CATHERINE Bearder MEP has misunderstood the gravity of the challenge facing the Liberal Democrats as the dust settles on the General Election (May 19).

I’m a former resident in the (as was) tight marginal Oxford West & Abingdon constituency, who has voted Lib Dem in the past.

For years the Lib Dems have relied on natural Labour and Green supporters voting tactically in their marginals in order to beat the Tories.

But what happened in 2010 was thousands of people voted Lib Dem to prevent the Tories from winning, only to find that it was the Lib Dems that put the Tories in power and propped them up in government.

The lure of a place at the cabinet table and chauffeur-driven government car were too much for Nick Clegg and his colleagues as they conveniently chose to forget their principles and turn their back on those that voted for them.

Policies like the Bedroom Tax, rises in VAT, cuts in policing, an NHS up for sale, massive cuts to local council funding and of course the rise in tuition fees wouldn’t have happened without the Lib Dems pushing them through.

The voters will never forget that betrayal.

DREW CARTER
Burford Road, Witney