National Politics 🟠 The Liberal Democrats

[Carpy]

Lib Dem Thread

 

[Symp59]

 

[Golden Dr Otto]

Good work Carpy that was terrific !

 

[holdsteady]

Or the tumbleweed section.

To talk about that them though, if they can't do well in the next four years and next general election then what is the point of them, the big two parties are historically unpopular and they are the third party in terms of parliamentary seats (if not voter share and the polls), if you can't capitalise on that now then you never will.

 

[Ox4Eva]

Handwringing nutjobs, just like the greens!

 

[lodeyellow]

Handwringing nutjobs, just like the greens!

In Cambridgeshire, we aren’t too bad.

 

[ZeroTheHero]

Unfortunately, I think Ed Davey is a terrible leader for the Lib Dems. Some of the silly 'stunts' and Instagram posts in the last election were toe-curlingly awful to watch - trying to take the Lib Dems seriously after watching them was very difficult. It's a shame, because there *is* a place for a 'Liberal' party in this country - but as others have said, if they can't now take advantage of the disaffection with both Labour and the Tories and the fears many of us have about the rise of the far right by offering a credible (and sensible) alternative, then they probably never will.

 

[Carpy]

Good work Carpy that was terrific !

I painstakingly went through the forum looking for any real mention or discussion about them and I honestly found b****r all, seems they have an issue with cutting through

 

[ZeroTheHero]

Yes, all the 'cutting through' power of a wet tissue at the moment, unfortunately.

(I say 'unfortunately' because we desperately need an alternative to the main two parties that is not that other lot!)

 

[OX18]

In Cambridgeshire, we aren’t too bad.

Really ? Are they now car friendly and work a five day week.

 

[lodeyellow]

Really ? Are they now car friendly and work a five day week.

I understand the four-day week in South Cambs district council is working pretty well. I don’t have too many problems getting around in my car. I tend to use park & ride when I need to go into Cambridge.

 

[West Oxon U’s]

Have the Lib Dems plastered most of the roads with 20 mph speed limits in Cambs, yet?

 

[lodeyellow]

Have the Lib Dems plastered most of the roads with 20 mph speed limits in Cambs, yet?

More are probably planned in some villages, which would be a good idea. I’d like to see one introduced in ours.

 

[Golden Dr Otto]

More are probably planned in some villages, which would be a good idea. I’d like to see one introduced in ours.

So you ARE from Kidlington!!!

 

[lodeyellow]

So you ARE from Kidlington!!!

Definitely not! But I do have a friend called Ian Middleton.

 

[Toe knee]

SHALL WE ?? WILL WE?? NO WE WON'T

 

[West Oxon U’s]

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

The Liberal Democrats are the Conservative Party from the 70's and 80's. Has there ever been a more snobby political slogan than 'the Party of middle England?

They're rampant elitists, especially the Oxfordshire mob full of privately educated, Oxbridge types, sons of Lords, sons of diplomats, daughters of ambassadors, married to Baronesses etc. Theyre from such extreme privilege that they're detached from reality and ignorant to and insulated from the real world problems their decisions cause.

Some are bought and paid for University stooges who appear to be hell bent on turning Oxford City Centre into a University campus.

I can only assume their voters crave middle class status and mistakenly believe voting for them gives some sort gravitas and respectability.

Good to get that off my chest!

 

[m]

What fuckery is this?

 

[lodeyellow]

Update on South Cambridgeshire’s successful four-day week initiative:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyq8e594nyo

 

[Carpy]

Honestly unbelievable to me that in 2025 we have debates as stupid as this.

If a man wants to remove their male genitalia, fine, let them, it’s their body. But they’re still a man, it’s really not unfair to uphold that view imo, it’s just biology the rest of us shouldn’t have to play along with this fantasy that biology suddenly doesn’t exist for these people.

They should be treated with dignity, respect and compassion, but there should be limits to what the rest of us will do to accommodate it. Them going into single sex, female toilets or changing facilities is not one of them.

 

[EastSussexOx]

Honestly unbelievable to me that in 2025 we have debates as stupid as this.

If a man wants to remove their male genitalia, fine, let them, it’s their body. But they’re still a man, it’s really not unfair to uphold that view imo, it’s just biology the rest of us shouldn’t have to play along with this fantasy that biology suddenly doesn’t exist for these people.

They should be treated with dignity, respect and compassion, but there should be limits to what the rest of us will do to accommodate it. Them going into single sex, female toilets or changing facilities is not one of them.

