Do you consider that the Liberal Democrats are politically to the right or left of Tony Blair's new Labour Government.

why not just ask if the bnp are right or left of Labour???
its a rhetorical question!!!

and you could also argue that politics is circular and if you go far enough to the left it comes out on the right and vice versa..
in that case its both :D

slimsid2000.....please. please don't get me started.....:)

I think most people are pretty certain that the BNP are to the right of Labour (and indeed all mainstream parties). The issue with the Lib Dems is rather more complicated.

Traditionally the Libs were a centre party and thus to the right of Labour. However, in recent years Labour have moved towards the centre and the Libs have moved leftwards. the question is have they actually crossed over at any point?

Originally posted by slimsid2000
Do you consider that the Liberal Democrats are politically to the right or left of Tony Blair's new Labour Government.

On what issue?

Generally.

:) :( :o :D ;) :P :cool:

Perhaps you should ask the same question but about the Conservatives, not the Lib-Dems. ;)

Originally posted by slimsid2000
Generally.

:) :( :o :D ;) :P :cool:

Impossible to answer.

Somebody can be to the left of someboday else on one issue and to the right of them on another issue.

F'rintance, you can be libertarian on immigration, authoritarian on economics, collectivist on personal rights, all different issues.

As a concrete example, the BNP are left-wing on economics (give all the workers jobs) and right-wing on social issue (kick out the immigrants).

I still stand by the fact that politics is a load of rubbish and every party sucks...

whats all this left and right business? I want a party thats taking my country FORWARD! :)

I think a lot depends on who the new leader is. For example, Simon Hughes is to the left of Blair but Mark Oaten is to the right of Cameron.

Interesting.

Originally posted by jgharston
Impossible to answer.

Somebody can be to the left of someboday else on one issue and to the right of them on another issue.

F'rintance, you can be libertarian on immigration, authoritarian on economics, collectivist on personal rights, all different issues.

As a concrete example, the BNP are left-wing on economics (give all the workers jobs) and right-wing on social issue (kick out the immigrants).

I agree with jgharston. I think since the advent of New Labour under Tony Blair, and now even more so since the election of David Cameron as leader of the Conservatives, the political distinctions of left and right are even more blurred.

All political parties are big tents, or broad churches, under which members with varying views across different political issues co-exist. The Lib-Dems have successfully avoided the traditional third-party squeeze at recent elections. It remains to be seen whether the debacle over Charles Kennedy will cause them damage. I think it will be that issue, rather than are the Lib-Dems viewed as to the left or right of Tony Blair and New Labour, which will concern the voters at forthcoming elections.

Originally posted by redrobbo
...the political distinctions of left and right are even more blurred.

All political parties are big tents, or broad churches, under which members with varying views across different political issues co-exist.

According to the political compass (politicalcompass.org) I'm both more libertarian than Charles Kennedy and more communitarian. Mildly surprisingly, I seem to be at the same place as the Dali Lama!

Originally posted by redrobbo
I agree with jgharston. I think since the advent of New Labour under Tony Blair, and now even more so since the election of David Cameron as leader of the Conservatives, the political distinctions of left and right are even more blurred.

All political parties are big tents, or broad churches, under which members with varying views across different political issues co-exist. The Lib-Dems have successfully avoided the traditional third-party squeeze at recent elections. It remains to be seen whether the debacle over Charles Kennedy will cause them damage. I think it will be that issue, rather than are the Lib-Dems viewed as to the left or right of Tony Blair and New Labour, which will concern the voters at forthcoming elections.

I doubt we'll ever see a Lib Dem Government to be honest though, even if Mr Kennedy were still their Gaffer.

They just don't have the mainstream public support, and aren't as big name as Labour or the Tories.. That's not to say I would be against teh Lib Dems gaining power though, anything's gotta be better than the Muppet show known as the Blair Government, and nobody with any sense wants the Tories back in any time soon.

All the major parties seem to be trying to be all things to all people.

IMHO Lib Dems have usually been a "protest" vote rather than standing for anything particularly concrete.

I'll stick with the Blair devil I think will do me and mine most good / least harm.

Originally posted by jgharston
According to the political compass (politicalcompass.org) I'm both more libertarian than Charles Kennedy and more communitarian. Mildly surprisingly, I seem to be at the same place as the Dali Lama!

Mildy worrying, I too am at the exact same spot as the Dali Lama...... and jgharston!

Hmmmm..... maybe this political tent is bigger than I at first realised? :heyhey:

Footnote: jgharston and myself are known to each other, and we are members of different political parties.

Yep the Lib Dems are to the Right, Left and Middle of Labour :hihi: Hence why they'll never get in power again. If a Party doesn't know were it stands then how does its Voters?

Originally posted by jgharston
According to the political compass (politicalcompass.org) I'm both more libertarian than Charles Kennedy and more communitarian. Mildly surprisingly, I seem to be at the same place as the Dali Lama!

I'm somewhere in the vacinity of the Dali Lama and Nelson Mandela...

http://www.digitalronin.f2s.com/politicalcompass/printablegraph.php?ec=-5.13&soc=-3.54

thats me :)