Is it time to accept the Liberal Democrats as a credible political player?

Paul Merton on Have I got News for You last week jokingly described the Liberal Democrats as a party founded on the 6th April as a new option to Labour and Conservatives during the coming election. On one level people may just laugh at the Liberal Democrats expense, as similar to Gordon Browns perceived lack of charisma, Nick Cleggs party has for years been treated as political lightweights. This month we have seen a real change to the Liberal Democrats fortunes politically, the mere fact that they are been considered worthy of significant airtime suggests people are sitting up and taking notice.

The influence whether positive or negative of the debates on the outcome of the election, has only aided a liberal resurgence in Westminster the likes of which we haven't seen since the interwar period. The Liberal Democrats of Nick Clegg and Vince Cable is very different to that of Lloyd George and I am yet to be convinced that they can sustain this support especially with a debate on economics coming up, undoubtedly Cleggs weakest and Browns strongest area. I would not be surprised to see an element of "shy-labourism", with public sector workers who may have fashionably declared their support for the Liberal Democrats, switching to Labour in the comfort and safety (relative) of the polling booth.