Why haven't the Liberal Democrats risen significantly in the polls?

[Ken Burch]

If the centrist pundits were actually correct about what voters want, shouldn't the Lib Dems be somewhere close to where they were between 1987 and 1997, rather than still stuck at barely 10%?

[T_i_B]

3. 2 obvious answers, and a 3rd not so obvious one

The Lib Dems are rising in the polls because they are the only party currently holding Theresa May to account and pointing out that the current strategy for leaving the EU is suicidal. It's certainly noticeable that Labour are losing more votes to the Lib Dems than the Tories or UKIP.

You would have to have been living under a rock between 2010 & 2015 not to know why they are not doing better. The coalition destroyed their credibility and also had the effect of wiping the party out at grassroots level in many places. If Labour wasn't such a horrific mess right now the Lib Dems might still be in decline.

The Lib Dems also have a reputation for dirty campaigning, which makes it hard for disillusioned Labour MP's and activists to make the switch to their side.

[Ken Burch]

4. I'm well aware of Lib Dem and pre-merger Liberal dirty campaigning:

I've read about what they did to Peter Tatchell in the Bermondsey by-election. Unspeakable..

[T_i_B]

5. If you get yourself up to date....

...you find less of that. But on the other hand you get misleading bar charts, taking credit for other parties achievements at local level, acting as surrogate Tories in Labour areas and surrogate Labour in Tory areas. Others who are party activists will have a long list of Lib Dem dirty tricks to report.

[Ken Burch]

7. Thanks for the additional information.

n/t.

[LeftishBrit]

6. Actually the main attacks on Tatchell were from RW Labour rebels who didn't like his selection

The 'Real Bermondsey Labour' candidate John O'Grady, and Tatchell's predecessor Bob Mellish.

The Liberals benefitted from the split, and some undoubtedly participated in the dirty campaign, but they were not the main instigators.

Tatchell is still a strong campaigner for human rights. He is now a member of the Green party.

[Ken Burch]

8. I'm aware that he's still around, and deeply admire his courage.

Getting beaten by the Moscow police in defense of LGBTQ rights is heroism.

[T_i_B]

9. To give you an idea of what's happening with the Lib Dems....

....I will give you an example that's local to me. The council ward of Brinsworth and Catcliffe in Rotherham. This is a traditionally rock solid Labour area that was the site of the battle of Orgreave during the miners strike and that voted to leave the EU by a stupidly large margin. An area where the Lib Dems never did well even when they were at their peak.

Link to tweet

Brinsworth & Catcliffe (Rotherham) result:
LDEM: 66.0% (+50.4)
LAB: 17.1% (-26.2)
UKIP: 12.8% (-16.4)
CON: 3.0% (-8.8)
GRN: 1.0% (+1.0)

Whilst the by election was caused by the outgoing Labour councillor being convicted of sexual assault (doubly damaging in a town that's probably most well known for a major child sexual abuse scandal) Labour fielded a strongly Corbynite, Momentum backed candidate and would have expected to retain the seat. However, the Lib Dems targeted the ward heavily and won a big victory, so now there will be opposition to Rotherham Labour party from sane people and not just UKIP!

The Lib Dems are seeking to grow through the same methods they used in the past, keeping things local and targeting local elections and by-elections. It's not a strategy that can deliver overnight success but with "Remain" voters being abandoned by the 2 main parties, the Lib Dems now have both a cause and a lot of disgruntled voters they can tap into. Of course, they are being aided by Labour's current descent into oblivion, which is very off-putting for voters.