Jake. In term of seats at Westminster, the Libs are now fast becoming dead in the water. After the signing the pact with the devil, a lot of their traditional voters will go over to Labour, as you have said. I just can't see them being relevant in 2015, except in a very marginal way. They have had their 15 mins of fame and they now face another generation or two in the political wilderness, just like the 50's, 60's, etc. Who knows, they could be down to 5-6 seats again.
Boris made a wonderful comment about the Libs in his speech at Conference this week...something about "ditching the yellow albatross from around the neck of the Tory Party"... Priceless !
Not sure I am entirely with you on Boris. Every time he makes an appearance he lifts the Tories chance of success, and the party faithful know it. I watched his interview with Paxman on Newsnight again this morning :::
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24343570
No politician would welcome being grilled by Paxo but Boris took to it like a duck to water. He even managed to cope with the price of milk question with consummate ease. I am concious of sounding like the leader of the Boris Appreciation Society here but I really think he is the Tories brightest star. I just can't understand why the Men in Grey Suits don't take Dave to one side and tell him a few home truths. People of all political persuasion like Boris...he has an appeal that almost every other politician in the country would give his right arm for. Of course, he will make a bid for leadership in the future, but it will be too late to save Dave.