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

@Charmageddon

Hi Tim,

Just watched you on Andrew Neill - exactly the same as Corbyn & May - deliberately avoiding answering the questions put to you.

As you didn't answer Andrew Neill on this point, perhaps you could answer here:

You propose a referendum on the 'final deal'; if the deal is not to stay entirely as a fully signed up member of the single market (with all that entails, such as FoM etc), will you campaign to remain within the EU?

That is: is your 'red line' loss of total & complete membership to the single market?

The quick answer is I would almost certainly campaign to remain in any referendum on the deal. Simply because I can't envisage that we will get a deal better than the one we currently have, but the choice should be with the British people, not with me.

Tim please don't answer any biscuit questions.

What's your favourite biscuit?

@Code42

derxayou're a farmer: wtf else could you have voted for ?!

Mr Farron -

Welcome to MN. Speaking as an economist, would you be able to talk us through why Leave voters ought to vote for the LibDems?

Theresa May has demonstrated through the cuts in schools, the dementia tax, and indeed the taking away of free school meals that she is seeking to use a landslide as a mandate to do those things (she already has a mandate to negotiate Brexit). Voting Lib Dem is a way of telling her that you won't be taken for granted on those huge issue.

Thanks for answering Tim

Not a question....

I'm impressed so far - I think you are definitely far more in touch with real people than TM & JC & much more pragmatic, which is what I want & expect from politicians.

Keep up the good work & you'll definitely have my vote next time

Tim is MOTORING. At least three Weetabix this morning I'd wager

@MajesticWhine

Hi Tim,

I have two teenagers. I have been hammering home the message that drugs such as cannabis endanger their mental health. How can I dissuade them from smoking cannabis if it is legalised? Surely they will tell me it's all fine and not dangerous if it can be bought in a local shop.

Thanks

I'm a parent - drugs do damage to people's health and more broadly to society. The question is: how do we make the current failing approach better?

So the Lib Dems put together an expert panel including currently serving chief police constables and medical experts of various kinds to look at the evidence as to whether other countries approach this matter more effectively. They recommended to us that tight regulation of cannabis would help to minimise the harm to the vulnerable whilst maximising the damage to the criminal gangs who exploit those people.

I understand it's a controversial issue, but I think it's right to make decisions based on the evidence of what might make a bad situation a little better.

@Peregrina

Is Theresa May using purdah as an excuse, when she failed to sign the letter condemning Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement?

I think Theresa May has shown immense weakness today. The world needs to know that America's self-proclaimed best ally has got the guts to stand up to a president who is threatening the very future of all of us. Climate change is the biggest single threat we face and we need real leadership.

@TresDesolee

Tim is MOTORING. At least three Weetabix this morning I'd wager

I had marmite on toast, actually

Hi Tim. Thanks for coming on.

I'm very proud to be voting Lib Dem. It's a relief that there's a party that combines kind social policy with non-punitive fiscal policy.

Thanks also for your enormous efforts to hold our Prime Minister - and indeed entire democratic process - to account in regard to Brexit...in seeking a final say on whether this is good for the country or not.

And great work on the BBC debate

Chuffed to bits that he answered my question and love his answer. That's my vote sorted

Thank you for answering my question Tim, I think you're doing a great job. All the best.

@mermaidsandunicorns

Hi Tim

With newly trained teachers leaving the profession in record numbers, how do you plan to recruit and maintain teacher numbers when morale amongst teachers is currently so low.

My sister was a highly qualified music teacher and left the profession because of the stress of the job so would be interested to hear answers.

Many thanks

One in four newly qualified teachers leave the profession within five years.

What a waste of talent and investment. Maybe the unwritten biggest issue of this election is that Theresa May is about to do to our schools what she has done to our hospitals. Two in three headteachers will lay off at least 1 teacher because of budget cuts at the end of this term in 7 weeks' time. The answer is first of all to undo the Conservative planned cuts of £3bn and to put additional funding into Pupil Premium and further education and early years, of £7bn. We also need to trust our teachers and let them teach and stop changing the rules and the goalposts for them almost every term.

Hi Tim,

How do you plan to tackle the current wave of antisemitism?

We like your fast typing Tim. Do you have a typing helper?

(This is not a question by the way, because I'd prefer you to answer the one I've already posted)

@BorisTrumpsHair

Women's Hour have stated you have openly said abortion is wrong and you have abstained on various private bills regarding abortion.

Why should women vote for you when you want to act against our bodies/rights/lives like this?

I do like your policy to legislate and tax marijuana though - great idea.

Just to be very clear - I am pro choice and support abortion that is safe and legal, and I defend the existing law.

@NotAToryShill

Hi Tim,

Jeremy Corbyn famously accepted a pringle through a fence last night. What are your thoughts on the tasty snack - would you accept one if offered, or are you more of a Jacob's Cracker Crisps sorta guy?

(asking for a friend)

I try to keep off crisps because they are not desperately good for you but I do like a Pringle!

Thanks for answering my question.

@TresDesolee

I liked your Bake Off line last night.

Why do you think Theresa May didn't turn up to the debate?

Also, how does someone who has qualms about gay sex and abortion end up leading the 'liberal' party? You're entitled to your views (although obviously they're wrong) but aren't you fundamentally in the wrong party?

Good luck, you and the Greens are the only parties speaking for people like me on the total sodding disaster that is Brexit

Firstly, thank you.

Secondly, I think Theresa doesn't have the confidence of her convictions and she seems to be taking the country for granted.

Thirdly, I'm passionate about LGBT equality and proud of our record in government supporting equal marriage. I am also pro choice.

Thank you again.

This won't get on the news nor in The Telegraph as we lot are obviously far too happy with Tim.

Tim, can you screw up and flounce off in 10 mins or make a faux pas or something?

DON'T ANSWER THE BISCUIT QUESTION.

@derxa

Have you any support for farmers in your manifesto?

We want to protect direct payments to farmers which the Conservatives would threaten. We also want to keep membership of the Single Market because that is where 75% of all farm exports go. We want to protect family farms from being lost through the dementia tax. The other thing I think is critical is we want to strengthen the Grocery Code Adjudicator, so that it has the powers to tackle supermarkets when they exploit farmers.

Hi Tim,
Another Lib Dem member here and just come across you on here so welcome.
I really can't see why anyone would vote for anyone else, but that is just me and perhaps if tactical voting is needed in certain areas, then maybe.
Perhaps you can talk about your views on PR and why it's important if you haven't already as not had chance to read through all the comments.
Thanks

Hi Tim,

I'm an undecided voter. I was swaying more towards Lib Dem, but then I heard you refused to answer whether or not you believe gay sex is a sin. As someone in a same sex relationship myself, this concerned me.

Thanks

DON'T ANSWER THE BISCUIT QUESTION.

Lol VanillaSugar

So long as he doesn't chunter on about jam, I'm happy!!