Ed Davey & Lib Dem Challenges

[Psamathe]

Maybe that there is no thread discussing what's going on in the Lib Dems highlights the challenges they face. Significant number of MPs, significant electoral successes but they seem to get no coverage in the Press.

And now, it will be interesting to see if their following other parties gets them similar levels of coverage

Ed Davey faces growing revolt against leadership as senior Lib Dem MP quits​

Ed Davey is facing a growing revolt against his leadership of the Liberal Democrats, after the resignation of a senior frontbench figure on Friday.
...
Daisy Cooper, the party’s deputy leader, immediately backed Davey, saying he enjoyed the support of the “vast majority of MPs”, who wanted him to lead them into the next election and were “furious at this distraction”.

I sort of discarded even thinking much about them when Ed Davey was forever undertaking daft irrelevant "stunts". Just seemed silly as he actually had some sensible stuff to say. Maybe he suffered from press just reporting his eg falling of a windsurfer and getting wet rather than him then detailing his plans to address Social Care (costed, etc.).

Fortunately he seems to have given-up the silly stunts but still isn't getting press coverage.

When they do get coverage they often talk fairly sensible stuff but it's stuff difficult for press to condemn, won't kick-off untold outrage, etc. so sensible and boring.

(Or maybe I've missed an existing thread as it drifted into oblivion ...)

 

[briantrumpet]

When they do get coverage they often talk fairly sensible stuff but it's stuff difficult for press to condemn, won't kick-off untold outrage, etc. so sensible and boring.

Current policy: tax cuts... not sensible.

Current policy: reduce fuel duty by 10p when there's an oil crisis & climate change... not sensible.

They seem to be flirting with populism, which really isn't sensible. Mid you, to an extent, I can't blame them, as they've got nine times as many seats in Parliament as Reform, but get bugger all coverage from the press, whatever they say, unlike Reform.

 

[Psamathe]

... often talk fairly sensible stuff

Current policy: tax cuts... not sensible.

Current policy: reduce fuel duty by 10p when there's an oil crisis & climate change... not sensible.

They seem to be flirting with populism, which really isn't sensible. Mid you, to an extent, I can't blame them, as they've got nine times as many seats in Parliament as Reform, but get bugger all coverage from the press, whatever they say, unlike Reform.

Often, not always. I'm no supporter but re: costing they have a massive benefit as they want to rejoin the EU which would give them a massive economic boost (unless that's changed and not been reported).

Without arguing for their policies but "tax cuts" maybe depends on detail as to whose tax is being cut and if there would be corresponding tax increases for others (eg bring Corporation tax inline with Income tax or even make a start on that), maybe windfall tax of bank profits from QE, etc.

Fuel duty - as you say, daft and whilst no politician would, it should be increased (and I drive an ICE car).

 

[briantrumpet]

Often, not always. I'm no supporter but re: costing they have a massive benefit as they want to rejoin the EU which would give them a massive economic boost (unless that's changed and not been reported).

Without arguing for their policies but "tax cuts" maybe depends on detail as to whose tax is being cut and if there would be corresponding tax increases for others (eg bring Corporation tax inline with Income tax or even make a start on that), maybe windfall tax of bank profits from QE, etc.

Fuel duty - as you say, daft and whilst no politician would, it should be increased (and I drive an ICE car).

Those two are barometers of the party's seriousness though, and suggest they've lost focus. I'd like to think that LD supporters, and those who might toy with the idea, would take a dim view of nakedly populist gimmicks that are counter to the LD ethos.

 

[Rusty Nails]

He’s going to find it impossible to get over the irrelevant clown image.
The party needs a reboot.

 

[briantrumpet]

He’s going to find it impossible to get over the irrelevant clown image.
The party needs a reboot.

