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| Jo Swinson: ‘I find it harder now to offer simple solutions’ | Jo Swinson: ‘I find it harder now to offer simple solutions’ |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| The Liberal Democrats are struggling to attract voters from the centre ground who are politically homeless after Labour and the Conservatives have shifted to the edges, according to the party’s new deputy leader, Jo Swinson. | The Liberal Democrats are struggling to attract voters from the centre ground who are politically homeless after Labour and the Conservatives have shifted to the edges, according to the party’s new deputy leader, Jo Swinson. |
| The former women and equalities minister, who won back her East Dunbartonshire seat from the SNP in June, said the party had to show it could represent the gulf between the two. | The former women and equalities minister, who won back her East Dunbartonshire seat from the SNP in June, said the party had to show it could represent the gulf between the two. |
| “It’s not really the zeitgeist,” she said. “There is this big yawning gap in the middle of British politics, the Conservative and Labour parties have gone to the edges. In this divided, polarised world, the pragmatic centre ground is a bit unloved.” | “It’s not really the zeitgeist,” she said. “There is this big yawning gap in the middle of British politics, the Conservative and Labour parties have gone to the edges. In this divided, polarised world, the pragmatic centre ground is a bit unloved.” |
| Swinson said convincing centrist voters – mostly remainers – to back her party was still a huge challenge. “We clearly haven’t been able to make that connection yet and resonate with a lot of those people. That’s the task to get stuck into,” she said. | Swinson said convincing centrist voters – mostly remainers – to back her party was still a huge challenge. “We clearly haven’t been able to make that connection yet and resonate with a lot of those people. That’s the task to get stuck into,” she said. |
| The party’s former leader Paddy Ashdown wrote in a blunt blog post before the party’s conference in Bournemouth this weekend that the atmosphere had never been more fertile for a Lib Dem advance, but that it was failing to make the connection with those voters. | The party’s former leader Paddy Ashdown wrote in a blunt blog post before the party’s conference in Bournemouth this weekend that the atmosphere had never been more fertile for a Lib Dem advance, but that it was failing to make the connection with those voters. |
| “The vast sea of people who share our beliefs find themselves voiceless and silent,” he said. “Not all of them, sadly, are Liberal Democrats or want to be.” | “The vast sea of people who share our beliefs find themselves voiceless and silent,” he said. “Not all of them, sadly, are Liberal Democrats or want to be.” |
| Ashdown said his party was no longer seen as a radical force, compared with the time when it had opposed the Iraq war and championed equal marriage – “not as a force for change, but as a part of the establishment”. | Ashdown said his party was no longer seen as a radical force, compared with the time when it had opposed the Iraq war and championed equal marriage – “not as a force for change, but as a part of the establishment”. |
| On social media and in newspaper comment pages, the suggestion for the future of liberal centrism has been to create a new party, perhaps a UK version of Emmanuel Macron’s En Marche, rather than a Lib Dem renaissance. | On social media and in newspaper comment pages, the suggestion for the future of liberal centrism has been to create a new party, perhaps a UK version of Emmanuel Macron’s En Marche, rather than a Lib Dem renaissance. |
| In the 2017 election, two years after the party’s most catastrophic performance, the Lib Dems make some patchy inroads in seats with high numbers of remain voters, including winning back Swinson’s seat, and Vince Cable’s in Twickenham, south-west London, as well as seats in Bath and Oxford. | In the 2017 election, two years after the party’s most catastrophic performance, the Lib Dems make some patchy inroads in seats with high numbers of remain voters, including winning back Swinson’s seat, and Vince Cable’s in Twickenham, south-west London, as well as seats in Bath and Oxford. |
| Swinson, a business minister in the coalition, said the party needed to rediscover “radical solutions that might upset the apple cart” but intimated her time in government had given her some sympathy for those on the other side of the despatch box. | Swinson, a business minister in the coalition, said the party needed to rediscover “radical solutions that might upset the apple cart” but intimated her time in government had given her some sympathy for those on the other side of the despatch box. |
| “My experience in government is there is a whole host of unintended consequences you have to think through,” she said. “I can’t un-know that, I find it harder now to offer simple solutions.” | “My experience in government is there is a whole host of unintended consequences you have to think through,” she said. “I can’t un-know that, I find it harder now to offer simple solutions.” |
| With the forces of change in the ascendency, Lib Dems have found themselves, somewhat uncomfortably, as the party of caution and continuity, though in the current climate Swinson said being unashamedly in favour of remaining in the EU was a bold idea. | With the forces of change in the ascendency, Lib Dems have found themselves, somewhat uncomfortably, as the party of caution and continuity, though in the current climate Swinson said being unashamedly in favour of remaining in the EU was a bold idea. |
