Liberal Democrats throughout the U K have no option but to hold their nerve and continue to support and participate in the Coalition after the disastrous set of results in the Local Government elections. One positive outcome would be a reminder to some Liberal Democrat MInisters to reaquaint themselves of the values and principles which sustain the PArty and which must always inform both policies and levels of cooperation. The most optimistic scenario is that the economy begins to grow ,of which there are some signs,and that some political credit then accrues to the LIb Dems prior to the GEneral ELection.