Webchat with Tim Farron, leader of the Liberal Democrat Party, on Friday 2 June at 1pm

[BojanaMumsnet]

Hello

We’re pleased to announce a webchat with Tim Farron, leader of the Liberal Democrat Party, on Friday 2 June at 1pm.

Tim has been MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale since 2005 and was elected leader of the Lib Dems in July 2015. He has also held roles as party spokesman for youth, rural affairs and home affairs, as well as being national party president from 2011 to 2015.

The Lib Dem manifesto for the election on June 8 includes a second referendum on the Brexit deal, a 1p income tax increase to raise funds for the NHS and social care, opposition to the planned expansion of grammar schools, the extension of free childcare to all two-year-olds, and an additional month’s paid paternity leave for fathers.

Please do join the chat on Friday at 1pm, or if you can’t make it, leave a question here in advance. Please do share the webchat on social - the more, the merrier!

As always, please remember our webchat guidelines - one question each, follow-ups if there’s time and please keep it civil.

(As we approach the General Election we will endeavour to offer you a balanced diet of webchats with politicians from different parties; we hope to have more announcements soon.)

Thanks
MNHQ

Give him a chance charm

😂

Hiya Tim

Thanks for chatting to us today! Do you have a comment on the Tory candidate who has recently become a Lib Dem??

Our last MP was labour with conservatives second and UKIP third. I'd like to vote for you lot but that risks the labour candidate getting swamped by the tories, and it seems to make much more tactical sense to vote for her rather than 'wasting' a vote for a trailing fourth place liberal. What would you do to revisit a more proportional voting system so that all votes cast actually count for something?

Hello, I have a whole heap of questions but as we're only allowed one I'll ask the one that is currently top of my 'worrying about' list.

The Government has decreed that children must remain in full time education until 18 (apprenticeship notwithstanding), however the local councils stop funding school transport at the age of 16. If my son is to stay at his current school into Sixth Form, I will need to find £776 by September to pay for his bus pass. This is the cheap option. He would much prefer to enrol at the CoFE in the next town, however this will involve a bus and a train journey - total cost for the school year of £1,040. He cannot apply for a Student Rail Card (ages 16-25) because these cannot be used before 9am - guess what time students are required to start College each day?

So, my question is - what will Lib Dems do for me a the thousand of other parents in the same situation?

What was that barney with Andrew Neil all about?

Hello, Tim here, ready for your questions!

@BizzyFizzy

What was that barney with Andrew Neil all about?

He's a good interviewer, but basically starts asking you the second, third and fourth question when you are two syllables into the first answer and I thought I'd give him a taste of his own medicine!

Hi Tim!

@MrsHathaway

Ooh this is good and exciting news. Did you tell him how long a webchat is meant to last?

Tim, I feel as though you are bringing the Lib Dems back to their core values and I hope this can win you back some who were put off by the coalition and voted for other parties in 2015.

Somehow the Lib Dems have managed to take all the blame and none of the credit for the changes made by the 2010-2015 coalition government. In an election where many voters are complaining that there isn't enough experience on the front benches, what do you think the Lib Dems should be proudest of about your last experience of government, and why are you distancing yourself from those achievements?

Hi Mrs Hathaway, we are absolutely not distancing ourselves from our achievements in Coalition.

There is a lot to be proud of: we raised the tax threshold meaning 3 million of the lowest earners now pay no tax at all and over 26 million people got a tax cut of £825; we introduced the Pupil Premium giving schools more money to support the most disadvantaged children; and, we created 2 million apprenticeships. So, I’m very proud of our record in Government, but we should not forget about all the things we stopped as well. The Conservatives have had two years of ruling alone and without us putting the brakes we have seen their true colours.

But, even in Opposition we have been able to affect government policy and every vote for us at this election will be a vote for strong, liberal voices in Westminster standing up for you against Theresa May. Thank you for your support Mrs Hathaway and to all the other MNers backing the Lib Dems on the 8 June!

