Its not the two party squeeze that's doing for the Lib Dems

I keep hearing the excuse from Lib Dems on TV that their party is suffering from a 'classic' two party squeeze.

I don't know whether to laugh or cry when I hear that.

In many of the cases where there is a two party squeeze its the Lib Dems who are trying to do it ("Winning here" remember, the infamous bar charts ) .

The problem for Lib Dem MPs is that most of them are either facing Labour or Conservative threats, not both. If the Lib Dem message heads right (elect Nick Clegg as leader) then they will haemorrhage support to Labour, if the head to the left ( elect Chris Huhne as leader) then they can't stop the Conservatives. See John Robinson's interesting analysis of 2001-2005 election trends here ...

If they set out a distinctive policy - they may pick up support all over the country and lose everywhere !

But then what the point of being in a political party unless you believe in something you can articulate. If not then you are treating politics as just a hobby, and the electorate as sheep to be fleeced of their votes any way you can.

What is the point of the Lib Dems, given that politics is also the art of the possible ?

Its certain that Gordon sees them as his way of subjugating southern England. But is that really all they amount to ?