Political Crossfire Forums

[Lord Hargreaves]

So it looks like Charles Kennedy's position as leader of the Liberal Democrats is increasingly desperate - but will he actually get the heave-ho? And if so, who will replace him? :think:

This coincides with the launch of a conservative Party website to entice Liberal Democrat voters, called Lib Dems 4 Cameron. This is indeed an interesting attempt to convince "Orange Book" Lib Dems that their best way of removing New labour is to vote Tory, but I for one remain sceptical as to whether it will be a successful campaign.

What do people think on these 2 issues?

[HarmonyOnTheRight]

I would not be at all sursprised it Kennedy does go after May 2006 London elections. For this tittle-talle to get to the press and be so well briefed shows that there is real substance to it. The very same thing happened to IDS, the stories that speculated about Blunkett going again. They preordain the event.

Who can succeed? Do we care? What bothers them is Cameron. They lost their chance when we had IDS. Ming Campbell not really credible. Hughes will caryy more panache but we garner disillusioned Labour voters, great and Mark Oaten? Oh, behave

[Snow Patrol]

Lord Hargreaves wrote: So it looks like Charles Kennedy's position as leader of the Liberal Democrats is increasingly desperate - but will he actually get the heave-ho? And if so, who will replace him? :think:
No, i don't think he will go and to be honest there's no other real stand out candidates for the leadership anyway. Menzies Campbell commands alot of respect in both the Commons and amongst people in general, but he is not a leader and is a bit past it. While Simon Hughes is, to a certain extent, an opportunist demagogue and would be a step in the wrong direction i feel.

Lord Hargreaves wrote: This coincides with the launch of a conservative Party website to entice Liberal Democrat voters, called Lib Dems 4 Cameron. This is indeed an interesting attempt to convince "Orange Book" Lib Dems that their best way of removing New labour is to vote Tory, but I for one remain sceptical as to whether it will be a successful campaign.
Apart from a few, rural voters in particular, i just don't really see why many Lib Dem voters would suddenly switch to the Tories. The Tories were: for the war, for most of the anti-terrorist legislation, for new nuclear power stations, pro-Blair's new education reforms, pro further privatisation of the health services and they were also anti-devolution amongst other things.

So while there are certain similarities, the distinction between the two partys remains palpable and i just don't see large numbers of people taking an almost u-turn on their personal position with regards to so many major issues. The more i see of Cameron the more he reminds me of Blair, alot of talk and spin and image, and that's all this is, talk.