'Guardian could support Lib Dems'

[Silent Hunter]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3956893.stm

Just what we need, another Lib Dem paper. If the Observer went with them, I'd be stuck with the Murdoch press.

[Michael Z]

I wouldn't be at all surprised if The Guardian changed allegiance to the Lib Dems. Many on the left feel that, as long as Blair is party leader, the choice between Labour and Tory is basically a choice between New Conservatives and Old Conservatives. The paper has been almost vitriolic in recent attacks on the Blair government over Iraq, civil rights, etc, etc and appears to increasingly fall in line with LibDem opinion. Peter Hain's Guardian article denouncing Charles Kennedy, published a few months ago, also revealed a certain degree of desperation on Labour's behalf.

The Lib Dems might be opportunists when they portray themselves as the true party of the left (well, ok, they are opportunists), but they can't be that far off the mark once you consider Blair's autocratic tendencies, not to mention Iraq. Besides, opportunism and politics go together like bees and honey.

I only wish Menzies Campbell was party leader, but I don't want to bore everyone again with how I think he'd make a wonderful Prime Minister blah blah blah...

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Many on the left feel that, as long as Blair is party leader, the choice between Labour and Tory is basically a choice between New Conservatives and Old Conservatives.

Only the well off suburban left. Which neatly reflects the Guardian's readership.
The Guardian's foolish endorsement of the LibDems in Hartlepool added about 500 votes to Labour's majority

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They are MILES off the mark. Any party that wants to slash social spending, abolish the DTI, scrap the New Deal (when I found this out I was furious) and raise taxes purely to cut down the size of Government (which is plain weird) CANNOT be considered a Left Wing party.
They are certainly the only liberal party in British Politics but liberal does not equal left wing.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3956893.stm

Just what we need, another Lib Dem paper. If the Observer went with them, I'd be stuck with the Murdoch press.

A columnist for the Guardian wrote an article along the lines of "Socialism is Dead, Long Live Liberalism" and proclaimed that LOCKE was the best thing since sliced bread.

I encourage said columnist to have a look at the reasons why Labour held Hartlepool*

*For those who don't know: Wright's campaign was based on "Hartlepool Pride" and made a lot of it's Socialist and Communitarian traditions (Wright campaign estimated that about 1000 Die Hard Labourites who didn't vote for Mandleson came home 'cos of that) while playing the illiberal card over drugs/ASBO's etc.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Interesting table: http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/e97/pastpaps.htm