South: Liberal Democrat conference

Chrissy Sturt Researcher, Politics Show South

They believe in a fair, free and open society. They trumpet the principles of liberty, equality and community. But can the Liberal Democrats ever really win a general election?

Lib Dems took 30% of the popular vote in May 2003

As the party faithful descend on Brighton for their annual conference, we turn the spotlight on Liberal Democrat controlled councils in the south.

We ask; how do they behave at a local level? and what does their track record mean for the party at a national level?

There is no doubt that the Liberal Democrats can do well locally.

They took 30% of the popular vote in May, their highest share of the vote in a nationwide election.

At the last General Election, they enjoyed their best result since 1929.

And the party has bobbed optimistically at around the 20% mark in ICM's polls for over a year.

All in all, they enter the conference season on a high.

Charles Kennedy insists his party is the real opposition.

Attack on the Conservatives

Turning his guns on the Conservatives, he has made clear the Lib Dems aim to eclipse the "irrelevant" Tories as Britain's second political party.

In Brighton last year he described the Conservatives as a spent political force.

He said: " The Liberal Democrats have a great and growing opportunity. We're seen increasingly as the party of tomorrow."

Former journalist and broadcaster David Walter has just published a book 'The Strange Rebirth of Liberal England'.

He believes the Liberal Democrats are becoming a real contender for power.

He admits the Liberal Party, in difference guises, has seen many false dawns.

But he argues times are changing. "Yet another Liberal dawn seems to be breaking," he says.

Strength in local councils

Lib Dem controlled authority 'providing good services to local people'

Locally, the Liberal Democrats now control 31 councils.

They have 4,376 councillors. But not all their wins have been consistent.

In the South they seized power from the Conservatives in Bournemouth.

But right next door in Poole, they lost power, to the Tories. The swap was one of the most bizarre twists of the May election.

What made the voters switch?

Was it local services? There seems to be no clear answer.

Both authorities fell under the gaze of the Audit Commission just a few months before the election, and both did rather well.

'Fair' was the verdict on the Tory controlled Bournemouth Borough Council, according to the Audit Commission.

Its main services were given a score of three out of four.

The Council was delivering good education services and developing the local economy.

Inspectors said social care for children and adults needed to improve, along with housing. But nothing was drastically wrong.

Why were the Conservatives ousted?

Perhaps the rises in council tax pushed voters too far, the last four years have seen a cumulative rise of 49.3%.

Over in Poole, the Audit Commission report was even more favourable. Inspectors said the Liberal Democrat controlled authority was providing 'good' services to local people.

GCSE results put the council among the best performers nationally. Social care for adults was described as good.

The Council was praised for working closely with police to reduce crime and disorder.

It seems there are many questions to be asked about the Liberal Democrats at a local level.

People don't join the party because they think it's the magic key to becoming an MP Ruth Polling

We are also probing why so many young people sign up to the party, both locally and nationally.

We talk to Ruth Polling of the ever-growing Liberal Democrat Youth and Students organisation.

"People don't join the party because they think it's the magic key to becoming an MP," she told the Politics Show.

"But because the party acts in the interests of young people, and they believe in its principles."

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