The Liberal party

[Davy]

Which became Liv-dems and then SDP I think and whatever else2² They were quite strong in the early 20th century. What happened and how did the UK morphninto pretty much a 2 party system? Not that I am fussed by them but more that we seem to be missing a middle ground. Or has that been partly absorbed by other parties. Labour for example might feel like Tories when it comes to industry and housing, but more liberal on other aspects.

Have the greens taken some of their ground? What does the modern day liberal even look like of it exists and what is the difference between liberals and the flakey side of the left?

Big questions I know but I hear EGB has a spare hour and surely there is liberals on the bounce

 

[egb_hibs]

The irony for the libdems is that both the tories and labour become libdems, leaving them with plums.

Their moment may yet come though. With Labour and the Tories in ruins and replaced by left and right wing parties, the libdems might be the last man standing for the neoliberal voter.

 

[Cavalier]

The irony for the libdems is that both the tories and labour become libdems, leaving them with plums.

Their moment may yet come though. With Labour and the Tories in ruins and replaced by left and right wing parties, the libdems might be the last man standing for the neoliberal voter.

A waaaaaay shorter reply than I was expecting

 

[Purple & Green]

David Lloyd George did it

There was a BBC series around 1981 about it, maybe worth a watch

The life and times of David Lloyd George. Theme tune was Chai Mai by Ennio Morricone as I recall.

 

[egb_hibs]

A waaaaaay shorter reply than I was expecting

Its quite long given its the libdems Cav! What is there to say

 

[Davy]

A waaaaaay shorter reply than I was expecting

Your not the only one, but give it time

 

[Bangkokhibby]

David Lloyd George did it

There was a BBC series around 1981 about it, maybe worth a watch

The life and times of David Lloyd George. Theme tune was Chai Mai by Ennio Morricone as I recall.

"Chai mai" (ใช่ไหม) in Thai means "Isn't it?" or "Right?" It is commonly used at the end of a statement to turn it into a yes/no question seeking confirmation."

Sums up the Liberals really. Wishy washy, middle of the road, scared to lean too far one way or the other in case they lose some of their pearl clutching voters. Didn't know they were still a thing.

 

[Glenmore Road]

David Lloyd George did it

There was a BBC series around 1981 about it, maybe worth a watch

The life and times of David Lloyd George. Theme tune was Chai Mai by Ennio Morricone as I recall.

Decent programme.
Philip Madoc played David Lloyd George.
He did lots of good stuff but was known mainly for being the captured U-boat captain in "Dad's Army", compiling "The List" of names of offenders.
"Whistle while we work. Hitler is a twerp. He's half barmy, so's his army, whistle while we work."
"Vot is your name!?"
"Don't tell him, Pike!"

Also played Evans, the depressed, light-bulb-eating Welsh lunatic in "Porridge."
Starred in the scene where Ronnie Barker delivers one of the best-timed lines in the history of TV comedy.
Mackay is away and the prisoners discuss what forbidden activities they might get up to.
Someone suggests frog racing.
Evans: (depressed) "I'll tell you an interesting fact about the frog. The frog, like me, has an enormous sexual appetite. And when the frog and his mate mate, they're at it for 28 days. Non-stop."
Pause for this to sink in.
Godber: "Non-stop?"
Evans: "Non-stop."
Fletcher rolls his eyes: "No wonder his eyes bulge out!"

Also married to Ruth "Hi-Di-Hi!" Madoc... If you're into that sort of thing.

 

[Glenmore Road]

