tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881762807913180318.post7574309224136121918..comments2024-01-23T16:53:02.428+00:00Comments on Mark Thompson: Don't panic!Mark Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00744387583593537268noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881762807913180318.post-33606704839276039152010-07-22T14:25:46.480+01:002010-07-22T14:25:46.480+01:00We have to keep pointing out that all the Pollster...We have to keep pointing out that all the Pollsters have changed their methodology over the last few weeks. If we want to compare polls now with those before the Election we need to add 2 or 3%. 12% in 2008 would be more like 9 or 10% now.paul barkerhttp://theleadenyears@talktalk.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881762807913180318.post-44976642966316997362010-07-22T12:09:07.257+01:002010-07-22T12:09:07.257+01:00You don't have to live in London to only care ...You don't have to live in London to only care about the Westminster government politics. To be honest I know that it doesn't apply to you anyway, so sorry. I just get a bit wound up by how little consideration seems to be given to the other elections when the subject of the glorious five year plan comes up. <br /><br />Even if we were to campaign solely on devolved issues (and you're right, that is obviously what it should be decided on) the response is still going to be "They've proved that voting for them lets the Tories in" or similar. <br /><br />There is the potential for us to be almost wiped out in the Assembly. I hope it won't happen but it is possible because of the coalition. Only a small swing is needed to lose some of our AMs.<br /><br />http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/07/14/lib-dem-s-chief-exec-admits-london-deal-dooms-bay-hopes-91466-26847952/<br /><br />Having said all that I agree with you about the necessity of the coalition, as I thought you knew already.<br /><br />Potentially even if it does not go well we could recover in the next election once things have improved of course.Matt Ravenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03737484259352023050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881762807913180318.post-44528213240528970602010-07-22T11:44:19.248+01:002010-07-22T11:44:19.248+01:00We have indeed been as low as 11% in the past. The...We have indeed been as low as 11% in the past. The party then took action to turn things around - Ming Campbell was dumped.<br /><br />I'm not saying a leadership coup is what's needed this time, but I do not think we can have a complacent attitude. We can't arrogantly assume voters will naturally come back to us at the next general election.<br /><br />We need to aggressively defend our record in government. <a href="http://www.libdemvoice.org/what-the-lib-dems-have-achieved-in-the-coalition-government-20386.html" rel="nofollow">The statement on Lib Dem Voice yesterday</a> is a good start. I'd like to see this boiled down into a medium-length soundbite comprising of a long list of short bullet-points that can be reeled off by our ministers/spokespeople at every opportunity. We must have a forceful counter-spin to Labour's attack that we are simply the Tories' lackeys.Duncan Stotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03130729454177705599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881762807913180318.post-86952385239560554862010-07-22T11:31:44.713+01:002010-07-22T11:31:44.713+01:00You know what I meant :)You know what I meant :)Matt Ravenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03737484259352023050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881762807913180318.post-19976049540459006722010-07-22T11:11:36.453+01:002010-07-22T11:11:36.453+01:00Matt - You make a (sort of) fair point, however......Matt - You make a (sort of) fair point, however.... Firstly, I don't even live in London! And if I was being truly London-centric I would have mentioned the Mayoral and Assembly elections in less than 2 years time.<br /><br />I was trying to just focus on the national picture. There will always be local and devolved elections in between national elections. They should really be fought on the local or devolved issues. Of course in reality this does not happen to a large enough extent but if the Lib Dems spent too much time nationally worrying about these other elections and all the possible permutations of national popularity vs local outcomes then we would likely have never gone into coalition in the first place. Maybe some people think that would have been the right thing to do but I strongly feel that if we had eschewed the opportunity it would have demonstrated that nationally we would never be ready for power.<br /><br />As it happens the area I live in (Sandhurst in Berkshire) has local elections next May and I will be standing myself. So I am keenly aware of the problem of standing locally whilst the national poll ratings are not great. We will just need to try and focus people's attention on local issues and if/when national issues crop up to do what I suggested in the blogpost and talk up our achievements and influence. Indeed it is a good opportunity for us to do this and perhaps wrest a bit more control of the "betrayal" narrative away from our opponents. I have found that when you talk through the potential options we were faced with after May 6th, people are receptive to the idea that we took the best decision for the country.Mark Thompsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00744387583593537268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881762807913180318.post-6029425942321440932010-07-22T09:43:20.075+01:002010-07-22T09:43:20.075+01:00You London-centric...
Ahem.
Unfortunately for th...You London-centric...<br /><br />Ahem.<br /><br />Unfortunately for the LibDems in Wales and Scotland, and indeed many at local level we don't have the luxury of five years for things to improve. Next May we have the Assembly elections, the Welsh powers referendum (in theory) and in 2012 it's Welsh local election time. <br /><br />Maybe by 2012 things will have changed a bit, or at least have a non-oncoming train related light at the end of the tunnel. However, barring invading the Magical Land of the Leprechauns and stealing their gold (as Labour had apparently planned to avoid cuts or tax rises) things still won't be great in May.<br /><br />It's going to be hard work. We've got good candidates here though, so we might be OK. We'll certainly be doing all we can. I imagine that anyone in England who fancies a trip to Wales or Scotland to help out would be given a warm welcome!Matt Ravenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03737484259352023050noreply@blogger.com