Why the Liberal Democrats may be taken seriously at last

"Vote Liberal Democrat", says the campaign poster. And while the response may be "I'll think about it," the outcome would most likely be a vote for either Labour or the Conservative Party. However, after the expenses scandal, could the Lib Dems finally be taken seriously?

Despite reports that the Lib Dems may profit from the loss of faith in both main parties, their results in the European and local elections did not suggest this. Is this simply because of low voter turnout of Lib Dem voters, or are the Liberal Democrats actually part of the establishment, and voters are looking for other parties, such as the Greens or UKIP.

In the 2010 election, even if their share of the vote does not go up, the Lib Dems could still play a big part in the resulting parliament, as in the event of a Hung Parliament, it would be Lib Dems who would have a say in joining a coalition with perhaps the Conservatives, or perhaps Labour, in deciding the next government. Therefore, it may finally time to pay more attention to what the Lib Dems are saying, as they may well be part of our next government.

Maybe a stronger Liberal Democratic Party may put an end to the two-party political system in the UK, or at least give a strong third party. The Lib Dems may actually be a change, and be more progressive. For the first time in 100 years, the Liberal Party may once again be part of a government, but if that party is led by Nick Clegg, then God help us.