Stephen Tall

Lib Dem Voice polled our members-only forum recently to discover what Lib Dem members think of various political issues, the Coalition, and the performance of key party figures. Some 500 party members have responded, and we’re publishing the full results.

Net satisfaction with party’s direction dips to +23%

LDV asked: Do you think, as a whole, the Liberal Democrats are on the right course or on the wrong track? (Comparison with June’s figures.)

59% (-3%) – The right course
36% (+5%) – The wrong track
5% (-2%) – Don’t know / No opinion

There’s a sharp fall this month in the number of Lib Dem members satisfied with the direction of the party, with a net +23% now satisfied — down from +31% in June, and from +49% as recently as February. Unsurprisingly the figures closely mirror approval with the Coalition Government’s record which we reported yesterday. A combination of the NHS Bill controversy, the botched Budget, and the continuing and worsening recession has led to a halving of that net satisfaction in the last six months. By comparison, this figure stood at +32% in the immediate aftermath of the leadership’s U-turn on tuition fees. Here’s the trend over the first two years of the Coalition:

Nick’s leadership ratings down to lowest level yet

What is your view of Nick Clegg’s performance as Lib Dem leader? (Comparison with June’s figures.)

11% (n/c) – Very satisfied
45% (-2%) – Satisfied
Total satisfied = 56% (-2%)
27% (+3%) – Dissatisfied
16% (+1%) – Very dissatisfied
Total dissatisfied = 43% (+4%)
1% (-2%) – Don’t know / No opinion

Just as satisfaction with the party has declined sharply over the past six months, so has satisfaction with Nick Clegg’s leadership of the Lib Dems. In February, Nick’s net satisfaction rating stood at +38% net satisfaction. At 13% in August, his rating is now almost one-third of that figure, and the lowest we’ve yet recorded. As I noted last time: “each time Nick pushes the party to accept an unpopular policy not included within the Coalition Agreement his leadership is dented afresh; there may only be so much damage he can personally sustain.” Here’s the trend over the first two years of the Coalition:

* Stephen Tall is Co-Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice, a Research Associate for the liberal think-tank CentreForum, and also writes at his own site, The Collected Stephen Tall.