Mr Farron

Will you still press for the legalisation of cannabis if you gain more support in this election??

Having a dc with an agressive, drug resisitant and life threatening rare epilepsy disorder we need to try medical cannibas as nothing else works. She suffers worse side effects from the legal 'drugs'.

@BossaDad

Tim

My 8 year old daughter lives in London. The pollution levels at her school exceed the EU legal limits. So she and her young peers basically breath poison air everyday.

The current gov. plan to deal with this is frankly pathetic if not criminal.

What would you do if you found yourself with some power ?

There are about 40,000 deaths a year in London alone due to poor air quality. And the evidence we now have tells us that what we can effectively do is a ban on new diesel cars. It's not abut getting at those people who have one but to bring down the amount of pollution in the atmosphere. That's the first thing you'd do to make a difference.

@HelenaDove

As a pro choice and childfree by choice woman i would like you to clarify your views on abortion and abortion rights.

What would you do about the DLA/ PIP fiasco. The way the system is now my 67 year old husband who has ischemic heart disease and emphysema will be facing assessments on repeat into his 70s as will many others.

Thanks for the question HelenaDove. Firstly, I have always been pro-choice, I believe women should have safe, free and legal access to abortion service. We need to be led by the medical and scientific evidence on abortion and that is why the Liberal Democrats would keep the law as it currently stands.

On PIP, I have a seen people in my own constituency struggle with PIP and know the damage they have caused.

Above all, we reject the Conservatives’ heartless policy of balancing the books on the backs of the vulnerable. Earlier this year we vigorously opposed the government’s plans to narrow the eligibility criteria for PIPs, and fought them on proposed cuts to PIPs that they subsequently abandoned.

We are against draconian assessments that stigmatise and harm those claiming benefits, and believe that the assessment criteria for PIPs need to be changed, particularly around mobility. We would also provide much more support to those transitioning between different benefits, such as from the DLA to PIPs.

@TheSnorkMaidenReturns

Tim

Thank you for agreeing to speak to us.

I work in the NHS and I'm horrified at the pressures budgets are under. Social care is creaking at the seams.

What do the LibDems propose to get us out of this mess?

Oh, and I really support your policy of a referendum on the Brexit deal. Thank you for your courage and clarity on this.

We would put 1p on income tax to raise £30bn to rescue health and social care. People working in the NHS and in care are amazingly dedicated professionals and caring but are under enormous pressure.

When the people who care for people like my father-in-law who has Alzheimer's could get paid more stacking shelves, you begin to understand how poorly we fund health and care in this country and we want to turn that around.

@Mapoftheworlddoorknob

I desperately want to vote LibDem but I'm worried that a vote for LibDem will translate into a vote for Labour. What will happen if there is a hung Parliament - who will you go into coalition with?

Great question and one I know lots of people are wondering about, Mapoftheworlddoorknob. I have been crystal clear on this – The Liberal Democrats have ruled out doing any coalition deals with Theresa May's Conservatives or Jeremy Corbyn's Labour after the election.

I am a huge believer in plural politics, the last time I was on a battle bus touring the country it was for the EU referendum and I was joined by Conservatives, Labour and the Greens all campaigning for the same thing, but honestly on the biggest issue of the day, of our generation and the nexts, Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn are united in pursuing the most damaging Brexit for us – under no circumstances could my party endorse that.

Have you any support for farmers in your manifesto?

@myrealfairy

Hi Tim Thanks for being part of this question session. As someone who is undecided at the moment on which party to vote for. In one sentence...why should I vote for the Lib Dems? Thanks Mainy

Because we will put a penny on income tax to save health and social care, stop the dementia tax, put £7bn into schools and give you the final say on the Brexit deal.

@usernamealreadytaken

Welcome Mr Farron, I hope you were less tardy than Mr Corbyn and can stay a little longer!

