Insiders: Lib Dem backbenchers will benefit from rebelling |

Thursday 9th December 2010 | 07:00

Insiders: Lib Dem backbenchers will benefit from rebelling

The greatest personal political benefit for Lib Dem backbenchers will come from rebelling against the government on tuition fees, in the view of PoliticsHome's panel of political insiders. It is felt that the controversy could do long term damage to the coalition.

In terms of their own personal political gain, the best move for Lib Dem backbenchers would be to vote against the government and oppose the increase in tuition fees today, according to the latest insider research from PoliticsHome.

Each week, PoliticsHome surveys several hundred people working professionally in Westminster (including MPs, political editors, party officers and public affairs experts) alongside informed voters across the country.

Over two thirds of political insiders on the panel (67%), alongside 52% of informed observers, believe that it is in the personal interests of backbenchers to rebel against the policy of their party and the coalition.

Conservative-leaning panellists on both sections of the panel were less likely to believe that this was the best course of action – but majorities of both Lib Dem insiders (59%) and observers (65%) recommended it in terms of self interest.

In terms of their own personal political benefit, do you think it would be better for Lib Dem backbenchers to:

Damaging to the coalition?

There is a tendency among both political insiders and observers to believe that the controversy over tuition fees will affect the unity of the coalition in the long term.

Half of Westminster insiders, and 59% of observers, believed that the unity of the coalition would be damaged in the long term.

Conservative-leaning panellists were the least likely to believe that the controversy would damage the coalition. Lib Dem insiders were also less inclined to hold this view (38%), although a majority of Lib Dem observers (52%) believed the tuition fee controversy would do damage in the long term.

What long term effect do you think the issue of tuition fees will have on coalition unity?

PoliticsHome interviewed 212 people professionally involved in politics and 780 people across the country from 3-7 December 2010. Results are weighted so as to ensure a politically balanced result.

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