To think I can't be the only one who likes Jo Swinson

[Cinammoncake]

She gets slated on twitter and irl I don't know anyone who likes her especially. But I think she's great (not perfect) and admire what she's doing and feel like she's someone I'd be friends with.

She's a good role model for girls? Why? When she doesn't give a flying fuck about the safety and dignity of women and girls?

Well she's reached pretty high in politics, which is a male orientated job, I guess.
The whole gender debate aside (and I do think it's highly relevant), women in high roles do serve as role models. Even objectionable women, which to some people, she is.

I like her. I'm Labour generally, but in my area we have a Tory to remove.

I don't have a problem with her. Her voting record is part and parcel of being in the coalition - voting with the government on key issues was the condition on which the LDs got some of their own policies through, eg pupil premium funding, raising the threshold for income tax to benefit lower earners. That's the way the smaller party in a coalition has to operate!

All the votes on welfare etc were done under the coalition government - there hasn't been an opportunity to see how she would have voted on such issues outside of the coalition as she wasn't an MP between 2015 and 2017 and there haven't been any votes on those issues since. Since 2016 there seem to have been barely any votes on anything other than Brexit and her views about that are pretty clear.

Given being in a coalition with the Tories didn't do the Lib Dems any favours, they are hardly likely to do so again any time soon so the LDs will be able to vote on their own party principles.

*she is ruthlessly ambitious

She'd have to be to be leader of the LibDems by age 39. I think it's a good achievement. Plus, this would never be applied to men as a negative.*

I disagree, OP, the point is the word ruthless. Ambition is a good thing for both sexes, but this is an ambition that seems to be primarily about self interest, which is not admirable whatever age or sex. Boris suffers with the same affliction, and he’s a dick

“ She doesn't come across as fake or vain. I think she's a good role model for girls. I think she has integrity and believes in what she's saying.”

How can you possibly reach these conclusions?

she believes in what she is saying OP do you really think when she says she can be the next PM she believes she can win hundreds of seats ? It's laughable.

Her voting record is awful - she has voted in line with the Tory whip for ages and opposes a lot of things I believe in.

She's completely out of her depth, really lightweight. She reminds me of a mid weight manager in a company who can't understand why she's not being promoted to a higher level.

There really aren't many good female role models in politics at the moment.

Those posts that state that we should be voting for the party and not the leader forget that the Prime Minister has the final say on everything in this country including the nuclear codes, I somehow think it is very important that we vote for someone we trust given the responsibility they will have! It is not about a presidential race, but having someone in charge that can make decisions at that level should the need arise.

I am very glad the SNP/LD lost the case yesterday, we have narrowly avoided having to endure Nicola and Jo turning the debate into a screaming contest. I hated May with a passion, but she never shouted and contorted, she did remain calm and together at all times even if she was stiff as a board with no personality, she did not resort to alley cat antics.

There really aren't many good female role models in politics at the moment.

Joanna Cherry, Nicola Sturgeon, Stella Creasy, Rosie Duffield,
Jess Phillips, Mhairi Black?

I’m voting for her. I want to stop Brexit.

Hideous person

Not sure how I'm voting yet as I am politically homeless. Where does a gender critical remainer who despises Boris, go?

Whoever I vote for will be a case of holding my nose and voting tactically. In relation to Jo Swinson, I'm struggling to have much time for a politician that cares so little for women and girls that she's happy to tell voters like me to go elsewhere. Yet again it's a privileged woman living in a little woke bubble, safe in the knowledge that her 'right on' policies won't ever have an adverse affect on her.

Her party now wants to overturn Brexit , should they win power

Oh I shouldn’t worry about that, as soon as Boris offers them a coalition they'll drop all this nonsense about Brexit.

Does nobody remember 2010? They were voted in on a platform of opposing austerity (it’s quite revisionist to say “everybody agreed with it at the time” - the right-wing press agreed with it, plenty of voters and economists did not).

Her voting record is appalling and she does not stand up for women's rights. In fact quite the opposite. Plus that picture of her with Aimee Challenor made my skin crawl.

@Considermesometimes
“ narrowly avoided having to endure Nicola and Jo turning the debate into a screaming contest.”
would you say that about men?
It’s laughable the pp saying SNP horrifies them, have you actually looked further than the tabloids? SNP have hugely improved many things and genuinely are a very progressive party.

JK SNP are progressive alright, progressively trying to break up the country. I can not stand Nicola Sturgeon, so I am delighted we will not be hearing her bellowing across the country tonight that Scotland deserves independence, even though she still has no coherent plan as to how Scotland would manage economically, what currency would even be used, and how with such dependency on the rest of the UK it would even survive. It is a farce.

Alex and his rape trial is likely to paint a nasty stain over the SNP's 'progressive' credentials I imagine.

The UK is made up of individual countries not A country. Scotland deserves to be independent and not under the control of WM and the self serving cronies. If you’re Scottish stop being scared and cowed by WM.
@consider Also stop with your misogynist comments, will you be describing Corbyn or Blunder as screaming /bellowing?

There is plenty of info out there regards future economics of an independent Scotland, educate yourself and move away from the tabloid bias.

There's a good article in the Times today saying that the more people see Jo Swinson, the less they like her. I felt a bit sorry for her reading that, but I can't disagree with the sentiment.

Oh I shouldn’t worry about that, as soon as Boris offers them a coalition they'll drop all this nonsense about Brexit I think everyone subconsciously knows this will happen, which is why noone trusts or likes her.

@JKScot4 I am not sure whether or not you have misunderstood @PurpleCrowbar's post. My understanding is that her mother's friends are refusing to vote Lib Dem as previously, because of the gender issue. Sounds like the views of a lot of MN. I am not sure why you think voting for women's rights is selfish?

I do like Anna Soubry's line in withering looks.

@shinynewapple
Yes I know it’s her mothers friends, I think spoiling votes/voting Tory is childish and pathetic, educate yourself and make a decision for the better good, if they are in Scotland voting Tory is the height of ignorance.