Jo Swinson

Why does that make any difference?

I didn't have a 9-4 job either, but I managed. Are you seriously saying that mothers shouldn't have high-powered jobs?

I've had enough of this narrow-mindedness.

I wouldn't mind betting Jo Swinson's children will feel proud of having a mother who worked hard and put herself forward, even when faced with criticism.

They have a father and I expect they'll be grateful they have two parents, who have somehow worked out how to show they care.

I expect they'll be grateful they have parents who can afford a decent home and will almost certainly care about their education and future.

They'll probably be grateful they have intelligent parents, who will have brought them up not to be parochial.

Lanclass1 I have no idea whether or not I am of your generation, but I don't see the relevance, as I think for myself.

I'm sorry, but just because you know of a firm that has an Equal Opps policy, (or even a positive discrimination one), that does not mean that 'everyone bends over backwards for women'.

I'm sure that Richard Attenborough is an interesting friend, but again, whatever he has told you about his domestic arrangements can't really be extrapolated to everyone else, as both he and his wife would be away for long periods because of their work. In most families, childcare can be shared between the parents, with outside help where necessary.

So let me get this straight. You're now backtracking completely and it's only women in high powered jobs (a very recent occurence) you have an issue with? Do you have the same issue with all parents in high powered jobs, or just women? What's the high powered cut off point at which you think children would rather have a pound of their mum's (or rather, parent's) time but outside of that they're OK with their parents working - £40K? £80k? £150k?

Growstuff made some excellent points there - especially the last paragraph. I'd probably add 'sexist' to the parochial.

My wonderful mother worked hard all her life out of necessity. Although I admired her for doing so I really wish she had been there during those early years.

No I am not back tracking.
Yes I am saying that it is women with high powered jobs like Leaders of Political Parties I have an issue with if that is the way you want to put it.
I cannot understand why any mother would want to spend so much time away from her children when they are growing up.
Mind you I can’t understand why people have children and then send them away to Boarding Schools either .

May I say that I am really surprised how antagonistic people get on this site.
We are all entitled our opinions.
I am not narrow minded .
Some of you seem to get quite worked up about things.
It doesn’t matter what we think .
I do think - notice I say “think” -that it may be a generation thing.
I am not saying I am right.
I was born during the Second World War.

I don’t think anyone can replace a mother’s presence in those early formative years. However, I’m sure I’m in the minority to have this view. Lib Dem want to increase financial support for working parents and I have my doubts about that too. I do agree with some of their policies though and may well vote for them in Thursday but personally I don’t think she does the party any favours.

Incidentally,Sir Chengin,I can’t see how I am being sexist.
I am not saying that it is wrong for any woman to have a high powered job but I do believe that if a woman chooses to have children she should wait until they are older before she takes on such a role..
I am saying that Gender bias is wrong.

I don't think she does either Gingergirl, but I'll still vote LibDem for all the good it will do in this constituency.

Even if you don't think your vote will count, it does mean that the party will receive more "Short money", which helps opposition parties with their expenses in the future.

So just vote!

You are being sexist if you don't think the same conditions should apply to a man.

Would you say the same about a party leader who was a young dad?

As far as I am concerned the best Conservative politician there is, is not in Westminster, but in the Scottish Parliament. It is Ruth Davidson. I had hoped she would run for a seat in Westminster and then would be by far the best candidate for Leader of the party and Prime Minister. I think she was a major reason why the Scottish Conservatives did so well in Scotland, at the last election, in comparison to the rest of the country!

She has however decided to put her little son and partner first and has stood down as Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party. While it is a disappointment politically, it is so refreshing that, unlike Ms. Swinson, she has decided that family come first and she wants to spend more time with them during these precious early years! Ms. Swinson doesn’t appear to share these ideals and her political aspirations seem to come first. Hopefully Ms. Davidson will return to front line politics when her little boy is older!

As growstuff said - if you differentiate between men and women in that way then you're being sexist, whether you like it or not.

My MIL was born before the second world war - she was ten when it broke out. She worked all her life as a teacher, even when DH and SIL were small. Her own mum had her own business and worked all her married life. She is very much in favour of men and women working.

My advice is 'get a life' of your own, so you have less time on your hands to bother about other people's affairs. Who cares about how much or how little time someone in the publuc eye spends with their children and and is it anyone's business other than Jo Swinson's?

Ruth Davidson is still an MSP - she has not given up work. She is to be admired for many things, including her support for other women's choices.

Ah I see your point ,growstuff
Fair enough
Well to get back to the Jo Swinson debate then.
If her husband is at home and looking after the children rather than a nannie then that is fine by me.
(Although I really think that it is the mum that most children want when they are in trouble -but of course again I only think that.)
I am not saying I am right.
It is my opinion.

I couldn't agree more Binkiebonk.

I don't suppose she or her husband could care less what you think. She doesn't need your approval.

In your opinion, what would happen to the children if they were being looked after by a nanny they were very happy with Lancslass1?

Nice to see the BBC correcting a rumour as opposed to starting one to deflect from Johnson's behaviour yesterday.

Anyone else remember the 80's when the mortgage interest rates went up to 15%??
I was not a high flyer like Jo Swinson - but was very grateful to be able to go back to work full time at that point so we could keep our home in a friendly neighbourhood, and our then primary age children could stay at the school they loved. I then worked full time for another twenty years in total.
Yes I missed picking them up from school myself. Yes it was a massive juggling act in the summer holidays with no family nearby to help out.

But they still say I was the parent who was always there for them. And I think because I was always proud of their achievements, they were proud of mine.

growstuff I won't put on a link to further disseminate fake news but it was on the Nye Bevan News website and still remains on their FB page so I had no reason to doubt it.

Nonetheless it didn't change my mind about my vote.

I do think it’s ironic that people take issue with working women having children while elsewhere people are complaining about female GP’s working part time. You can’t have it both ways!

Jacinda Ardern, PM of NZ, had a baby at about the same time as Jo Swinson and I hear nothing but admiration for her!

People criticised young royal mothers for taking time off too.

Sometimes women just cannot win. If they take time off they are wasting their education, if they continue to work they are neglecting their children - or shouldn't have any!

Sue Donim ,I am not, repeat not ,against working women having children.
I was one myself through necessity but I was always there for the children at bed time which I doubt Jo Swinson is.
I haven’t a clue whether she has a Nanny or not .
I don’t know how many Nannies she has or has had .
I hope Jo Swinson who I actually think seems to be a very pleasant person feels that it will be worth it and that her children though undoubtedly proud of her ,will think so too.