Last summer, the independent PoliticsHome public relations company undertook a massive survey of 34,000 voters in 238 constituencies. Among the questions that they asked were ratings of their local MP across the three main parties.
The results are startling. Across all the factors the researchers asked about, Lib Dem MPs were rated the best... local, experienced, ordinary people, who are approachable, independent and influential and who keep in touch with regular updates.
Tory MPs came across as rather lacklustre and not 'ordinary people'. Labour MPs were rated by voters to be the worst on nearly every measure. In particular, they were seen as inexperienced, uninfluential and slavish followers of the party line. They were also felt not to bother keeping in touch, presumably taking their voters for granted.
Follow the party's activity on...