By this logic how would you deal with Trans men's toiletry needs?
Because of the nature of the hormones they take, people who were born female who have transitioned look very masculine - I doubt you would be able to distinguish a trans man from a cis man (I have a trans male friend who is far more built than I, has impressive facial hair and male patterned baldness) by your logic they should go to female toilets as they were born female - but the what is to stop any CIS male going into female toilets claiming they are trans males, if safety of women and girls is the primary concern that would be a fair greater concern than trans females (who are generally some of the most vulnerable people in society and far more likely to be a victim of violence than a perpetrator) going into female toilets.
And what about people who are intersex, have a naturally occurring greater prevalence of male hormones or just look more masculine - are they to have to be subjected to going into male toilets in case they are challenged on their gender - again that wouldn't really increase the safety of women or girls. It is a complicated issue but on balance I am much more favour or reducing risk of violence to vulnerable people and generally letting live and let live than forcing people to confirm when it could be potentially damaging to their safety or wellbeing.

 

[Scotchegg]

Firstly, I don't know why something that affects such a tiny number of people gets such media interest. Secondly, knowing that it does, I don't know why people can't give a really straight forward answer.

A woman is defined as someone born as such with XX sex chromosome, and anyone who has been granted a Gender Reassignment Certificate that legally defines them as female.

A man is defined as someone born as such with XY sex chromosome, and anyone who has been granted a Gender Reassignment Certificate that legally defines them as male.

These should all be able to use single sex toilets, changing rooms, hospital wards etc relevant to their gender.

Then you have those who are in transition, identify differently or have any medical condition in which Gender is not clear. We should be sensitive to the needs of these, and support them as much as we can to be able to live their lives without fear or discrimination. But it is very difficult to cater for all individual cases. So we should encourage local authorities and businesses to provide single use toilet, changing spaces for anyone who does not easily fit into the male/female categories mentioned above.

These could be multi-use spaces that could accommodate disabled, baby changing facilities or any other group that are marginalised in any way. But as single usage then all should be able to use this as a safe space for them regardless of their circumstances.

I'm not sure that this is a huge leap and it would enable us to focus on things that actually matter to the vast majority of people whilst also keeping the minorities safe.

 

[boogaloo]

By this logic how would you deal with Trans men's toiletry needs?

Very easy. I used to work in a very small office which had just the one gender neutral toilet. I also believe aeroplanes to this very day also have gender neutral toilets. So how do you stay safe from these 'big-scary-predator-trans types'?

Well, they have this incredible piece of technology that's been around for thousands of years. It's called - a lock!

Secondly, I think there's a lot more pressing issues in this country than whether a woman can have a todger!

 

[m]

World's shittest band:

 

[Marked Ox]

World's shittest band:


View attachment 31711

Think @SteMerritt may disagree.

 

[Carpy]

Think @SteMerritt may disagree.

 

[Essexyellows]

You would think that, with the Conservatives in the desert, the Labour Party rapidly heading that way and only one party seemingly understanding public concerns that the door is wide open for a sensible, centrist party?

Sadly they seem incapable of filling the gap.......

 

[lodeyellow]

You would think that, with the Conservatives in the desert, the Labour Party rapidly heading that way and only one party seemingly understanding public concerns that the door is wide open for a sensible, centrist party?

Sadly they seem incapable of filling the gap.......

They didn’t do too badly in the last general election, winning 72 seats - an increase of 64 on their number in the previous parliament. But their support outside the south of England is quite thin, and many people who vote for the Lib Dems tend to do so mainly because they just don’t fancy voting for any of the other parties.

I’m a Lib Dem member (though I wasn’t in the coalition years) and deliver their election lliterature and other stuff in our area. I vote Lib Dem mainly because they’re the most “European” of all the parties - I’m also a member of the European Movement - and, if, as I am, one’s anti the Tory party as it’s developed over the last 15 years or so, they’ve been the only alternative in our constituency that’s had a chance of defeating them.

And that’s what happened last year, but only I have to admit because the Reform candidate split the right-wing vote. Our MP’s majority is only 495.

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

They didn’t do too badly in the last general election, winning 72 seats - an increase of 64 on their number in the previous parliament. But their support outside the south of England is quite thin, and many people who vote for the Lib Dems tend to do so mainly because they just don’t fancy voting for any of the other parties.

I’m a Lib Dem member (though I wasn’t in the coalition years) and deliver their election lliterature and other stuff in our area. I vote Lib Dem mainly because they’re the most “European” of all the parties - I’m also a member of the European Movement - and, if, as I am, one’s anti the Tory party as it’s developed over the last 15 years or so, they’ve been the only alternative in our constituency that’s had a chance of defeating them.

And that’s what happened last year, but only I have to admit because the Reform candidate split the right-wing vote. Our MP’s majority is only 495.

The LibDem's locally are what Tories were in the 80's, Oxbridge types, married to aristocracy, sons of Lords, daughters of ambassadors etc. Raging elitists detached from reality and ignorant to and insulated from the real world problems their decisions cause.

Being a member or voting for them won't elevate your social standing you know. Be part of the solution locally and ditch your membership.