Webchat with Ed Davey, Lib Dem leadership candidate, on Tuesday 18 June at 1.30pm

[BojanaMumsnet]

Hello

We’re pleased to announce a webchat with Ed Davey MP - one of the Lib Dem leadership candidates, along with Jo Swinson MP. Ed will be joining us on Tuesday 18 June at 1.30pm.

Ed worked as an economics adviser to Paddy Ashdown, before winning his seat of Kingston and Surbiton in 1997.

In the Coalition Government, Ed began as a Business Minister, laying the groundwork for Shared Parental Leave under Vince Cable. Ed then became the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change in 2012 under the Coalition Government, where he says he quadrupled renewable power and made the UK the world leader in offshore wind. After losing his seat in 2015, Ed campaigned for Remain in the EU referendum, and re-gained his seat in 2017.

Since then, Ed says he “has been fighting for us to keep our place in Europe, pushing for a proper response to the Climate Emergency, and helping Liberal Democrats get elected across the country”. For more information about his leadership, please take a look at his campaign website.

Please do join us on Tuesday at 1.30pm, but if you can’t make it on the day, leave your question for Ed on this thread in advance.

As always, please remember our webchat guidelines - one question per user, follow-ups only if there’s time and most questions have been answered and please keep it civil. Also if one topic is overwhelmingly dominating a discussion with a guest, mods might request that people don't continue to post what's effectively the same question or point. Rest assured we will ALWAYS let the guest know that it's an area of concern to multiple users and will encourage them to engage with those questions.

And finally, we’re hoping to confirm a date with Jo Swinson for a webchat too - we’ll let you know when we do.

Many thanks
MNHQ

Do you honestly think (with your brain) that transwomen are women?

And if so how can we trust someone unable to grasp biological facts with making legislations for us. I've voted Lib Dem for the last time.

Layla Moran perhaps?

Ed, you were asked to define woman and avoided the question. Try again.

He thinks it's a philosophical question.

Ah but can Ed see into people's souls like Layla can?

So would you be happy with 50% men 50% TW ?

Hello again

Obviously lots of you feel strongly about Ed's position on trans rights and self-ID and we think he's probably got that message loud and clear. This isn't intended to be a single-issue webchat so we're going to ask you to leave off those posts now. Thanks

@BruceWayne80

Hey Ed,

What's the one thing (other than voting for you ) you think people should do to effectively address climate change?

There's a long list - get ready! First, if you can reduce the number of times you fly by a plane, that does make an impact. Governments have got to make it easier to travel with policies like high speed railways. But my chief scientific adviser when I was Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the late great Prof David MacKay, a real expert on climate science, gave me that advice. So there you have it!

In your own home, you can check whether it's as well-insulated and whether you're paying unnecessarily high energy bills, when you could be saving money and saving the climate. And you could switch your energy provider to one who only sources green power. There's loads of great websites out there, that can give you many other ideas, from eating less meat to walking and cycling more. I want to enable people saving for their pensions to have more information about whether their investments are going into a climate friendly fund or not. One of my lead policies is to de-carbonise capitalism. And that means switching billions in pension funds, in banks and stock exchanges out of fossil fuel investments and into clear, green tech. And I want to make it easier for people to be part of that.

Ed should have done his homework then

Didn't take long for us women to be silenced did it (on Mumsnet of all places)?

Hey women, he's already said he doesn't care, leave him alone.

Nice.

@extraextragum

Just because apparently it's mandatory to ask this now.... have you ever taken illegal drugs? (Guess I should ask about your favourite biscuit while I'm at it)

Yes. Long time ago. I did smoke some cannabis as a student but that's it. And I'm enjoying a fig roll now. Thanks to Mumsnet who remembered the last time I did a webchat on here. I said my favourite biscuit was a fig roll - it still is!

Thing is, we'd stop asking this stuff if he actually gave us a straight answer. Nothing but guff so far.

Wow. So despite all the statistics which show that women are attacked and vulnerable in mixed sex spaces you are still more than happy to get rid of these so that a few men can be comfortable.

I was considering LibDem as I'm a Remainer but I won't vote for the eradication of my own sex class and the Equalities Act. Anyone who is happy to put male rapists into women's prisons because they self identify as trans is not someone to be voted for.

You say "women continue to suffer discrimination - dismissal due to pregnancy, low conviction rates of rape, period poverty, forced marriage, FGM." And that's correct and NONE of these things affect transwomen or men because these are Women's issues; issues of biology not gender feelz.

Shame on you.

He can only answer easy questions about biscuits and cannabis. If he can't even say (or care) what a woman is then why should any of his other answers on brexit etc be trusted?

Crime stats Ed. Recording sex and violent crime as women's crimes if the perpetrator self id's as a woman. Good idea or not?

So just to be clear, you still support the benefits freeze, benefits cap and bedroom tax?

Hi Ed,

I had been a Lib Dem for decades, but can't return while self ID remains policy.

While I don't pretend to be an expert, I do find the different arguments and evidence that trans women are somehow a danger to other women totally unconvincing.

Don't you think you should become expert in this topic before supporting such wide reaching change?

Males offend at much higher rates than women regardless of how they identify. Single sex protections in prisons, in hospital, in refuges, in open changing rooms or in sport exist for a reason.

Do you not care at all about the areas where abolishing sex based services will impact on women, particularly those from minority and poorer communities?

@EdDaveyMP

I am struggling to understand your position on trans ideology. Whilst it is paramount that all individuals deserve respect and equality, denying the oppression of women due to their biological reality is insulting to women. I am not discriminated against because of my feelings Mr Davey.

It is also important to recognise that males do present a threat to females when they are in vulnerable situations such as going to the toilet and undressing. This is not up for debate this is the reality females face. "Transwomen" are males biologically and pose the same threat all other males do.

It is not discrimination to point to facts and science.

Do you recognise self-id will open up female only spaces to predatory males and peadophiles looking to gain easy access to vulnerable women and children?

Keeping women and children safe should not be up for negotiation.

Women are rightly concerned about this and your dismissal shows your male privilege is blinding.

Appreciate your honesty Ed. Better than the obfuscation from other politicians. I disagree with you though. Women’s concerns ARE legitimate. The suppression of gender critical views with threats, harassment and bullying is opening more women’s eyes day by day. Having nearly always voted LibDem in the past will not be doing so again.

While I don't pretend to be an expert, I do find the different arguments and evidence that trans women are somehow a danger to other women totally unconvincing.

My other problem with this statement is that it presupposes those arguing against self ID are prejudiced against trans people. Many of us work with trans people, have trans family and friends or are trans ourselves. Many of us have stood up for trans rights for years. Those at the sharp end understand the harm that self ID (even as practice, before the law comes in) is doing.

Do you really think calling ordinary people bigots, for trying to engage politically, is a smart long term strategy?

Ed supports so many Conservative and top down policies, I'm a bit baffled about why he identifies as a Liberal Democrat.

Oh dear.
Ex Sec of State for Energy and Climate Change but doesn't understand (or willfully refuses to understand) biology. And won't listen to women's legitimate concerns.
I miss being a member of the Lib Dems. It was my natural political home. I don't think I will be able to bring myself to vote for them again (did so in the local and EU elections, through gritted teeth).