I can believe that would work for a political party, especially with the 'right leaning' youth who are largely far more socially liberal than the Conservatives.

However, I don't see how the Liberal Democrats can become that party successfully. The vast majority of the elected representatives (MPs, MEPs, MSPs, AMs, Councillors etc.), Lords and party members are what I would call 'left leaning but not socialist' in their political philosophy so right from the bat there's an uphill struggle internally just to get it as a platform.

You then have the tarnished reputation of the party as being weak, flip-flopping, liars who break promises to get into bed with the Tories at the first opportunity. Switching to said platform would surely just confirm in peoples minds that we aren't to be trusted/listened too?

That was kinda what I was getting at with my question. I just can't see how the party gets anywhere with either platform or any leader. And that's without discussing FPTP!

It just feels like the existence of the Liberal Democrats is preventing the success of liberal democratic values in the UK.