The LibDem Party

She is now being interviewed by Victoria Derbyshire

I am glad that you seem to like Jo Swinson. She is indeed a very able politician and could quite possibly become party leader. However although she is the current deputy leader, it does not automatically follow that she will become leader when Vince Cable goes. The Liberal Democrat Party members chose the leaders on a one-member-one-vote basis. There are no union block votes or preference given to those with the right connexions.

I am intrigued to know, Annie, if Jo was LibDem leader and Jeremy Corbyn was still leader of the Labour Party at the next election, would you vote LibDem?

There seem to be many MPs, party members and voters in both the Labour and Tory parties who actually prefer LibDem policies, especially on brexit, yet their tribal loyalties seem to make it almost impossible to vote for what they think is best for our country at this time.

I have belonged to the Libs/LibDems for over 50 years, but in recent years I would have moved elsewhere, were there any other centre party to move to.

Vince Cable's leadership (what leadership?) has led me closer to resigning than anything else.

Varian, I would need to hear more from her before saying yes or no. I know she will not automatically become leader but I was impressed with her speech yesterday , she spoke with passion but no anger

At the next general election if the Lib candidate is from this area and Corbyn still leader I will vote for the Lib . I know Kirsty Williams well, she lives just outside town.

Labour will abstain when it comes to the Brexit vote, not out of any principle, in the hope of a general election.

Will any defy the whip ?

Having been in the SDP I always want to vote Lib Dem but quite often find there is a hurdle - often the leader - and I hope that they can become a credible party once again - possibly by attracting defectors from the other parties.

There will be few if any defectors kitty, there are only 11 Lib MP’s. if ten from both main parties defected this would mean a party of 35 MP’s. Unless they make big inroads come the next election.

Blair advised stay in the parties and get rid of the leaders, wise advice for the Labour Party, frightening if the Tories got rid of May and voted for Boris. If Labour got rid of Corbyn they would probably have McDonald. Not a cheery prospect for the country .

The LibDems have 12 MPs representing about 15% of voters

Sadly underwhelming keynote speech from Vince Cable.
A far cry from the days of Charles Kennedy or even in the days of the Liberal party, David Steel or Paddy Ashdown
Where oh where are the politicians with a personality?

I really don't know how Labour is going to survive after Brexit is over, because the party members are never going to elect a moderate leader, and the rules are not likely to be changed, again because party members will not want it.

As for the Lib Dems, if they were less Liberal and more Democratic they would have a wider appeal, we need a new centre party and I don't see Lib Dem filling that gap.

Diane, the rules are being changed . Momentum and Unions battling it out.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/sep/17/labour-nec-braced-for-row-over-leadership-election-proposals

To bring this thread entitled the Lib Dems back to the Lib Dems, they asked Gina Millar to give a speech so I wonder if they were hoping she might put herself forward to be leader, they are said to be considering a leader should not necessarily have to be an MP

I always supported the Liberals - Jeremy Thorpe , Menzies Campbell, and the ones you mention MawBroon.

Yes, where are the personalities? Somehow, the charismatic leaders seem to have gone and many were flawed anyway, as it turns out.
However, does that matter if they have the country's welfare and future at heart?

It is an interesting question Jalima.

If a party has the right policies, should it still need a charismatic leader?

I suspect that the answer is yes and I have to admit that I have never seen much charisma in Vince.

I think the bigger influences are - FPTP, a ridiculously undemocratic voting system, and the influence of the right wing press, owned by foreign billionaires and tax exiles who promote their own agendas.

Even with a charismatic new leader, these are big obstacles to overcome.

If a party has the right policies, should it still need a charismatic leader?

Yes, I think so varian
Someone to make the public believe in those policies.

"If a party has the right policies, should it still need a charismatic leader?"

I'm not sure, there are some very dangerous charismatic leaders in other parts of the world, past and present.

There needs to be some charisma, there was a time it wasn’t important but now it is. Clegg had it, Charles Kennedy had charm and a sense of humour too. Jo Grimond had the lot, quite rare at that time. He certaintly impressed female voters.

To get elected a leader has to be charismatic to get voters to listen to the moderate policies being promoted, there is no point a useless speaker trying because nobody is listening.

To attract floating voters policies have got to be moderate and realistic , what happens after they are elected may be rather different and they have 5 yrs to prove themselves and win the next election.

Trying to think of a charismatic politician now !

They are keeping their head down and powder dry, there are lots of young potentials with no political "baggage" on both sides.
I've no idea who will emerge, not anyone in the limelight at present

The greatest problem with the LD's is gaining the trust of the voters. I personally cannot forgive them for selling their soul after the 2010 GE, especially when one of the instigators in soul selling was my local MP who could count his votes by the number of wheelbarrows carrying them.

The local electorate thought the same and at the following GE the LD candidate was decimated at the polls. This in a strong LD seat which I doubt they will ever get back.

Oh soul selling! Give me strength.
The Lib Dems have now become a party that actually like being outsiders, it means they don’t have to do anything and can stand up there on the moral high ground satpying everyone else does things wrongly.
I was delighted when Nick Clegg joined forces with Cameron, gave them the rare opportunity to get some political things done.But no, turns out that the majority of Lib Dem voters would prefer them out in the cold forever.

Trust betrayed is so very difficult to overcome, often, not possible

Nick Clegg certainly was given the opportunity to get some political things done (student fee's for one) and ensured he lost his safe seat at the next GE.