Why do the Lib Dems have more support (or seats) in SW England than elsewhere?
We're anarchists, or at least have a strong streak of anarchism running though the culture.
More people who are indecisive and insecure, perhaps? 😉
We're anarchists
+1
****in Tory boy has kept his seat here though... 48 year reign.. vote for change my spotty arse!
yellow is a happy colour
It is also the colour of Cowardice...
It's also the colour of cider
And haybales
In case you didn't know, there is a strong association between libertarianism and anarchism.
People down here are not at all keen on being told what to do or think. It's quite alluring actually: I'm originally from Essex, but I feel more-or-less naturalised now.
More people who are indecisive and insecure, perhaps
I'm not sure how I feel about that but I think that it scares me 😉
There just isn't the Labour culture down here that exists elsewhere. You find little pockets of it in places like Devonport or Exeter but they are reasonably similar to other industrial cities where Labour strongholds have established as a result of strength through unity and trade union influences (particularly in the Plymouth dockyards). Much of the area is still rural and the threat of eviction from landlords that didn't get their way was likely for many people who didn't have the mass support that working people had in the cities. I think that its pretty easy for city based socialists to sneer at the apparent forelock tugging of working rural folk but the truth is that they never been in a position to empower themselves and when they did try, look what happened (Tolpuddle).
The demographic of certain places in the west country has chaged and large conurbations like Torbay are made up of many people who have moved from elsewhere in England and Scotland, however, it still doesn't seem to have made much of a difference politically and in most areas a vote for Labour is as good as a vote for the Tories so most Labour voters here vote Lib Dem which probably adds to the perception of it being a Lib Dem stronghold.
That's my take on it anyhow.
Is it because they all look like members of the Wurzels?
[img] 
[/img]
Because the candidate is his brother, her mother, their sister, and my cousin / lover?
Actually it's gone back to blue now!
So in the SW, unlike in the Labour strong-holds where the people automatically vote for the same party(now with a more middle-class bent) that their ship-building or coal-mining grand-father voted for, people actually vote for a party that might do something for them?
The South West has had a history of strong Lib Dem MP's who have been from the area and worked hard for the local community. Some people vote for the person who will represent them not just the party. I would have voted for Alan Simpson as our MP (had he stood again the year) based on his commons voting record but wouldn't necessarily vote labour.
The Southern Yeti - Member
Because the candidate is his brother, her mother, their sister, and my cousin / lover?
That's not multiple choice, is it?
people actually vote for a party that might do something for them?
No, they usually vote for one of the big three, same as everyone else.
TM has it on the nail, plus there's another historical angle.
A lot of this area was Liberal ( before they became democrats ) and certainly in the last election there was still an odd liberal candidate standing here and there ( N. Devon ).
If you adhere to the idea that most people vote what their parents did, you can see historically that where there was Liberals, the next generation became Liberal Democrats.
Driving around my locality and onto the moor, it was all Tory posters and huge banners in fields - the farmers being modern day landlords have maintained the historical aspect of the vote and returned our new constituency into a solid Tory seat.
cheers
Q