Why did the Liberal Democrats collapse?

[vileplume]

The Lib Dems collapsed because they really had no 'core' base and they were a party that tried to be all things to all people which is possible to do in opposition but as soon as they had to actually govern their unwieldy coalition collapsed. Their strength in the constituencies they held were almost all due to sustained targeted local campaigns as opposed to any ideological loyalty, for example they held lefty/liberal seats like Cambridge, Hornsey and Wood Green, and Bristol West, deprived working class constituencies like Redcar, and Burnley, small c conservative farming seats like Somerton and Frome, and Wells and wealthy upper middle class places like Twickenham, and Kingston and Surbiton. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see this is unsustainable.

Another big mistake people make is assuming that the Lib Dem vote in 2010 was overwhelmingly left leaning, it wasn't. Sure in urban 'trendy' inner city seats that the Lib Dems had done well in 2010 like Manchester Withington, Islington South and Finsbury, and Streatham it most certainly would have been hence Labour got very good performances when the Lib Dems collapsed. However in the rural/small town West Country where the Lib Dems also did well have never leant towards/liked Labour thus the Lib Dem collapse greatly benefitted the Tories. It's the same for wealthy suburban seats where the Lib Dems have been competitive in the past such as Richmond Park, and Warrington South when the Lib Dems collapsed their votes went to the Tories (note not all of Warrington South is wealthy but the bits where the Lib Dems got their votes from in the past like Appleton and Lymm are and people in those areas heavily prefer the Tories to Labour).