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

[EdDaveyMP]

Have to go now - but really enjoyed the session here at Mumsnet.

There's always more questions one could answer - and more things I'd like to say. From climate change to my work campaigning for homeless people, for bereaved families and for the disabled, I'm in politics to improve people's lives and our joint futures. One of the many frustrating things about Brexit, is that political debate on so many vital things has been closed down, and it feels like our political system is more broken than ever before. I just hope we can stop Brexit soon, and move on to the many issues that really affect people's lives.

Thanks again for your questions! Best Ed

[ChickenonaMug]

@EdDaveyMP. Can I just point out that girls and women who be subjected to sexual abuse also suffer from high rates of mental health issues and self harm. These girls are seriously and directly impacted when single-sex spaces become mixed-sex which is what happens when they allow males, who identify as males, in.

Sexually abused girls do not have the privilege of just turning off their trauma responses to males. These changes will make it harder for these girls to integrate fully in society.

Sexually abused girls have often realised that it is impossible to identify which males they meet will abuse and harass them. Like all women and girls they are likely to be subjected to further sexually harassment and perhaps abuse as they go through life. Sexually abused girls should have the right to recognise someone for the sex they are, in order to risk assess and safeguard themselves. There is no conclusive evidence that males, who identify as and declare themselves female, are less of a risk to women than other males.

There are a lot of conflicts of rights and needs involved in the whole GRA and trans-inclusive policies debate. Surely it is fairer to listen to both sides and find a solution that will not cause harm to women and girls, especially to very vulnerable sexually abused girls who also deserve a chance at a decent future.

Please consider this Ed, thank you.

[donquixotedelamancha]

I've stuck to my principles. So I'm sorry we can't agree on this.

There has to be scope to protect trans people from discrimination while protecting women's rights.

Surely you can see that if self-ID comes in it has a huge impact on areas where someone's sex is the relevant issue?

Surely you can see that (for example) allowing men to self-ID into women's prisons creates risk? It's the duty of politicians to manage these risks and balance competing rights.

Do you really not agree with any of women's concerns?

[AgileLass]

This is grimly hilarious. Talking at women rather than engaging in actual conversation and debate.

[User10fuckingmillion]

“It was a decision based on my liberal beliefs and from moving the amendment to abolish the vile, homophobic section 28”

You realise that a lot of us are lesbians?

[LaundryIsADisease]

Disappointed you couldn't find time to answer on your record on fracking, nuclear power and airport expansion when in government.

[OvaHere]

You might also want to ponder the vile, homophobic rhetoric that underpins much of gender ideology. If we are pretending sex doesn't exist as a concept then neither does homosexuality. Many gay and lesbian people feel quite strongly about this erasure of their boundaries.

[AgileLass]

Thanks again for your questions! Best Ed

No problem Ed! Stop by any time buddy!

[BernardBlacksWineIcelolly]

At least he was honest I suppose

I admire his bravery although evidently his capacity for logical thinking is sadly lacking

[ChickenonaMug]

Apologies that should say males, who identify as females, in the first paragraph.

[RowanMumsnet]

As per usual we're going to close this thread now. Thanks for your questions and to Ed for joining us.

Thanks
MNHQ

[Apollo440]

Yes Ed we all opposed section 28, backed gay rights and have a moral compass but we have come to realise that Gay rights and Trans rights have nothing in common. You need to try some critical thinking. Try answering our questions rather than dismissing them out of hand for starters.