Louise Mensch resigns...

And she certainly doesn't represent me as a woman trying to get a balance.

I really don't know why any of you think she's genuinely retiring because she's genuinely struggling to get a work-life balance.

She's a bloody rich TORY for god's sake. She's bound to be lying.

A shit writer and a pointless MP. Bye bye Louise.

(At least I won't have to watch her on I've got News for You if she's in the US - shudder at the memory)

good for young women to see that they could be an MP without being male and 40 (also Sarah Tether)

Louise Mensch is over 40!

I'm not convinced it will be a good thing for getting people to discuss how hard it is for women to do things, I think it's just going to entrech the views of the population, male and female, who think you have to act like a man in order to be successful in the world of work. Which is depressing. I can't judge her for it, as it's not my life it's hers, but it just seems such a shame.

The discussion will have an undercurrent of how "the little woman tried her bestest but she ran away to her hubby in the end before she acheived anything useful. She should just have stayed in the kitchen in the first place."

I have a feeling the family life thing is a red herring. I think she would put her career above her husband. There must be something bigger and better in the pipeline in New York.

I also don't understand why it will be a stick to beat women with.

High profile woman quits job on basis that she isn't seeing enough of her family. Lots of people would like to spend more time with their families. Loads of men would love to quit work to spend more time with their families too but the way society is set up means that for most families the man quitting is not possible.

I don't think a parent saying they like their family is a bad thing, is it? I think we should be aiming for working environments where there is more flexibility etc for everyone, not aiming for this presenteeism macho stylee 80s work hard play hard and get 2 hours sleep a night and pretend you don't have any children bollocks.

I feel quite sad that the focus of this thread so far has been doubting her political credibility and jibes about her being a joke politician.

replying to this part of your post *Missmavis no malice towards you

fatfloosie her ex husband is an American, so maybe he is back in the states now too?

yup, what she said

oh she hasn't 'given up her career. She's switching back to the media world which is far more lucrative and less hassle than public service. LM isn't any good role model for anyone, other than LM...

Always quite admired her myself, particularly her fearlessness. Found her articulate, consistent in her views and not tribal at all.

Thought her children were from a previous marriage so I am a bit if she is taking the children to be with step-father in NY and thus making access for their father more difficult. Obviously I don't know the full circumstances, and I don't mean to be judgmental as I do like her.

I think she's peed off she hadn't got a front bench job. As much as I want to see competent, intelligent women on the front bench, I'm happy to see a self-obsessed self-publicising fool like her off to America (bit like Piers Morgan really).

Someone who comes across as more interested in how they are perceived on social media channels and the businesses they are launching, than in representing their constituents, is always going to irritate me, I'm afraid.

I'm not a Tory but can think of several female Tory MPs who come across far better than her and I'd much prefer to be trapped in a lift with - Justine Greening for instance.

Missmavis

the thread is in politics

I agree with missmavis. I think women in positions like this is a good thing on the whole. She's not going to be any worse than a bog standard male tory and it is positive to see women - especially younger ones - in any positions like this.

I also thought her handling of the questions about drugs was superb and the abuse directed at her and her family on twitter, of the most violent grotesque type imaginable, all because she has the temerity to be in the public eye and an attractive woman, it was disgusting.

wasn't she also setting up a 'competitor' to twitter? That would have been rather time consuming, which her constituents would never get back. And could be the reason for the dash to the States.

Born Stroppy, yes it is bloody hard and I salute you for doing it. I don't miss it for a minute. I think the issue is that she seemed quite lightweight and media loving. There are some far, far better female politicians than her who seem to able to exist without sprouting spurious crap all over tv. And she writes terrible books .

I feel quite mean now, I hope she has a wonderful, low profile , life in America with her music mogul husband.

@missmavis but this case isn't an example of the issue of women with children having careers. It's the issue of women with careers and children marrying men who live thousands of miles away in a different continent and then being surprised its not easy. Completely different thing. But it will be used as another stick to beat the rest of us with.

Well this is is going to be a loss, isn't it?

after that twitter thing I dont bloody blame her

death threats against her children, noone deserves that

I am sure she will have a more peaveful and chilled time

@propercharlie Exactly. I bet there's nary a mention of the husband living in New York.

I agree - she's never really been a serious politician at all. I always follow Merton and Hisplop's judgement on such characters and they clearly thought she was dreadful on HIGNFY