The Lib Dems are still the party of centrist ‘common sense’ – but are there any takers? | Andy Beckett

The party may find its self-consciously moderate worldview has little traction in a polarising election

If you’re on the left, it’s easy to dislike the Liberal Democrats. Helping David Cameron into Downing Street; supporting most of his austerity policies for five years; splitting the anti-Tory vote; attacking Jeremy Corbyn more than Boris Johnson. Since 2010 the Lib Dems, supposedly a party of the centre, have done much to aid three of Britain’s most rightwing governments ever. As their leader, Jo Swinson, discovered on Question Time last Friday, some voters may never forgive them.

Last week her deputy, Ed Davey, suggested that “the most likely result” of the election was “a minority Tory government”, and that the Lib Dems could informally support it in exchange for another Brexit referendum. The Lib Dems have been much more reluctant to say they might support a minority Labour administration, even though a second referendum is already Labour policy. For many leftists, such contortions may be final confirmation that the Lib Dems have ceased to be a centre party, and have turned into one of the right.

During a polarising election, the middle-of-the-road voter whom the Lib Dems have always sought may only get scarcer

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