Farage has almost as much credability as Clegg, who has none. Did you see him get ripped apart on Sunday??

No I didn't. But there are many different interpretations of being "ripped apart"; more so when you don't like somebody and you support a party that doesn't agree with is views.

UKIP actually finished second in the European Elections.

You are correct and that is even better.

So there we have it; at last, what the LibDems are all about. Total and unquestioning absorption into Europe. I was in Germany a few months back and talking to a very pro European German engineer, bemoaning Scottish independence. He showed me a map which had come from EU, which blurred the national boundaries. UK in effect being Scotland, Wales and the English regions. Implication being they consider Scotland 'independent' already, but in a federated Europe. All fine an dandy - but please start telling us the truth! Similarly, a lot needs putting right - my German friend freely admitted. He saw an Anglo / Saxon type alliance as the only means to drive efficiency!

farage epic fail

He was ripped apart in as much he was unable to fully cost his manifesto, which rings true of all political parties.

What's clear is that on this forum, there are people that are pro-Lib Dems and people that are not. There has been a lot of 'look at me' statements but not much else.

Only the Lib Dems can answer what they stand for and only they can be accountable for their decisions to date. If we could hear from their PPC, councillors etc it would help, but I suspect they won't as they are expecting a 'look at me' ambush instead.

The growth of the smaller political parties has been a trend - people mainly disillusioned by the similarities between the Conservatives and New Labour. Traditionally they would have used their 'protest' vote to go for the Lib Dems, but now it appears that people are unsure if they are a safe bet. So they are taking that vote to the closest match to their opinions. UKIP benefiting from the right wing/Conservative defectors, Green's benefiting from left wing/New Labour defectors.

So the question for me is not quite, 'what do the lib dems stand for?' but 'is their strategy to be part of a coalition or to win a general election out right?'. Greens, for example, prefer inclusive consensus politics.

But where is the evidence that people are leaving Labour and supporting the greens? With all due respect, you stood in 2010 and got the lowest Green Party vote in Newbury Constituency in history (excluding the By-Election where there was many more candidates). You stood no candidates in the locals or the PCC elections, I just struggle to see where you get the whole "people look towards the greens" statement that you keep coming out with. Where is the evidence?

As for Labour, we have done nothing but increase our support locally, far beyond the national trends. If the PCC elections are anything to go by, our position as the 650th ranked CLP would improve to around 430th. That shows the progress we are making and the support we are gaining locally. In West Berkshire district, we have over 200 Labour Party members. How many members do the Green Party have?

I can't believe that the Lib Dems still want to join the Euro. The whole idea of a single currency is flawed without a Euro Super State whict the Lib Dems aso favour. Can anyone see us signing up for that as a nation? I don't think so.

Certainly hope not, but then we did vote John Major a second term!

Spider seems to be saying: it is happening anyway, so lets be honest about it. Everyone from the centre-right to the left want to merge into Europe, in my view.

"If we could hear from their PPC, councillors etc it would help, but I suspect they won't as they are expecting a 'look at me' ambush instead." - your type of reply is the reason other political people out there don't put their real name to answers.

But, apologies forgot for a moment that this thread was all about you. Unlike New Labour in Newbury, I am not everything Green in West Berkshire. I am not the centre of attention, I'm just one of the team speaking out.

Just for info, 110 and counting in Newbury with Berkshire and Reading (our region) growing massively - and our Reading councillors are excellent and very respected.

PCC was a waste of tax payers money - how or why anyone would want to politicise the police I've no idea - it's just madness. Showing your continued support just shows how out of touch New Labour is - how many voted for the PCC system? I'm betting if you took off hard core party activists you would find no one voted and no one wants it.

Nice evasion from the points about the Lib Dems though. Way to get some more attention eh.

A fundamental principle of Green politics is that decisions should be taken at the lowest practicable level: sometimes things dealt with at national level might better be decided regionally or more locally. However there are matters – safeguarding basic rights, peace and security achieved through mutual understanding, environmental protection, the spread of culture and ideas, regulation of the financial system – where I think that being part of the EU is appropriate.

That's fine, but would you give examples?

Good examples:

Finance: Greens don't support the UK joining the Euro; but we do think that creating an arrangement of co-operative fair trade is better than the current lopsided 'free' trade system.

Nationalism: Greens think that co-operation builds peace, as it has done in Europe. Our geography means that we are part of Europe. We believe in Europe, but not in a European superstate.

Immigration: Don't blame the migrants - look to understand why they are migrating. Our international policies must seek to reduce the economic, political and environmental factors that force people to migrate. Emigration should be a positive choice, not the outcome of desperation. In particular, free movement within the EU is a fact and we should press for EU policies that make all parts of the EU an attractive place to live.

That's almost the same amount of votes you got in 2010 isnt it?? ;-)



Come on Adrian, where have I showed support?

Finally some policy!! Good answers, quite similar to my own views actually...

That is true.

Thanks for that link.