Kaiserschmarrn wrote:They need more than that to beat Labour when it comes to seats.
My original thoughts were that the LibDems might be able to unite Remain voters if both parties had a similar policy and if people got the impression that the LibDems could actually win. They have now set themselves apart quite clearly and hence in my view have reduced their chances.
And as always, I might be wrong.
What is the alternative? To argue for winning a General Election, when ever that takes place and then argue for a fourth extension, beyond the 31st Jan, so as you can renegotiate a deal, which you can then put to a referendum, which you then recommend that the British people reject? What happens if the British public vote for the deal? Are you then going to implement it? Why would you want to own an a deeply uninspiring soft Brexit deal.
And that's with out going into the question of whether you can have a referendum without offering a no-deal option. The Lib Dem's job is to rebuild their position, establish themselves as the serious third party after the disaster of the coalition. I was watching Ed Davey, it looked like he's been reading my posts. The Lib Dems have no responsibility to deliver the Tory referendum. Where he was at fault was defending the Lib Dems call for an in out referendum in 2007. It was a cynical ploy and they should own up to it.
There may well be a Tory majority or a Tory / DUP /Brexit majority after the next election. There's no way the Lib Dems can stop that from happening. The best chance of stopping a Tory and partners majority would be for Labour to look serious about delivering a Brexit deal. With the benefit of hind sight, I think Labour should have attempted to engage in parallel negotiations with the EU. They should have attempted to negotiate an alternative deal. The EU would almost certainly have rejected such a demand, but that wouldn't matter, as long as Labour looked like it had a clear vision and plan for delivering a Brexit.
Labour's strategy has been to hope that the Tories would deliver Brexit, they've never wanted to take responsibility for the Brexit situation. Both Boris and the LIB Dems are taking responsibility for ending the Brexit impasse, even if many think they are doing it in irresponsible ways.