This is an insult that’s used towards Lib Dems almost exclusively by Labour supporters. It’s one that comes up at election time to try to push left leaning voters away from the Lib Dems and towards Labour. In a “normal” election, that makes sense. But this isn’t a “normal” election. There’s quite a large percentage of moderates in the two main parties, which is why we had the New Labour and Coalition governments for so long. As the two main parties drift away from the centre there’s going to be people who will feel more disenfranchised. If you push them away from a more centrist party by claiming that they’re right wing then you’re going to disenfranchise them. If they don’t support Labour and don’t have anyone else to vote for who’s standing for remain then that’s a potential lost vote. And if more moderate MPs of the Conservative party are moving to a remain supporting party then that’s more election winning experience on the remain side!
What can be done?
If you’re a Labour Supporter, don’t use the phrase. If you do then you’re not making people want to join you. Just as calling all right wing voters Nazis or all left wing voters Communists, all you do is alienate the person you’re aiming it at (and perhaps some undecided folk). It’s an absolutely valid strategy for a “normal” GE, but this time we need to win on how good our parties’ stances are, rather than how bad the other parties trying to do similar things are. Instead argue on policy. Why would a left leaning remainer want to vote for a Labour candidate rather than a Remain Alliance one? Why is the option to renegotiate and then have a People’s Vote better than a People’s Vote /Revocation of Article 50?
Proud Ankylosaur 