Jo Swinson

Varian As a fellow Lib Dem, I am finding your posts on this thread both sad and humiliating.

We did not do as well as hoped. The 'cancel brexit' policy was a mistake, we were also caught in the middle between to extremes of choice. This happens in elections.

Please show the courtesy and magnanimity that usually characterises the Lib Dems, and is why I have been a member for so long, despite, quite often being at odds with the party on some issues (like their renege Brexit policy this time.)

Elections are by definition divisive, but normal practice is for us all to relax and get back to ordinary everyday life once they are over, not denigrate anyone who doesn't agree with our personal views and didn't vote they way we wanted them to. That is not democracy.

It’s not a democratic decision here or in N Ireland - although I know that’s a whole other issue. I do appreciate your kind words and recognition that millions of us are feeling very unhappy about the result though, and I hope sincerely that Boris can do a better job of uniting the UK and healing divisions that he’s done up up until now.

varian I know and I do commiserate. There are no winners as such. Some people are happy yet some are sad today. Gloating isn’t going to heal those hurts.

I can only hope that in time the scenarios you and others are fearing do not actually happen and that as a nation we can indeed all benefit from this very democratic decision.

MS you know nothing about the lives of any other GNetter and it appears you know little about the predictded consequences of brexit for our country

Anyone who uses the words utter tragedy in relation to Brexit has obviously never experienced it.

Sadly, UG I don't think we can stop brexit now. An utter tragedy.

You must be so disappointed varian. Obviously I’m pleased with the result but I genuinely am sorry for how you must be feeling right now.

I might even miss your ‘STOP BREXIT’ posts! Okay no - that’s a step too far.
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I'm afraid that Nicola Sturgeon, who I've had a lot of respect for recently, has gone down in my estimation after seeing her response to Jo Swinson's defeat . It was most unpleasant.

If you want to see the grace and generosity of a genuine politician narrowly defeated by the forces of populism and nationalism, here is Jo Swinson's last speech in East Dumbartonshire.

www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/12/12/jo-swinson-lib-dem-results-live/

Sadly in this media obsessed age, when many folk do not seem to understand the difference between entertainment and serious politics, people are voting for clowns.

Neither true nor entertaining, but immensely patronising. Grow up.

I don't think we have a clown,but I certainly think we avoided a Communist! What a relief!

You don't have to be either and our PM doesn't have to be a clown or a communist.

Is that what we have been reduced to ? It must be time to reform our politics from top to bottom.

I'd rather a clown than a Communist!

He is a clown, like Trump and that guy in the Ukraine and the Italian fascist Grillo.

Sadly in this media obsessed age, when many folk do not seem to understand the difference between entertainment and serious politics, people are voting for clowns.

'into a commercial fridge'

He went into a walk in fridge to collect milk, orange juice and other goodies as he was taking part in a milk round at the crack of dawn. The reporter obviously waylaid him in order to embarrass and ridicule him! Hardly subtle!! Yawn, yawn!

Joplin - I know TV makes folk look bigger but I’m too poor to have a fridge big enough even for my GC to hide in.??

Yes!

Is it true that Johnson hid in a fridge to get away from an interviewer??!

Jo Swinson: The nasty politics of the UK could learn from Finland's coalition of five women

Finland's politics is not based on confrontation and one-upmanship, but on the negotiation and compromise

Like so many people who saw the widely shared image of the new prime minster and leaders of the ruling coalition of Finland on social media on Monday morning I was struck by what I saw. The contrast with last week’s pictures of the NATO summit with a line-up of six women to 25 men was poignant. It just goes to show what a difference an election can make.

When Sanna Marin was confirmed as Finland’s prime minister this week she became the world’s youngest serving prime minister and the world’s youngest ever female prime minister. She leads a coalition of five political parties, all of which are led by women. Four out of five of those women is under the age of 35.

So much about this victory is refreshing. Marin’s response to questions by reporters that she had "never much thought about my age or gender" will be encouraging to many young women in the UK seeking to gain authority and respect in the workplace. It is also striking to hear reports about what she wasn't asked during the election campaign - namely, how was she going to juggle being prime minister and being a mother to a 22-month old? The fact she has a young daughter apparently isn’t noteworthy in Finland. Perhaps it is no surprise that Finland is now on its third female prime minister and women have held all major offices of government.

inews.co.uk/opinion/jo-swinson-finland-coaltion-sanna-marin-1337798

At least she doesn't hide from interviews like Johnson. And all of her speeches in parliament are done without notes....

She couldn't answer the question what is a woman? Seemed to think it was anyone who said they were.

My father’s death meant that my mother had to work full time so that I was at nursery at 3 and a latch key child all my childhood. I was the only child in my primary school with a full time working mother and felt myself to be very badly done by. By the time I had two small children I was desperate for a life outside the home and embarked on a full time degree course, which fitted round the children nicely. I didn’t go back full time until they were 15 and 13 and delighted to have the house to themselves at the end of a school day before I came in like a whirlwind to be mum.

My daughter had much the better paid and more demanding and enjoyable job so SiL did most of the time consuming stuff when DGD was small, though she did four days a week at nursery in the year before she started school. She is sociable, hard working and a great do-er and a great example of how right her parents’ choices were.

There are so many ways to be good parents and most people make it up as they go along. Criticising women for their choices seems unfair and very old fashioned.

Very true about opportunities, Trisher. There’s no way my son and his wife could keep donkeys and chickens or have a maze and a huge sandpit in the garden of their London semi. Also, their drive isn’t big enough to park a London bus, decked out as a play cabin.

Honestly, I think care homes for the elderly should be like this - nursery is so much fun!

MP's like Jo are trying to make it easier for women to be mothers and have a career in politics. Wasn't it Jo that has made sure that pregnant women do get the reciprocal votes in parliament honoured? imo the more women get involved in running their countries [and the world] the better things will be. I realise there have been/are exceptions [Thatcher etc] but women are a force for good. Lets celebrate that fact not criticise them for wanting to make the world a better place for their children. In fact, it was only when I had my first child that I became interested in politics because not only did I want to love and cherish that child but I desperately wanted to make the world a better place. And I still can't believe I'm now having to fight for my grandchildrens rights....