What is to become of the Liberal Democrats?

What is to become of the Lib Dems? Last may like many people around the country, I sat in a polling booth considering whether to vote tactically in order to try to oust the Conservative MP. Thankfully I did not vote Liberal Democrat and four days later I felt vindicated in sticking to my values.

A year on the Lib dems are undeniably in trouble. They spent a lot of last week 'prospect managing' for the election, so that any result slightly better than expected and could be used as some kind of success. However this tactic backfired, the performance was worse and I'm not sure they quite know what to do.

I've said this many times over the last few days but if I was a lib dem I would be worried. They got hammered across the board including completely capitulating in Scotland. It seems they have a choice. To stick with Clegg who is now toxic and deep in trouble or to attempt to change leader.

Both strategies are risky if they stick with Clegg and a coalition in it's current form then it is likely they will continue to take the hit for the coalition. However if they change and attempt to redefine themselves within the coalition the conservatives could smell blood and let the coalition fall apart to gain electoral advantage. I personally would be tempted to try to rebrand the party, meaning that Clegg would have to go. He is beyond salvation in the mind of the British electorate and sticking with him condemns the Liberal Democrats to electoral oblivion.

We have already seen some movement within the Lib Dems, potential replacements jostling for position. Huhne having his cabinet argument with Osbourne in a bid to look strong and Cable this weekend criticizing the tories. Neither will make the first move for fear of doing a Hesletine and wielding the knife without any reward, but both have positioned themselves just in case. The question now is will anyone be brave enough to attempt to take Clegg down? I suspect not. Though if more party members like the former leader of Nottingham Liberal Democrats continue to call for his head perhaps some MP's will feel pressured into it. Only time will tell.