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Original poster

Sandi Toksvig and Politics

70 replies

sausageeggbacon11 · 30/04/2015 13:07

So Sanda Toksvig has had enough and has decided to put together a feminist party. Which considering MB has started his and the Pirate Party and Sexual Freedom Party are already in place does the party stand a chance? Or like MB and the others is it just going to try and highlight issues?

I do wonder if anyone on the boards will end up standing for the general elections in 2020?

Well the world got interesting read more here

OP posts:
Merse · 01/05/2015 17:16

Thanks Puffin Will do that. Very interested….

PuffinsAreFictitious · 01/05/2015 17:13

You can also email them so you get on the mailing list.

Merse · 01/05/2015 16:57

I worry about the name too, but think the ideas behind it are superb and love her. I'd vote for her. She was eminently sensible on Woman's Hour talking about her reasons/aims. Have 'liked' the FB page, but apparently that is all one can do so far (website not up & running).

lagartaroja · 01/05/2015 14:53

I stand corrected. Really sorry.

YonicScrewdriver · 30/04/2015 22:06

Martin Bell isn't MB. Martin Bell was a newsreader who stood as an anti sleaze candidate in a white suit and won a surprise landslide.

lagartaroja · 30/04/2015 18:32

Gah! You've named MB...

Really interested in this. And yes, it's a bit crap that it's reported in Entertainment and Arts Hmm

Greythorne · 30/04/2015 18:29

Sandi herself said that the one thing this election has shown is that 'fringe' parties (UKIP, Greens) can influence the main parties and lead and shape the debate. I think that is what she / they are aiming for, rather than getting dozens of MPs elected.

Original poster
sausageeggbacon11 · 30/04/2015 18:18

I think it will be a pressure party for the first couple of elections, given that MBs mob are a pressure group, the Sexual Freedom Party is a pressure group and the Greens were a pressure group. But the Greens have become more mainstream through the acceptance of them over the years. I think any new party could only play a pressure role at first. There are not going to be any Martin Bell type reactions.... unless Al Murray beats Farage (that would make me happy).

OP posts:
TheTravellingLemon · 30/04/2015 16:57

She was interviewed on woman's hour this morning. I love her, she's fab, but I do think she is being a touch optimistic if she thinks any MPs are going to defect to her party.

I also think the name is a bit of a mistake. It's like the Green Party. It just sounds like a pressure group and not a serious political party. I also think the name will put potential voters and candidates off.

That said, I do think there is a growing tide in this direction, so who knows what 2020 will bring. I think feminism is starting to mean something different to a lot of people. Whereas it used to seem to be about equal pay, it's now far more all encompassing. I'm very interested to see where she is able to take this.

BitOfFun · 30/04/2015 16:53

I think the whole idea is brilliant. I might start a local branch myself.

BlueKarou · 30/04/2015 16:42

This is very interesting, and definitely something I intend on looking further into over the next five years.

I do think a lot of people will be put off by the name. Wrongly so, but I think that the general opinion of Feminsm, and the Womens' Equality movement is looked upon as a joke (primarily by the people who benefit the most from the current equality. Might be me being cynical, but I half-wonder whether they're going to lose supporters who might have agreed with their policies but are scared off by the name. And that's precisely why it's important

Also, I find it very telling that the Beeb have deemed it an Entertainment and Arts story, rather than in one of the more 'sensible' topics. Again, might be my cynicism though.

BuffyNeverBreaks · 30/04/2015 16:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
sausageeggbacon11 · 30/04/2015 15:42

Sandi has said on several occasions on QI she is a feminist so I would see the equality as bringing us more in line with men than the other way around.

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Guineapig99 · 30/04/2015 15:14

I love her. I'd vote for them right now if I could.

YDdraigGoch · 30/04/2015 14:51

Thank you. Now off to google "Justice for Men and Boys"!

INickedAName · 30/04/2015 14:46

MB is the leader of Justice for Men and Boys. He has a google alert on his name so he gets MB.

YDdraigGoch · 30/04/2015 14:28

Who is MB? Confused

Yops · 30/04/2015 14:27

Hmm. Does 'Equality Party' = 'Feminist Party'? I think some feminists might disagree. I didn't see her mention feminism in that interview - has she elsewhere?

Original poster
sausageeggbacon11 · 30/04/2015 13:23

I must admit I am a bit Hmm because I thought only British, Commonwealth and Irish Citizens could stand. I guess Ms Toksvig has obtained citizenship if she intends to stand herself. I wonder if w can get her to stand against MB where ever he is standing in 2020.

OP posts:
walde · 30/04/2015 13:14

Wow, I'm very interested to hear this. I posted about this a few months ago, asking if anyone thought there was room for a women's party. Nobody responde. :-( So this is exciting news!