Yeah, it's like he's run out of ideas. I think they were too timid early on by dipping their toes in the water with just the 're-join the Customs Union' pitch. They kind of had nothing to lose by making a big pitch to the electorate, and ended up espousing something fairly meaningless over and over. I'm really not sure where they stand on anything now, but they don't appear to be leading any sorts of debates (which might be partly down to the media ignoring them whatever they do, I'll admit).

 

[Psamathe]

Those two are barometers of the party's seriousness though, and suggest they've lost focus. I'd like to think that LD supporters, and those who might toy with the idea, would take a dim view of nakedly populist gimmicks that are counter to the LD ethos.

I agree but with other parties self-destructing or facing big challenges Lib Dems have a good opportunity, not to form a Government but to gain more power and influence. But as things are, however sensible, few get to find out about them 'cos they just are not getting press coverage. I didn't even notice they'd had their Party conference yet the much smaller Green Party (in terms of MPs and thus impact on our legislature) swamping press. Even the negative press still gives a Party opportunity to send their message eg Green's and ZiR yet Ms Lucas did a good job on TV both isolating the madness to Polanski's leadership (and Party constitution) whilst highlighting what the Party was really about and the challenges it seeks to address.

 

[briantrumpet]

I agree but with other parties self-destructing or facing big challenges Lib Dems have a good opportunity, not to form a Government but to gain more power and influence. But as things are, however sensible, few get to find out about them 'cos they just are not getting press coverage. I didn't even notice they'd had their Party conference yet the much smaller Green Party (in terms of MPs and thus impact on our legislature) swamping press. Even the negative press still gives a Party opportunity to send their message eg Green's and ZiR yet Ms Lucas did a good job on TV both isolating the madness to Polanski's leadership (and Party constitution) whilst highlighting what the Party was really about and the challenges it seeks to address.

Yeah, between rock and a hard place re coverage for the smaller parties. Be sensible, get no coverage, do mad things, get the mad stuff covered (as the Greens demonstrated). Or be Reform, and get Chris Mason & the BBC trying to woo likely Reform voters.

 

[secretsqirrel]

He criticised Burnham for planning the end of the triple lock, which hasn’t gone down well with some of his MPs. His tory pact links are a millstone.

 

[briantrumpet]

He criticised Burnham for planning the end of the triple lock, which hasn’t gone down well with some of his MPs. His tory pact links are a millstone.

Feels like populism, rather than making hard choices. Not sure if he'd previously argued differently.

At the moment, if something financial isn't registered as a potentially problematic trade-off, I'm sceptical.

 

[Ian H]

There's a problem for a party which mostly seems to define itself by what it isn't.

 

[Dorset Boy]

Why is a 10p cut in fuel duty at a time of record prices at the pumps during a cost of living crisis daft?
Brian, you are an exception in driving a 70 year old clapped out banger 100 miles a year.
Davy is promoting something to help the majority by reducing fuel costs which actually have a much wider impact.

 

[Pblakeney]

Why is a 10p cut in fuel duty at a time of record prices at the pumps during a cost of living crisis daft?
Brian, you are an exception in driving a 70 year old clapped out banger 100 miles a year.
Davy is promoting something to help the majority by reducing fuel costs which actually have a much wider impact.

Doesn't address the root of the problem which is an over reliance on fossil fuels in the first place.

 

[briantrumpet]

Doesn't address the root of the problem which is an over reliance on fossil fuels in the first place.

And an immediate potential shortage of fuel. And the fact that even well-meaning most tax cuts collected via the vendors (e.g. VAT) simply end up as a higher profit margin (e.g. VAT on tampons/sanitary pads - when it was reduced, only 20% of the reduction ended up in lower prices).

 

[Psamathe]

I wonder if all parties might be suffering a bit from long term strategy in the face of very dynamic changes to challenges eg electorate has a view as to where each party stands on major issues but suddenly we see eg rapidly changing costs of borrowing changing what can be proposed on a costed basis. Add relatively rapidly changing views on immigration, more support for popularism, etc. and parties have to move from their long established positions.