Sexist to exclude Swinson when Clegg was included

[Figmentofmyimagination]

Aibu to suspect that however subconsciously, Clegg was allowed to participate in the TV debate with a similar poll lead because he was a public school male ‘born to lead’ etc etc?

YANBU

Wasn't polling considerably higher for libdems at the time though? The party did rather collapse under clegg.

The lib dems had their chance and blew it big style. Noone wants to hear from them anyway

It's a bit rich to claim sexism when the Lib Dems insist that being a woman is just a feeling in a man's head.

And there's an article in the Times today saying the more people see Jo Swinson the less they like her, so its probably a blessing in disguise anyway.

Like JasonPollack, I thought polls were showing the LibDems as polling better than they are now and they were seen as a genuine possibility for opposition. I don’t think anyone thinks that now.

No, absolutely not. The Lib Dem’s had 62 seats in the House of Commons following the 2005 general election the debate was ahead of the 2010 election so that’s the result that matters. In 2005 the SNP had 6 seats. In the 2017 election the Lib Dems had 12 seats to the SNP’s 35. So neither anywhere near Nick Clegg’s figure but if anyone would be #3 it would be the SNP.

It's a bit rich to claim sexism when the Lib Dems insist that being a woman is just a feeling in a man's head.

Or their soul...

(TBF I'd like to see Swinson be subject to a Paxman-esque "Did you threaten to overrule" interview on that point, but it will never happen)

At the time Clegg was the leader of the third largest party. Jo Swinson is the leader of the 4th largest party plus there are currently more seats held by independents than Lib Dems.