#3591

They were relatively dece. Easy to forget how uninspiring Labour were in that initial post-Blair period*. I imagine that a lot of DiSers voted LD in the 2010 election who are now staunch Corbyn fans (citation needed).

Obvs they fucked it badly in coalition and have never really recovered but I don’t think they’ve always been this bad.

*not an implicit endorsement of Blair

6 Likes
#3592

I resent this yepppp

11 Likes
#3594

ITT: Cleggmania

5 Likes
#3595

“would vote Labour but Corbyn isn’t ruddy bloody gruddy electable enough”

2 Likes
#3596

lots of young people didn’t have much awareness of the impact of politics but like stuff that seems progressive because of music and cool tv programs

#3597

Maybe Corbyn should go on Byker Grove.

7 Likes
#3598

Think they’ve swung pretty far to the right vs 2010.

1 Like
#3599

Caveating this with the fact that there are obvious problems with plotting parties on a 2D graph and making assumptions to graph them even based on manifestos, but this shows quite how uninspiring Labour were back then. If you were in England (excl Brighton) your only realistic alternative at the time was the Lib Dems given their status as an actual 3rd party back then.

image

2 Likes
#3600

I voted lib dems because of some policy they had about ISP data caps I think lol!

#3602

Yeah at the time they felt at least as lefty as labour (accepting that, per your chart comment, it’s a very reductive way of viewing the world).

#3603

All to the right of the BNP ffs!

#3604

I’d add that just to show the difference, Labour’s 2017 manifesto sits broadly level of the SSP and Respect on the left/right scale and between the Greens and SDLP on the libertarian/authoritarian one.

It’s comfortably the best manifesto I’ve ever had the privilege to be able to vote for.

5 Likes
#3605

According to that graph the SNP are the only true centrists, which means the Lib Dem lot should be lining up to back an independent Scotland.

3 Likes
#3606

Oh dear. Jo Sampson & the Liberal Dem’s amendment wasn’t selected.

4 Likes
#3607

Probably because Corbyn is a Brexiteer right?

2 Likes
#3608

IS JONTY CORBYN BEHIND THIS

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#3609

I think they moved right a bit under Clegg’s 2015 manifesto and then somewhere halfway between the 2010 and 2015 manifestos under Faron. Jo Swanson’s instincts economically appear to lie somewhere to the right of Clegg’s… lots of talk of a green economy in her speech, but precious little other than faith in the markets to actually achieve it.

1 Like
#3610

They’ve also shat the bed in terms of perception of being socially liberal, particularly with Faron and the recent influx of Tories with bad voting records.

6 Likes
#3611

I wonder how much of that is actually filtering down to all the ‘bollocks to brexit’ types who’ve attached themselves to them and probably see themselves as pretty liberal

#3612

Anecdotal evidence time, my partner’s mum is a lifelong Tory, always told my partner growing up that the Lib Dems are opportunists, they don’t stand for anything, you can’t vote for them.
That was back when the Lib Dems were hoovering up Labour voters with their anti-Iraq War stance. Now they’re after Tory Remainers and my partner’s mum has decided to vote for them.

4 Likes