A bit of back-slapping…..
Back in July 2009, Mark Littlewood, once of this parish, posted on this website…..
Can the LibDems get more votes than Labour at the next election?
At the time he pointed to the Labour Party’s continuing atrocious polling numbers and Nick Clegg’s increasingly impressive performance as LibDem leader.
He said “If the governing party staggers into the General Election with Brown still at the helm, their campaign could be a Michael Foot -style PR disaster” …and”I’d expect Nick Clegg to have a strong showing in the campaign itself. He is a capable TV performer (by far the most important communications medium in modern politics) and the British public will like him more as they get to know him more”.
He went onto say “The implications for LibDem strategy could be huge – perhaps suggesting a shift of resources to nationwide communications rather than funnelling as much money as previously into marginals. It would be controversial too – and probably particularly unpalatable to incumbent MPs”.
Of course – it all looked like such a wild suggestion back then. Then again, no one had any expectation that Cameron, let alone Brown, would agree to the leaders TV debates. (Well not quite true…there were some strong rumours even back then).
But in so far as the Liberal high-command HAS focused its efforts around national TV; the public HAS grown to like Nick the more they see him; and the polls suggest that Liberals MAY WELL get more votes that Labour at the election…
…then we have to say not a bad bit of crystal ball gazing Mr Littlewood. Not bad.
Tags: general election, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Mark Littlewood, predictions