Why do the Lib Dems do so well in Cornwall?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Tradition; Cornwall has been one of the best parts of the U.K for the Liberals since the 19th century. The solitary red blob in Cornwall is Falmouth & Cambourne which contains most of the old tin mining area.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Look at Suffolk.

Or most of Norfolk. Actually they aren't even strong in the agricultural parts of North Norfolk, they do well in the coastal retirement etc. places IIRC, while the rural areas are traditionally split between the Tories and Labour, although a lot of agricultural workers voted tactically for the LibDems in 2001 (and some others voted tactically for the *Tories*...)

I miss the old Norfolk though. Some horrible demographic changes have happend there in the past 50 odd years. Very very sad.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

The LibDems seem to do well with agricultural labourers in areas where the main source of farm income is livestock, rather than intensive crop based agriculture. This seems to be because agricultural labourers in (say) Norfolk are usually unionised (I think they're in the TGWU nowadays) and have been for a long time, this isn't the case so much in livestock areas.