Lib Dem's poll 'disappointment' (BBC News)

The number of seats gained by the Liberal Democrats at the general election was "disappointing", party president Simon Hughes has admitted. The Lib Dems gained only an extra 11 seats on the 2001 election results and failed to oust several Tory front-benchers in target seats.

Mr Hughes partly blamed this on plans to replace council tax with a regionally variable local income tax. He said the idea was flawed as it meant different things in different areas.

(snip)

Although many Lib Dem front-benchers held back from giving predictions on the number of seats they would gain, Mr Hughes told the BBC News website he expected an extra 27 seats. Speaking on BBC Two's Politics Show on Sunday he said: "I supported local income tax as a change. But there was a flaw.

(snip)

Ex-Lib Dem MP Sue Doughty, who lost Guildford to the Tories, said it had been difficult to sell the policy plan to middle income earners in her seat.

More at:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4571215.stm

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It seems the Lib Dems are going to turn to the right in economic policy.