The Lib Dem dilemma

In a political system of two and a half parties, the Liberal Democrats could follow the well-worn path of minority-partner parties in democracies around the world that end up losing seats in the election following their entry into power. Consider the possibilities: The Conservative-led government coalition is a success with the British public and is stable enough to continue for several years. When the public goes back to the polls, they are unlikely to reward Clegg’s party. It’s much more likely they will reward the senior and more visible coalition partner and return the Conservatives with even more seats. A voter can’t vote for a coalition or Nick Clegg; he or she can only vote for one specific candidate in one electoral district. If, on the other hand, the coalition is unpopular, the Liberal Democrats will be take the blame as an unpopular government partner.

All of which means Liberal Democrats must secure electoral reform of first-past-the-post if they hope to someday occupy No. 10. The only conceivable way the Liberal Democrats gain seats in the next election is if they are seen as the conscience of the new coalition and get credit for nixing some of the Conservatives’ more unpopular ideas. While there are a couple good examples of this, it seems more likely that a snap election will happen, with either Labour or Conservatives gaining a majority as a result. Proportional representation or a runoff system would have allowed the Liberal Democrats to win more seats in the last election, and its potential installation is critical to their future success.

The views expressed in this blog do not represent the views or opinions of Generations United.