2007-03-15 08:25:27 · 17 answers · asked by trumps 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Elections
people are too scared that it is a waste of a vote to go for LibDem in a general election, they think they will never win, so they vote labour. this is my theory anyway, but it only works if they are desperatate to keep out the tories. they aren't so bothered in a local election as its not as important.
2007-03-15 08:35:31 · answer #1 · answered by snowshoe134 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's a very good question and you quite correct. When there have been both general and local elections on the same day (1997, 2001 and 2005) the Lib Dems do miles better in the local poll than the national poll.
In 1997, the Lib Dems polled 25% in the local poll compared to the 18% at the national poll, in 2001 they polled 25% in the locals compared to 17% nationally and in 2005 they polled 28% locally compared to the 23% they polled nationally.
As to why the Lib Dems do so much better at local elections than national, one explanation could be that some local elections have more than one seat up for election. This means that a non Lib Dem voter would vote for their party for the first and second seat and then perhaps cast a protest Lib Dem vote in the third seat.
2007-03-15 13:07:39 · answer #2 · answered by Harry Hayfield 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On low turnouts upsets are always more likely. Local elections typically have lower turnouts, but when the general elections come the turnout usually increase.
The lib-Dems with a minority opinion back ground and a rather mixed and confusing message are an acquired taste not really a party with any clear policies. More a whingers manifesto.
In recent times the turnout at general elections has been declining and this has allowed more Lib-Dems to win as their voters are more dedicated knowing they must turn out if they are to have an effect.
2007-03-15 13:42:15 · answer #3 · answered by noeusuperstate 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because they think that the LibDems have no chance to win these elections. Therefore they vote Labour, only to avoid that the Tories win.
There was an interesting poll at last elections, where people were asked who they would vote for, if they thought the parti they chose could win: LibDems came 1st! At the elections, the LIbDems came 3rd! This demonstrates what I wrote above!
_____________ _______________ _____________ __
I have talked to many people who vote Labour as a tradition, although they dislike the New Labour very much.
The LibDems are now closer to what Labour used to be than the New Labour is!
I would therefore suggest people who support the (old) Labour values to vote for the LibDems!
2007-03-17 07:20:10 · answer #4 · answered by s0190331 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In local elections its all about giving ME what I want.
In the general elections reality sets in and it becomes "what am I willing to give to YOU".
Maybe voters should put the shoe on the other foot and consider society as a whole, not be selfish and demand more self-reliance.
2007-03-15 08:41:13 · answer #5 · answered by Philip H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ROFL who didnt tell the americans they were on UK answers again?
people have a tendancy to believe that the Liberal democrats (a UK political Party) wont win a majority of parliment, therefore they vote against the party they dislike by voting for the other one in marginal seats.
EG. pat dislikes Conservatives so he votes Labour even tho he would like Lib Dems more. he believes that if he votes Lib Dem then the Conservatives will win overall.
2007-03-15 08:37:03 · answer #6 · answered by only1doug 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the ConReps don't spend as much money to smear the other party, its issues and its candidates in the local elections as they do in the national elections. Also, in local elections it's harder to smear someone because people are more likely to already know his or her reputation and have seen him or her in action.
2007-03-15 08:30:35 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they are so weak in opinions. So while they are all well and good as a local government no one really wants them in charge of immigration or public spending. They are the sort of people who would raise the top tax bands from an acceptable 40% to a level seen before Maggie Thatcher at around 80%.
2007-03-16 07:23:40 · answer #8 · answered by jb 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In some constituences the Lib/Dems are seen as more 'left wing' than some Labour Parties. For this reason they are often elected as councillors. I've got two such in my ward and one Labour councillor. When it comes to UK.gov I'm not sure that I want a Lib/Dem gov. they look a bit odd in someways to me - not quite tuned in, if you see what I mean.
Lib/Dem joke - when Paddy Ashdown became an MP, Clement Freud MP commented "It's nice to have someone in the party who knows how to kill people."
2007-03-17 03:07:07 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That depends on the area. In some areas liberals do excellent in general elections and in some poorly.
2007-03-15 08:40:38 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