Cardiff Central Lib Dem encounter

Look at what I found at the union... some Lib Dems!



Check out all the photos at Cardiff Central Watch Photos.

I also had a chat with some of the volunteers. I asked why they chose to get involved with the Liberal Democrats... "Because I think it's the fairest alternative for the country. The ideas that the Liberal Democrats have about liberalism, it's their own brand of social democracy, I think it's the best way the country can take."

This chap, volunteer 1, had been interested in politics before this campaign but not with any party. We talked about motivations for getting involved. Volunteer 2 said "This is the first election I've been able to vote in, so it encouraged me to get out and really get involved." Volunteer 1 chipped back in again with "It's been really good fun. There's a strong camaraderie involved in the air. With the leafletting as well, it's hard work but it's been worth it I think". Volunteer 2 was also interested in making a difference: "It's been worth it with the levels of voting in the different parties it's worthwhile here, you know you can make a difference. It's definitely encouraged me to get out."

I also impeded Jenny Willott's leaflet-handing-out abilities for a while to have a chat.

I asked her how her campaign was going in general. "It's fine, very positive. Students are very friendly, on the whole. Much friendlier than you might expect, given that it's an election and people are sometimes quite anti-politician. But a lot more interested than you'd think. It's going really well."

Mindful of our recent debate I asked her opinion on the 'home' and 'away' student voting habits, and whether students were registered in their term time addresses. "An awful lot of them are registered, in February we ran a voter registration drive in the union and we had loads and loads of people come and sign up. But a lot of people already knew they were registered, which was quite interesting. I think because everybody's known for such a long time that there was going to be an election a lot of people have made sure they were registered in advance. There are some people who aren't registered here, most seem to be. Some are choosing to vote at home rather than here. But I think because it's marginal here people are choosing to vote here more than at home."

I remarked on her advertising bus, with the majorly yellow Britain. "It's interesting actually because it makes you realise actually in so many areas people don't vote Lib Dem because they think we can't win, but actually if everyone who thought that voted Lib Dem then we would win. It's catch 22."

Except that the Lib Dems themselves discourage people from voting Plaid and Conservative by saying they can't win in Cardiff Central. Is that not sort of the same? "No but that's because if everyone who wanted to vote Plaid voted Plaid they still wouldn't win. They get less than 5% each time. The chances of winning the seat, are..." Indeed.

But on to the happier policy of electoral reform: "It's a problem with the voting system we've got. First past the post. You either vote for the person you want or vote against them, for whoever the next best option is. It's a very negative system to have."

I bid JW and her supporters good bye and took a few photos of them on my way off. Their leaflet will go up shortly.