Election 2015: Nick Robinson, one man who’d welcome a second election
Election day arrives: it's all over bar the voting (and the talk of Downing Street plots)
![10 Downing Street](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9tiHQWeb6dTc5co7vkj7Qc-415-80.jpg)
Lib Dems on the road to ruin
Posted at 09.45, Fri 13 Feb 2015
The Lib Dems have slumped to six per cent, their worst showing in 25 years, putting them in fifth place behind the Greens on seven per cent, according to a new Ipsos-MORI poll for the Evening Standard.
According to a ‘nowcast’ (see definition below) by academics at the British Election Study, it could reduce the party to a single seat on 7 May.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
That’s probably unrealistic– it takes no account of public allegiance to individual MPs, for instance – but on these figures there is very little chance the Lib Dems will save more than half of their current 57 seats, if that.
Ian Jones at UKgeneralelection.com has a useful chart showing the swing the Tories, Labour, the SNP and even the Greens (in one case) would need in each Lib Dem seat. Jones says Clegg and Co's best chance of survival is to treat the general election as 57 separate by-elections.
Definition: A ‘nowcast’ - as opposed to a forecast - assumes an election right now. BES looks at polls based on standard voting intention rather than the “thinking of your own constituency” method preferred by Ashcroft and other pollsters.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Big Tech's answer for AI-driven job loss: universal basic income
In The Spotlight A new study reveals the strengths and limitations
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
'I will not be silent' on Gaza, says Kamala Harris
Speed Read In a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Harris supported Israel's right to defend itself while expressing a desire to end Palestinian suffering
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
'How long can TikTok dominate as a social network?'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The Tamils stranded on 'secretive' British island in Indian Ocean
Under the Radar Migrants 'unlawfully detained' since 2021 shipwreck on UK-controlled Diego Garcia, site of important US military base
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
David Cameron resigns as Sunak names shadow cabinet
Speed Read New foreign secretary joins 12 shadow ministers brought in to fill vacancies after electoral decimation
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Britain's Labour Party wins in a landslide
Speed Read The Conservatives were unseated after 14 years of rule
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Nigel Farage heading to the Commons?
Talking Point Reform UK leader looks on track to 'turn British politics upside-down' once again
By The Week UK Published
-
First-past-the-post: time for electoral reform?
Talking Point If smaller parties win votes but not seats, the 2024 election could be a turning point for proportional representation
By The Week UK Published
-
Why the Conservatives are worried about Canada's 1993 election
The Explainer Nigel Farage says Canadian Reform Party are his 'model' for 'reverse takeover' of the Tories
By The Week UK Published
-
Will Nigel Farage be PM by 2030?
Today's Big Question Reform UK leader sets out two-election strategy for power but leaves door open to 'reverse takeover' of Conservatives
By The Week UK Published