They have frequently been close, but this time round they are actually getting results. Right now they are above Labour in most opinion polls and they have come fairly close to the Conservatives in a few others. This is certainly the strongest they've been.

But on the other hand, I know a couple people who were going to vote Labour strategically just to keep the Conservatives out. When the Liberal Democrats came into the spotlight the same people switched from Labour to Lib Dems as they felt that there was more of a chance by backing them.

So their popularity may just be a temporary snowball effect for this election only... In fact, I shouldn't say "may", it will.

Isn't that how all politcal parties work though? 

You mean up and down in popularity? I suppose you're right.

This all feels fairly significant.  What with the UK usually described as a 2.5 party system.  Have the Liberal democrats ever actually overtaken one of the big 2 or even been close?

I've just been watching the great Margret Thatcher. There are amazing similarities between what Cameron has been saying to that of the iron lady. In particular, 2.00 onwards. If only Cameron had a more decisive role in the Conservative Party, he would have already won the election. 

The bolded is very true, and I think these debates have made that abundantly clear. That and the fact that Brown really is an idiot.

Clegg seemed a bit too evasive at times and his debating style has become a bit too well-known now. Even I'm noticing the tactics he's employing and he repeated the same things for each debate; personalising each question given and answering the questioner directly whilst playing the whole "We haven't been in power for years" card a bit too much.

Cameron's improved over the 3 debates but could have and should have answered some of the questions better, especially when both Brown and Clegg put questions to him on the economy and Tory policies.

Brown seemed desperately negative and basically said, "I suck, but these 2 suck more!", and kept asking the same questions... which the other 2 had already answered. Anyone notice the nervous lip quivers in the middle?

And all 3 outright lied about there opponents policies.

Now who do I vote for?

I think he's trying to lose the connection with Margaret Thatcher despite the fact that she's the best and most popular Prime Minister of the last half-decade. Britain today is far too socialist to vote in Thatcher again. But the most irritating thing is the way that, despite the fact that the Conservatives are getting so irritatingly left wing, everybody still says they are a rich person party.

Politicians lying? Surely, you jest!

A politician standing for election has two jobs:

1) Make his party look good

2) Make the other parties look bad.

Being a little dishonest is normal.

Vote for the one whose policies you agree with most. Ignore their speaking style, confidence, quality of dress and honesty about opponent's policies, because at the end of the day, when you vote, you are saying "I want this person to run the country for 4-5 years".

Christ! Left-wing has really lost its true meaning if Labour and the Conservatives are considered to be anything other that right of centre. They are both totally establishment and both totally supportive of free market capitalism with some slight support of regulation, much of it self-regulation.

Some elements of Keynesian economics remain (and that was really just another way to support the monetary system) Both parties still support many of Hayek's liberalisation of the economy views.