trumpeting that they came 2nd, that sounds like a satisfying outcome to me.

In marginal seats where the lib dems have a chance of winning, I think a vote for them will help put another MP on the opposition benches. If you don't want to see a historic Tory landslide that's who I would vote for. Also worth considering the candidate as an individual as well as what their party stands for.
In very safe Tory seats, a vote for the lib dems may almost be like a protest vote - even if May gets her massive majority, and claims a mandate for anything and everything, at least people can point to the percentage of the overall vote share that a pro-EU party got when they argue against a cliff edge Brexit. Yes, it doesn't mean anything constitutionally, and yes its a drop in the ocean; but it will help to strengthen the argument against hard Brexit (and rest assured the arguments will continue), and the ocean is made out of drops and fish poo etc.

Its always worth voting however safe the seat is.