Being slightly more serious... I think the power of the media in The West to dictate public opinion by portraying politicians as caricatures is underestimated.
Having watched the rise of Donald Trump from South Korea, rather than The West, I find this disturbing. I'm not going into the portrayal of Trump, but I thought Spitting Image and, to a lesser extent, Private Eye held a terrifying amount of power in the 1980s.
The "Spitting Image" portrayal of David Steel, as a half-sized, squeaky-voiced whinger, stuck.
As, of course, did the Spitting Image / Private Eye caricature of Thatcher.
Ian Hislop and other Spitting Image luminaries have said that their prime goal in even starting Spitting Image was to get rid of Thatcher.
Unfortunately, the Spitting Image Thatcher - bullying, cigar-smoking, megalomaniac in a pinstriped suit, with Tebbit in a leather jacket menacingly tapping a truncheon alongside her - was viewed as a positive by many. As was Private Eye's similar depiction of the Führer of Westmünster, Herr Thatchler, in their "Battle for Britain" strip. This also had Steel as a miniature, whiny subordinate to "Doc" Owen, who led "The Allies", while the incompetent Sergeant "Taffy" Kinnock, continually mocked by "Fatty Heffer's cruel cockney humour", was unable to unite his squabbling troops, even as "Spitfire Ace Red Ken" successfully harassed Herr Thatchler from the air. Private Eye's "Dear Bill" letters, from Dennis Thatcher to Torygraph editor Bill Deedes, reinforced the Thatcher as Blofeld / Doctor Evil meme... and her supporters loved it.

 

[Glenmore Road]

Of course, Jeremy Thorpe taking out a contract on an ex-boyfriend, just as the Liberals were reviving in the economic disaster of the 1970s didn't help...

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DKyos-M48B8U&ved=2ahUKEwjn5JSckMuPAxVSgv0HHdhLChYQ78AJegQIFRAB&sqi=2&usg=AOvVaw1ahxpHH-KPgCTbPgto866W

 

[egb_hibs]

Being slightly more serious... I think the power of the media in The West to dictate public opinion by portraying politicians as caricatures is underestimated.
Having watched the rise of Donald Trump from South Korea, rather than The West, I find this disturbing. I'm not going into the portrayal of Trump, but I thought Spitting Image and, to a lesser extent, Private Eye held a terrifying amount of power in the 1980s.
The "Spitting Image" portrayal of David Steel, as a half-sized, squeaky-voiced whinger, stuck.
As, of course, did the Spitting Image / Private Eye caricature of Thatcher.
Ian Hislop and other Spitting Image luminaries have said that their prime goal in even starting Spitting Image was to get rid of Thatcher.
Unfortunately, the Spitting Image Thatcher - bullying, cigar-smoking, megalomaniac in a pinstriped suit, with Tebbit in a leather jacket menacingly tapping a truncheon alongside her - was viewed as a positive by many. As was Private Eye's similar depiction of the Führer of Westmünster, Herr Thatchler, in their "Battle for Britain" strip. This also had Steel as a miniature, whiny subordinate to "Doc" Owen, who led "The Allies", while the incompetent Sergeant "Taffy" Kinnock, continually mocked by "Fatty Heffer's cruel cockney humour", was unable to unite his squabbling troops, even as "Spitfire Ace Red Ken" successfully harassed Herr Thatchler from the air. Private Eye's "Dear Bill" letters, from Dennis Thatcher to Torygraph editor Bill Deedes, reinforced the Thatcher as Blofeld / Doctor Evil meme.

Its a given that any politician not of the liberal left will face an onslaught from the public schoolboys that comprise British comedy. I expect by now the public know this fine and just yawn.

Nevertheless you do give me pause for thought here, though i'd pick a different example. I do think spitting image embedded a view of Reagan as a senile goof, possibly more than it framed our own politicans who we saw a lot more of.

It certainly did for me. It was only much later that I realised someone who bloodlessly ended the cold war, reunited a fractious america and pulled it from the economic doldrums (not without creating problems of its own, obvs) maybe wasnt that daft. Tbh he is exactly what america and the world could do with now, in fact.

 

[emerald green]

Its a given that any politician not of the liberal left will face an onslaught from the public schoolboys that comprise British comedy. I expect by now the public know this fine and just yawn.

Nevertheless you do give me pause for thought here, though i'd pick a different example. I do think spitting image embedded a view of Reagan as a senile goof, possibly more than it framed our own politicans who we saw a lot more of.

It certainly did for me. It was only much later that I realised someone who bloodlessly ended the cold war, reunited a fractious america and pulled it from the economic doldrums (not without creating problems of its own, obvs) maybe wasnt that daft. Tbh he is exactly what america and the world could do with now, in fact.

Well said M