Lib Dems: Greens are a far left party who hate our freedom, want to abolish British nationality and stop you having children

The week before a closely fought election is not always a time of highly civilised and non-partisan debate. But the Green Party normally escape from the worst of the mud-slinging, with their 'nice' reputation and relatively low national profile.

The Liberal Democrats, however, are increasingly concerned that the Greens are taking support away from them. Rather than try to counter this by making the case for their environmental and progressive credentials, their strategists decided on a more promising approach - go negative. So over the weekend they have been putting out a specifically anti-Green leaflet where I live. Amongst other claims, it says that:

*The Greens want to abolish British nationality.

*You might like what they say about the environment, but what about their loony ideas on the economy and personal freedom?

*Some people say that the Greens are a 'Far Left' party - like Militant.

*The Greens can't win here - voting for them just helps Labour run the council.

*They support reducing the population, meaning less people can have children.

*They want to ban all traffic round Sefton Park.

Amusingly, the initial response I've picked up since this leaflet has gone out is that people who were wavering are now convinced that the Greens have a real chance, and so are switching from the Lib Dems to support them.