Cross-post from the Catholic and Orthodox Group

[rug]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12212571

Can somebody from the UK weigh in with more information about Sarah Teather, MP, and the political stance of the Liberal Democrat Party. I'm curious as to why it's called a "centre-Left party" and how it differs from the Labour Party.

[LeftishBrit]

1. The LibDems have always been very divided in their views...

Those local to me have generally been quite left-wing, but there is also a large RW faction, which has basically taken over the party. The LibDem leadership has sold the party and the country out to the Tories. And many of the left-wing LibDems have left the party, switched back to Labour (me included here), or just given up in disgust.

If I were a cynic (wot, me?!), I might say that the difference between LibDems and Labour is that Labour sold out to Bush in 2003 and LibDems sold out to Cameron in 2010. In fact, there is a fair bit of overlap between the parties, but on average Labour are to the left of LibDems, especially nowadays; but Blair isn't and wasn't.

Clear as mud?

[rug]

2. That's right to the point!

Thanks for the info!

[T_i_B]

3. Lib Dems were always much less working class then Labour

That's a key difference. The Lib Dems were always more focused on lifestyle issues then economic issues.

The Lib Dems were more left wing then Labour during the Blair years, but Clegg has moved them to the right of Labour, first the rightward shift was gradual, then became much more pronounced when they went into coalition government with the Conservatives.

The Lib Dem's credibility is pretty much shot as a result.

[rug]

4. I didn't know that.

That's a fundamental difference.

In the U.S., although unions generally dupport Democrats, it is not explicitly a "labor" party. A constant source of consternation.

Thanks.