"Where We Went Wrong," by the Lib-Dems

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Previously net-positive ratings for Jo fell during the campaign. There was clearly a lot of misogyny and sexism at play, and Jo’s appeal to women also fell significantly during the election.

For any leader to be successful takes time; to build awareness, to form relationships, to understand the role and learn from early mistakes. However for Jo that time simply did not exist and – while sex is of course no barrier to being able to do the job successfully – there is a growing body of research on the challenges of being a female political leader which imply that time for preparation is even more valuable. Time not just for themselves and their party, but also for people to ‘get’ someone different from the ‘norm.’

(pages 15-16)

Plenty of frank and devastating self-criticism, but one or two blind-spots, including Rosy Cobb who seems to get off scot-free. Bad relations with the media? Why would that be?

bit.ly/3fY6yvm

On a local level some of the Lib Dem candidates were the most aggressive, virulent and sexist on social media out of all the parties so I don't think it's purely down to Jo Swinson that they lost a lot of female voters.

During the election period they truly marked themselves out as the party of the right-on beardy bro.

@DidoLamenting why on earth would you vote for any party to keep the SNP out of your constituency? Are you English or something?

On a local level some of the Lib Dem candidates were the most aggressive, virulent and sexist on social media out of all the parties so I don't think it's purely down to Jo Swinson that they lost a lot of female voters.

Yes, but I do think the media did a hypocritical hatchet job on her personally about the trans self ID issue. Not that I have much sympathy. She made her bed.

and Jo’s appeal to women also fell significantly during the election.

Huh, I wonder how that happened? Examining what went wrong is a good idea, but it's not much use if you're going to put some problems in a "must not be mentioned" box.

But according to the views publicly stated by Jo Swinson herself, she could simply have declared herself a man and all the sexism would have instantly disappeared.

Indeed. It was the dresses that did it, then, if she'd just cut her hair and worn trousers women wouldn't have stopped supporting her. Also, even as someone who's super pro Remain I can see that saying you'd ignore a second Leave vote isn't exactly putting your best foot forward.

I really don't think their self ID stance or Swinson's calamitous performance on Woman's Hour was the only, or even the main reason for their collapse, but it's still quite comical to see a party that denied biological sex trying to talk about sexism.

If sexism was something you could identify your way out of every woman in politics would do so. I wonder why Jo didn't try it, and why they're not suggesting the next female leader does?

(Spoilers - not actually wondering.)

Helpfulrabbit

@DidoLamentingwhy on earth would you vote for any party to keep the SNP out of your constituency?

I loathe the SNP. What a bloody mess Scotland would be in if the separatists had won in 2014.

Are you English or something?

What a stupid question- do you think only English people think breaking up the UK is a misguided idea?

Are you English or something?

Helpfulrabbit

Actually that question says a lot about you- and none of it good.

I think like Labour, the LibDems have been captured by their activists.

So the question is no longer about what the voters want. But how do we make voters think the way we do.

Self-ID was only one issue.

@Didolamenting my apologies, I just have a hard time believing any Scottish person would willingly bend the knee to England when given the chance of independence. My Father is Scottish and we go to Scotland all the time on holiday, I love it so much better than down here in miserable England. And yet you want to go down the gutter with them?

I think the Brexit position did for them

I agree. I doubt self ID even registered with the vast majority of voters let alone determined how they would vote.

If you can't define sex you can't define sexism. You also can't have it both ways, Lib Dems.

I'd have voted for you, I have voted Lib Dem before - but, then you told me I was a horrible for wanting my sex based rights, and that my vote wasn't wanted.

So I gave it to someone else.

Idiots.

Helpfulrabbit

@Didolamentingmy apologies, I just have a hard time believing any Scottish person would willingly bend the knee to England when given the chance of independence. My Father is Scottish and we go to Scotland all the time on holiday, I love it so much better than down here in miserable England. And yet you want to go down the gutter with them?

That is exactly the sort of rose- tinted "fa's like us" , Brigadoon, well balanced because there is a chip on each shoulder, nonsense which the SNP peddles and which I detest.

Bend the knee to England - seriously pass the sick bag.

Did it escape your attention that 55% of the voters in Scotland voted no- do you think they are all English?

You are regurgitating the same offensive claptrap many on the separatist side peddled- that voting No means one doesn’t care about Scotland- far from it. I voted No because I do care and I live here.

Yes, they did make it very clear that they didn't want certain votes. So they aren't in a position to complain really.

I would have voted Lib Dem for the Remain stance at first, but they really blew it on self ID and women’s rights. So weird that they still have such a blind spot.

Yes, they did make it very clear that they didn't want certain votes. So they aren't in a position to complain really.

Precisely. They told some of us not to vote for them, why is the result surprising to them?

Ian Scottish I never voted snp.

So what

Does this mean am not Scottish any more.

Jeez.

We can vot3 for who we want

@Helpfulrabbit.
Your last comment to Dido Lamenting is despicable and revolting. You should be utterly ashamed of yourself. But your type won't be.

Oh and I wouldn’t have voted for Lib Dem’s as they are not sure what a woman is anymore anddidnt wantthe vote of women like me

I’ve reported that last post my helpfulrabbit as it was just offensive towards Dido.

I’m Scottish and don’t vote SNP either. If you want to post stuff like that Wings Over Scotland should be your starting place.

(Snickers at the irony of an English person telling Scottish people how to vote in the name of independence.)

Oh I reported as well

Sectarian abusive stuff