Libdem...why are you voting for them?

[Curiousmama]

I am but I'll be honest I haven't looked into it too much. I'm just so fed up of the other two and think they should have a chance.

Is there anything in their manifesto that sticks out for you and makes you vote for them?

I'm not interested in views of people voting lab/con thanks.

I haven't decided yet, but in previous years I have voted LD for strategic reasons.

There's less and less to choose between C & L - not to mention that they're both full of power-hungry, image-is-all, spindoctors. It wasn't that I particularly like LD, but they were the next biggest party, and not a special-interest party, so if I voted for them (rather than, say Raving Monster Loony Party) we might edge a little closer to a truely multi-party system, and gain a bit more freedom of choice.

I did once vote for them deliberately, and that was because I was very impressed with their candidate in our constuency. She did a consistently good job, but I have since moved and no longer have any idea what she's up to.

Thannks PC. It would be good to shake up the other two.

Because I live in a constituency where there is no chance in a million years that anyone other than the current candidate will get in.

So I have no way of influencing who the next government is.

Voting for LibDem feels like a small way of registering my protest at the worthlessness of my vote.

We don't have a Raving Monster Loony Party candidate in my area, else it would be very very tempting...

I have a dislike of pretty much all politicians on the basis that they all seem very narcissistic and some of them are more spin then substance.

I probably dislike the LD less than the others.

I will be voting either Liberal or Plaid Cymru as there is pretty much no chance that any of the other candidates will get in.

I just haven't decided which one of the two to vote for yet...

Unprejudiced, unpatronising, straightforward attitude to the individual, public services and business.

Emphasis on effective lawmaking (and decentralisation) rather than heavy-handed Labour-style rule by scheme and programme, or the similarly heavy-handed "encouragement" that Cameron seems to be fond of. Civil liberties and the attitude that the end doesn't justify the means.

I actually joined before I voted Lib Dem IYSWIM - I joined in 2003 but there wasn't an election until the Euros in 2004. It was Iraq that first drove me to the Lib Dem website, but it was the down-to-earth policies on public service provision that got me interested (I stayed up into the small hours reading policy papers) plus the attitude to small business - regulatory simplicity, anti-monopoly policies etc.

The whole thing was a bit of a revelation to be honest - I'd previously only picked up (with half an ear) on what to me sounded like populism, so was fascinated to find out what the philosophical underpinnings were. Also I'll freely admit that I wasn't Kennedy's biggest fan (nice guy but...) so it was good to find out that they had a lot of other good people.

I was an activist until we moved abroad a few years ago - since then got totally out of touch but getting back into it now.

Thanks so much vesela, a very interesting post

I like our Libdem mp, he owns a health shop in town and has had that business for years. I'm tempted to join too.

I couldn't agree more, LeninGrad. Especially in light of all the previous posts (which I expect was the point you were making).

If the Lib Dems win, they will overhaul the electoral system to make it fairer and more democratic - there will be no more of this "well there's no point voting for so-and-so, they won't get in". We will actually have proportional representation in government, and each and every vote will count.

The point is, if everyone votes Lib Dem, they will win. And I truly believe that they are the party for 21st century Britain.

Did you see Nick Clegg on tv tonight? He came across very well IMO.

I joined online just now and have said I'll volunteer to do clerical work etc... don't fancy delivering leaflets though.

oh fantastic!!

I'm sure there will be lots of envelopes to stuff...

Well I don't mind stuffing

Quite looking forward to it. I'm going through a divorce and starting my own business soon so don't have enough to think about

My politics are middle of the road. I'm a compromiser and conciliator by temperament and conviction. If I actually thought that either Tories or Labour had politicians of any calibre, I might be tempted to vote either way. I live in a true blue Tory safe seat and I want to register my protest about the arrogance and complacency of our sitting MP. Oh yes, I also agree with more of the LD proposals than I do either Con or Lab.

Electoral reform

Pretty much always vote LibDem.

not eligible to vote, but having always voted labour, i red a good article about nick clegg.

i know he is a figurehead, and not the policies, but he came across vv well. thing is, it's easier for the 3rd party to be true to their principles, they don't have to make compromises to get legislation through, so how they'd be if they were actually in power ...

am watching this election with more interest than i ever have before.

1. Scrapping university tuition fees.

1. Extra £2.5bn to be spent on schools.

1. Smaller class sizes.

1. No tax on the first £10,000 we earn.

1. Giving farmers a fair deal.

1. Rationalising the NHS so that money is spent on services, and not wasted on bureaucracy/administration.

1. Improving living conditions and pay for soldiers and their families.

I was just reading a thread and they were complaining about the influx of trolls in the run up to the election. I had a horrible thought that it may look as if I started this thread to gain support for libdem. Ok it'd be nice if the information on this thread helped sway soome voters, of course it would. But that isn't why I started it, I really am interested in learning more about them as am fed up to the back teeth of the way this country is going. I'm in the North East and the Corus situation will affect us greatly. Not saying Libdem can do anything but we do need change.

Thanks for your information Velvetrabbit.

Curiousmama have a look at this thread. It has a link to the manifesto, and a few of us pulled out key points we noticed as we read it (though I seemed to be doing a solitary job this evening!)

thanks I'll have a look.

Some local issues for me.
And also I cannot possibly vote for the other two - cannot bring myself to.

Electoral reform. Iraq.

Iraq.
Fairer parental leave.
Taxing capital gains at the same level as income.
Limiting pension relief to the basic rate of tax.
Costed financial policies.
Reduction of admin costs by simplifying things.
More even school funding for poorer children.
Practical but ambitious 'green' policies.
Scrapping ID cards and 'baby bonds'.
Winter fuel allowance to the severely disabled.
Restoring the right to protest (reform of the Public Order Act).
Scrapping of tuition fees and the 50% target.

Probably more that I've forgotten but they are the ones that stand out for me.

Thanks everyone I really appreciate this. I've never been so interested in politics, it's exciting that for once Libdem have some chance.

I forgot to watch the debate but will get to see it later. Seems Nick Clegg came out on top though by all accounts?