David Maddox: Growing unease around Holyrood election
In all those barren years out of government, the thing that chirped up the party faithful was their ability to do well in by-elections. But surprise by-election victories are rarely, if ever, the preserve of a party of government, and the Lib Dems are finding they are now the target of electoral anger over government policy. It is a very uncomfortable place for them to be.
But Nick Clegg and senior party figures at Westminster make no bones about their strategy, which is to play a five-year game. They have accepted short-term political failure but believe that, come the general election, they will be rewarded for "doing the right thing" for the country.
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Hide AdThe problem for Tavish Scott, pictured, and the Scottish Lib Dems, though, is this means they are, in effect, part of the short-term sacrifice. Polls appear to suggest that, on a very bad day, they could lose seven of their 16 Holyrood seats.