Webchat with Tim Farron MP, leader of the Liberal Democrats, Tuesday 19 July at 12.30pm

[BojanaMumsnet]

Hello

We’re pleased to announce that LibDem leader Tim Farron will be joining us for a webchat on Tuesday 19 July at 12.30pm.

MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale since 2005, Tim was national party president of the LibDems before being elected leader after Nick Clegg’s resignation in May 2015. One of eight LibDem MPs in the current Westminster Parliament, he says that his focal points since assuming the leadership have been ‘fighting for unaccompanied refugee children to be given sanctuary in Britain, securing much needed relief funding for communities devastated by last winter’s floods, and promoting investment in education as the cornerstone to a fair and equal society’. Along with the rest of the LibDems, he campaigned for ‘Remain’ in the recent referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU.

He is married with four children, and is a big Blackburn Rovers fan.

Please join us on Tuesday at 12.30 to put your questions to Tim, and as ever, if you can’t make it on the day please post up your questions in advance on this thread. And do bear in mind the webchat guidelines - one question each only (follow-ups allowed if there’s time) and please do be polite

Thanks
MNHQ

@SecretlyChartreuse

I am a strong Lib Dem supporter living in a Conservative constituency. 1) If the seat goes anywhere, it will be to Labour. Should I feel guilty voting Labour in the hope of a larger left-wing majority? Do those tiny Lib Dem votes add up in any meaningful way? 2) Would joining the party actually help in an area so hard to win?

Just remember that two years ago the SNP only had 6 MPs. They were in fourth place in many seats that they now hold. Following the EU referendum, and the chaos in other parties, the need for the likelihood of a realignment of progressive politics in Britain is unparalleled. So yes, you joining us will make a massive difference. You are not alone.

Having agreed with very many of your views, it is sad to find that you have ignored my concerns on the rise in racism.

@LineyReborn

Hello Tim,

Can you please be really clear, and give detail, on your views on abortion, in the UK including Northern Ireland?

Would the Lib Dems make abortion less difficult to access for women, thus ensuring that the process can happen much, much earlier where that's the woman's decision?

Thank you.

Liney.

As a liberal I fully respect the devolved administrations and don't think that Westminster should impose policy but that doesn't stop me from having a strong personal view: which is, that I am extremely uncomfortable with the position that criminalises women in this way. On the matter of time limits, I think we should be led by the medical and scientific evidence and would thus support maintaining the UK law as it stands.

Sadly Sharjus has closed :( But there's another restaurant there now. Yes, good times!

@Arissa

Hi Tim, My two boys are aged 18 and 19 and were born here. They both ask me for guidance on who to vote for. Having predominantly voted labour which is now being destroyed, I'd like to know how the LDs would allay my biggest fear: the Etonians EU referendum has legitimised the British KKK, and therefore the safety of my children and all the people from different ethnic origins, is now compromised on a daily basis. What will you do about this?

The most tragic consequence of the referendum is the staggering and appalling rise in hate crimes - which increased by 42%. Typically people from diverse backgrounds, some of whom are not immigrants at all, have been abused with phrases like "we've voted to get rid of you, why are you still here?" It's important to state that 99.9% who voted leave or remain are disgusted by this. But there is a sense that that tiny minority of people with racist views feel liberated to express them in dreadful ways since the result. The answer must be to unequivocally stand alongside our diverse communities and to signal clearly that, for example, EU citizens and their children are welcome to remain here.

Thank you for such a lively exchange - I'm extremely sorry I can't get to all of the questions. To the many of you who expressed support for our stance on Europe, and who have chosen to support the Liberal Democrats now, I'm especially grateful. We've now seen our membership almost double in a year, and had our best local election results in eight years. It feels like we've turned a corner at just the right time for the country...

And I would now like to revise my previous answer to the biscuit question, having remembered the Peek Freans Trotsky assortment - if you don't know what I am talking about, here's the .

I share your views and Thank you for answering my question :)

Sadly, My question was not answered despite being a hot potato in tims constituency.

Ah well, helps make the decision easier next voting day

Am I allowed to have Kendal mint cake? (Some skepticism here at MNHQ.) If not, we'll have to have a custard cream biscuits

I nearly said not to say Kendal mint cake. It's most definitely not a biscuit. Well played with The Young Ones reference.

But I'm taking Custard Cream as your final answer. A good solid biscuit.

Although that clip is very interesting. Especially the bit just after the biscuits.

ItsJustPaint Tim's on record about second home owners in a few places for example

www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/news/9437679.MP_Tim_Farron_seeks_second_homes_tax/

And

www.lakelandradio.co.uk/news/local-news/calls-made-for-second-home-tax-to-fund-rural-services/

I'm personally fairly clear what his views are

Antique thanks for the support.

and wow! My question was answered!!!! .

Thank you Tim for that, you may have just edged a notch up in respect. and thank you that SOMEONES aware in politics about the disiabled and carers.

(

Disappointed that women in NI seeking an abortion can expect nothing from Tim Farron except his liberal discomfort.

Utterly despondent that people can fawn over this man when he sits in his ivory tower and worries about whether he should defend gay and women rights when it contracts his "Christian values" - flabbergasted!

Is this the best the LibDems have to offer?

No probs becker I felt your question was important!

Sadly mine was not answered. But I didn't frame it well

I didn't realise TF was an evangelical Christian. It's interesting, because in terms of politicians, I tend to think of very right-wing Americans (and some Brits like Stephen Crabb) rather than left-wing Brits who hold those views. Perhaps it's an authoritarian/libertarian thing as well as left/right?

I get the impression that Evangelicals in this country aren't quite as rabid as US ones.

It's a total contradiction to me, to have a Lib Dem leader who has 'personal' issues with women's reproductive rights and gay sex and marriage.

And he didn't shout very loud about the women who left the Party because of the Rennard debacle. Some of the comments being made by other senior Lib Dems at the time - Rennard himself, Carlise, Shirley Williams - were (imo) utterly reprehensible. He's pretty quiet on that.

I'm just not sure he's the right person for the job.

Maybe the Lib Dems are now too damaged. They've allowed themselves to be as vulnerable to avarice, peerages and honours as all the rest. Their three original focus points of education, environment and Europe are seemingly less important than internal power struggles in the House of Lords - an upper chamber they claim to want to abolish.

Funny how so many of them seek out and accept peerages.

Not a fan any more.