Dr Philip Lee, LibDem candidate shows us who he is

[MrsSnippyPants]

In my opinion he didn't cover himself in glory on the issue of women's rights. His answer on prisons showed where his priorities lie. Did I misinterpret him?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_live_events/3758248-Webchat-with-Dr-Phillip-Lee-LibDem-candidate-for-Wokingham-on-Tuesday-3-December-at-2pm?msgid=92040789

Exactly that OldCrone! How does he reconcile those two positions?

'particularly the person who is changing their gender' ...

We should send HQ a box of woke cookies, they can dish them out to their hearts content.
I really wanted to put contempt

Politics and policies can often be complex and it's really important in a healthy democracy that individuals and political parties can discuss challenging issues honestly and in an informed way.

It's a bit ironic that this was his parting comment when the LD's response to GC women hasn't been to have an honest and informed discussion but to tell them they're not welcome.

Well and ironic in the context of him having to be robustly protected from debate in the form of questioning by MN monitors

I'm actually surprised he was prepared to discuss the issue at all. As a conservative he abstained on the gay marriage vote and this has caused a lot of controversy in the Lib Dems.

The problem is that nobody in the Lib Dems seems to appreciate that their stance on this issue is causing them problems. You can't claim to be the sensible centrist party that supports freedom of speech and talks sense on Brexit, and also refuse to acknowledge the reality of sex.

You can't ask people to abandon their usual political allegiances to defend their right to freedom of movement in Europe, if at the same time you are removing language and definitions from the EA that protect women's rights.

“particularly the person who is changing their gender”

Standard.

Well yes merry.

No backbone there at all.

When are these so called politicians who are meant to represent women as well.

Get their fucking backbones

Gender what the actual fuck is this gender nonsense that they all bleat out like a pack of stupids

Grrrrrrrr. Snap snap grrrrr

I’m so disappointed. I live in Wokingham, the women around here are talking about the implications of self id. We are very concerned. We feel we have to choose either Brexit or women’s rights.

Now Wokeingham then?

It's always very clear what they will do on one side 'I'd never make a transwoman go to a man's prison - God no! that would be absolutely beyond the pale' and then "for balance" they offer some wishy washy, no substance, no detail 'blah blah, important that all voices be heard, blah blah concerns'. Like that's balance. Or like we're thick enough to think it's balance.

And the biscuit thing. Tres hilaire.

That was a fine example of someone nearly splitting himself in two to avoid pissing anyone off by giving a straight answer.

So everyone is equal. Apart from men who want to be women who are more equal than others. Have I understood his position correctly?

The Lib Dem's really don't get it, do they. If one of the most unwoke ones can trot out such huff there is no hope for the party.

The politicians always sound totally panicked on the subject of gender on those web chats.

The thing is, if you’re trying to defend a fundamentally illogical position, it’s gonna be tricky

Come to the logical side. It will clear that cognitive dissonance headache right up

Wish I’d been able to get on the chat. Would have liked to have asked about the Lib Dem’s shameful policies on prostitution

Helen Belcher has strong links with Wokingham, they have tried to become the LibDem candidate here previously, before trying their luck in chippenham.

Really clear message to the Lib Dem’s on that chat: we want to vote for you, but you don’t want us

They deserve the oblivion that’s coming to them if they don’t listen

I seethed at his answers. Trouble is I'd really like to find a new political home after becoming so disillusioned with Labour - but I just can't, can't, can't vote for the LDs. I thought he was utterly cowardly and patronising.

I was twitching at his non replies too!

He sounded like he was advocating for a third space, in prisons, originally.

But it was so wishy-washy with exhortations to be sensitive, you couldn't quite be certain.

But then he nailed it with saying that the most important people were those wishing to change their gender. Which, I seriously doubt, is women - clamouring to get into male prisons.

So he's prioritising the validation of men who want to access the women's environment, over the women who inhabit that environment. Even though he knows they are very vulnerable and 64% of whom have already been subjected to abuse.

These people have two settings.

Misogynistic or petrified.

Or both.

And he’s a doctor don’t you know...

I mean, it's not particularly difficult. They're so used to word salad, you could easily do it.

Yes, I understand the concerns that women have and we need to address them.

Has anyone else been threatened with having their account suspended for commenting AFTER the web chat finished?

Unsurprisingly no answer to my question about the spousal "veto", possibly partly because I didn't have the time or will to phrase it in a suitably lick arsey way.

I guess I was hoping he might have something to offer us, but apparently not. Am meeting a group of parents this evening, and more over the next week. Will make sure they are fully aware of his stance.