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 550 party members have responded, and we’re publishing the full results.

Post-conference boost: +23% happy with party’s direction

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

57% (+7%) – The right course
34% (-7%) – The wrong track
9% (-1%) – Don’t know / No opinion

There’s a significant recovery in the number of Lib Dem members now satisfied with the direction of the party, up from just +9% in mid-September to +23% this month. That’s the same proportion as we recorded in August, though less than half the +49% recorded as recently as February.

Nick’s leadership ratings recover somewhat, to +8%

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

13% (+2%) – Very satisfied
40% (+3%) – Satisfied
Total satisfied = 53% (+5%)
28% (n/c) – Dissatisfied
17% (-5%) – Very dissatisfied
Total dissatisfied = 45% (-5%)
2% (n/c) – Don’t know / No opinion

Nick Clegg will be relieved that satisfaction with him as party leader has climbed from last month’s negative -2% back into positive territory, at +8%. However, this is still his second lowest rating among Lib Dem members since we started our surveys and compares to +38% net satisfaction as recently as February. Given the party leader usually benefits from a post-conference boost, together with his generally well-received apology video, he might have hoped for more of a fillip from Brighton.

Over 1,200 Lib Dem paid-up party members are registered with LibDemVoice.org. Some 550 responded to the latest survey, which was conducted between 28th and 31st October.

Please note: we make no claims that the survey is fully representative of the Lib Dem membership as a whole. However, LibDemVoice.org’s surveys are the largest independent samples of the views of Lib Dem members across the country, and have in the past offered accurate guides to what party members think.

For further information on the reliability/credibility of our surveys, please refer to FAQs: Are the Liberal Democrat Voice surveys of party members accurate? and polling expert Anthony Wells’ verdict, On that poll of Lib Dem members.

The full archive of our members’ surveys can be viewed at www.libdemvoice.org/category/ldv-members-poll

* 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.