Here in the South, the Liberal Democrats present themselves as a safe home for the many disaffected Conservatives not quite ready to make the jump to Labour.

But in the northern cities, they present themselves as a more radical alternative to Labour. In rural areas, they vary their tactics depending on the local mood, in some places opposing road building, in others leading the campaigns for local bypasses.

On Oxford City Council they have formed an alliance with the Green Party but on Oxfordshire County Council they rule in coalition with the Conservatives.

Nationally their electoral influence is on the wane, with their share of the vote falling at the general election last year. Locally they slumped to third in a council byelection two months ago, having previously held the seat.

The evidence is the Lib Dems jump on any bandwagon to win voters from both major parties for often conflicting reasons. You just don't know where you stand with them or who they will side with when the time comes.

-Ms J Hardy, Peacehaven