Spectre of coalition still hangs over Lib Dems nine years on

The agreement nine years ago could prove to be the party’s downfall in this year’s General Election.

The Liberal Democrats started this election campaign with high hopes and optimism.

They insisted their party was fighting for a majority to revoke Article 50, claim the £50 billion “Remain bonus” and put Jo Swinson into Downing Street.

But an agreement made nine years ago between two long-departed leaders could be their undoing.

Mr Sutherland said Glasgow had been hit hardest by austerity wrought by the Conservatives and their Lib Dem partners, branding the coalition “unforgivable”.

He told her the impact of austerity on Glasgow “breaks my heart”.

The Lib Dem leader has been castigated several times during the campaign – in a youth centre, on the street and even by BBC interviewer Andrew Neil about her personal involvement in the 2010-2015 pact.

He told the PA news agency “lessons had been learned” from the five years spent in Government, adding: “There were some things we did right and some things we did wrong.”

The coalition pressure refused to let up as Rennie took to the stage for an STV debate between the Scottish party leaders.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told Mr Rennie he should be “ashamed” of his party and “apologise” to the people of Scotland for the effect of austerity and Liberal Democrat complicity.

As the election dragged on, the poll numbers for his party dropped, with voters moving to the Labour Party as the spectre of coalition lingered.

According to a survey by YouGov for the Times and analysed by polling expert John Curtice on December 6, the Lib Dems are expected to remain on four seats after December 12.

As the poll numbers stagnated, the previously stark and forthright message of the Lib Dems became muddied, despite insistence to the contrary.

While “Stop Brexit” initially meant the unilateral revocation of a Article 50, the position was softened to a continuation of the campaign for a People’s Vote.

The insistence Jo Swinson could be Prime Minister, which would involve a swing of more than 300 seats towards her party, was pared back.

Ms Swinson identified Mr Blackford’s Ross, Skye and Lochaber seat as a potential victory for the party when speaking to journalists, as well as North East Fife, an SNP marginal where the Lib Dems were just two votes behind  Stephen Gethins in 2017.

Despite a surge in the European Parliament elections earlier this year bringing  optimism flooding into the party, as it had in 2010, this election could prove to be a momentum buster if the polls are proved to be correct.