During the EU referendum campaign it was made entirely clear by all parties that a vote to leave the EU was a vote to leave the single market. Your manifesto states that the LibDems will seek for the UK to remain a member of the single market, and indeed gives the option of a referendum choice to remain fully in the EU.

Given that the majority of those who bothered to vote in the EU referendum voted to leave the EU, and your tweet of 16 May 2016 disparaged Nigel Farage for suggesting a second referendum if the margin was small, can you really justify dragging the UK through a cycle of Neverendums (how could you guarantee that this would be the last)?

Thanks for the welcome usernamealreadytaken. I don’t believe that democracy ended on the 23rd June. I was a passionate remainer before and that didn’t change overnight. When we voted to leave the EU, which I accept completely, we voted for departure but not destination. Whichever Government is returned on June 9th – and let’s face it will most likely be the continuation of the Conservatives under Theresa May, it will be their job to go to Brussels and negotiate a deal on all our behalfs. I believe, and the Lib Dem’s policy is that, when we know what that deal is we should put it to people to decide – after all you wouldn’t buy a house without looking inside first!

Theresa May seems certain that the deal she negotiates will be a good one so why is she so scared of putting it to the people? This is about democracy – I want the people to have the final say on the deal rather than allow politicians to stitch it up in Westminster and Brussels.

@Dearohdeer

How many female candidates have you got in 'winnable' seats and do you think it's enough?

I want a more diverse party – one that actually reflects the population. At the last election we ended up with 8 white blokes, luckily Sarah Olney with her fantastic win made it a bit less bad, but trust me I know that isn’t good enough.

This time round 50% of our strategic seats have female candidates and as you’d expect me to say I hope we win all of those. We have brilliant women standing for the party up and down the country and I hope many of them are elected on the 8th June.

@WalkingOnLeg0

Hi Tim,

I DO like many of your policies but ...
I want to leave the EU and I DO NOT want a second referendum.
I am worried about how your religious views inform your decisions.
And PLEASE don't do a 'deal' with Jeremy Corbyn.

My question is: When will you get the deficit down to zero and can you promise you will actually do so.

Thanks

We aim to clear the day-to-day deficit by 2019/2020. But we actually think now is the right time to borrow with low interest rates, to invest in those things that will make us richer as a country, better rail, broadband, more housing and British-based renewable energy.

Hi Tim, I agree with many of your policies but I'm really concerned about the plan to legalise cannabis. With two young children, I'm really not convinced that the young of this country needs more potentially harmful drugs to be available to them. Can you tell me what protections you will put in place around the legalisation of this drug?

@TwoLeftSocks

How would you approach Trump on climate change?

With strength! First of all we should have signed the strong letter from France, Germany and Italy. We should have added Britain to this list. The people of America need to hear that their closest ally thinks that the betrayal of our children over climate change is utterly unacceptable. A muted mumbling on disappointment won't even get heard by Trump let alone the people in America who could change his mind.

@AtHomeDadGlos

Hi Tim,

Living in Cheltenham (a key Tory/LD marginal) you already have my vote as although I'd like to vote Labour I know they won't get in and I'd like to stop a landslide
Mayjority.

My question for you is this:
Could you, in 50 words or fewer, sum up your vision for the future for Britain?

Thanks,

Firstly, I want to be able to look my children in the eye in 30 years time and tell them I did the right thing.

So, I'm pro free trade; pro strong public services; seriously tackling climate change and working with our friends and neighbours overseas.

Hi Tim. I am a historian who has specialised in the suffragette movement. My husband works in politics. We've been devastated by the referendum result and politics since then. For the first time ever, we feel like not voting in the election. Why should we?

@Mothervulva

Hi Tim,

Lib Dem member here:

What are your thoughts on assisted suicide?

I've got a serious compassion for people who find themselves in that situation so I don't want to criminalise people who act out of compassion. I think evidence tends to suggest that legislating towards it makes the situation worse but it's a very difficult issue. And I don't think there is an easy answer - we always treat this as a free vote issue.