Sir Menzies Campbell to resign as Liberal Democrat leader

[Democratic Hawk]

Right. So, heads up everyone. Who's the new leader going to be

Well, I guess you're expecting this . Preferably, someone who 1) doesn't appeal to those voters most inclined to support Labour and 2) can win back those voters moving from the Lib Dems towards Cameron and the Conservatives

A resurgent Conservative Party is a bigger threat to Lib Dem prospects than Labour. In 1997, the Lib Dems gained 28 seats (46 in all); 2001, they gained 6 seats (52 in all); and in 2005, they gained a further 10 seats (62 in all). The Conservatives, generally, are bigger threat to those seats than Labour

That said, I don't want a Lib Dem leader favourable to supporting the Conservatives in the event of a hung parliament. The Lib Dems could split on that one in any case, as to which way they go

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

Right. So, heads up everyone. Who's the new leader going to be

Well, I guess you're expecting this . Preferably, someone who 1) doesn't appeal to those voters most inclined to support Labour and 2) can win back those voters moving from the Lib Dems towards Cameron and the Conservatives

A resurgent Conservative Party is a bigger threat to Lib Dem prospects than Labour. In 1997, the Lib Dems gained 28 seats (46 in all); 2001, they gained 6 seats (52 in all); and in 2005, they gained a further 10 seats (62 in all). The Conservatives, generally, are bigger threat to those seats than Labour

The LDs need Labour tactical votes to keep many of them though... all of these gains came with leaders more appealing to Labourites.

Very true.  What I'm, more or less, saying is that Lib Dem fortunes are threatened more by a resurgent Conservative Party. The polls for the Lib Dems right now are poor, to the point of suggesting something of a wipe-out but I think they'd significantly benefit from Labour tactical votes regardless as they are the non-Tories. I live in the LAB-Lib Dem marginal; the irony being that a resurgent Conservative Party could help Labour

In my own campaign back in May, I encountered Lib Dem to Tory switchers and it was nothing short of a shame that there were no Conservative candidates for them to vote for

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

Right. So, heads up everyone. Who's the new leader going to be

Well, I guess you're expecting this . Preferably, someone who 1) doesn't appeal to those voters most inclined to support Labour and 2) can win back those voters moving from the Lib Dems towards Cameron and the Conservatives

A resurgent Conservative Party is a bigger threat to Lib Dem prospects than Labour. In 1997, the Lib Dems gained 28 seats (46 in all); 2001, they gained 6 seats (52 in all); and in 2005, they gained a further 10 seats (62 in all). The Conservatives, generally, are bigger threat to those seats than Labour

The LDs need Labour tactical votes to keep many of them though... all of these gains came with leaders more appealing to Labourites.

As a party they have more to gain from attracting disaffected Labour voters, particularly in the long term. The past fortnight was rough for Brown but is an easy ride compared to what could be round the corner.

An economic 'catastrophe'? There'll be a lot of egg on faces if that doesn't happen

Dave