| She still believes there is a route for Britain to remain in the EU, which she hopes will show the party ultimately on the right side of history. “Long term it is strategically right, [the former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron] got that right,” she said. | She still believes there is a route for Britain to remain in the EU, which she hopes will show the party ultimately on the right side of history. “Long term it is strategically right, [the former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron] got that right,” she said. |
| “But was an election in 2017 the one where that would yield the greatest electoral return? Well clearly not. Perhaps obviously not, but it wasn’t necessarily obvious at the time. But it is our position.” | “But was an election in 2017 the one where that would yield the greatest electoral return? Well clearly not. Perhaps obviously not, but it wasn’t necessarily obvious at the time. But it is our position.” |
| No rethink of the party’s policy on Europe is on the horizon for now. Swinson said it would be a mistake for the party to ditch its unique selling point as a home for remainers. “Remaining in the EU is the best thing for the UK. I can’t ever see a scenario where we would think an alternative option was better,” she said. | No rethink of the party’s policy on Europe is on the horizon for now. Swinson said it would be a mistake for the party to ditch its unique selling point as a home for remainers. “Remaining in the EU is the best thing for the UK. I can’t ever see a scenario where we would think an alternative option was better,” she said. |
| “I still think there’s some doubt over whether we do leave, but I do think on balance the more likely scenario is that we do. I will do my best as a parliamentarian to try to get the best, closest possible relationship in the event that we leave.” | “I still think there’s some doubt over whether we do leave, but I do think on balance the more likely scenario is that we do. I will do my best as a parliamentarian to try to get the best, closest possible relationship in the event that we leave.” |
| Farron had made no secret he wanted Swinson to run for the leadership of the party, announcing his decision to create a deputy leader post before his own belated decision to resign, a post clearly designed with Swinson in mind. | Farron had made no secret he wanted Swinson to run for the leadership of the party, announcing his decision to create a deputy leader post before his own belated decision to resign, a post clearly designed with Swinson in mind. |
| His own campaign, repeatedly dogged by questions about his Christian faith and attitude to homosexuality and abortion, had been tough for the party to watch, Swinson said. | His own campaign, repeatedly dogged by questions about his Christian faith and attitude to homosexuality and abortion, had been tough for the party to watch, Swinson said. |
| The MP, who spent her two years away from parliament writing a book on gender inequality, said she could defend Farron’s personal views but not those of MPs like Jacob Rees-Mogg, who has said his Catholic faith means he opposes abortion in all circumstances. | The MP, who spent her two years away from parliament writing a book on gender inequality, said she could defend Farron’s personal views but not those of MPs like Jacob Rees-Mogg, who has said his Catholic faith means he opposes abortion in all circumstances. |
| “There’s a big difference between Tim and Jacob Rees-Mogg and the distinction has not been drawn,” she said. “Politicians should be judged on their actions, rather than necessarily their views on scripture. | “There’s a big difference between Tim and Jacob Rees-Mogg and the distinction has not been drawn,” she said. “Politicians should be judged on their actions, rather than necessarily their views on scripture. |
| “Jacob Rees-Mogg does wish to impose his view on other people, including on women who have been raped, who he thinks should be forced to go through with a pregnancy against their will. He is prepared to vote on that basis to restrict those rights and I think that is different and it is right to be judged for that.” | “Jacob Rees-Mogg does wish to impose his view on other people, including on women who have been raped, who he thinks should be forced to go through with a pregnancy against their will. He is prepared to vote on that basis to restrict those rights and I think that is different and it is right to be judged for that.” |
| When Farron stepped down, in part because he believed questions about his faith would forever hamper him, Swinson looked to be the favourite to replace him. | When Farron stepped down, in part because he believed questions about his faith would forever hamper him, Swinson looked to be the favourite to replace him. |
| She had long been popular with the party’s young grassroots, in part because of her friendly, confident demeanour and skills as a DJ at the annual Lib Dem disco. But more significantly she did not come with the same baggage as Cable or the other rumoured contender, Ed Davey, who had been coalition cabinet ministers. | She had long been popular with the party’s young grassroots, in part because of her friendly, confident demeanour and skills as a DJ at the annual Lib Dem disco. But more significantly she did not come with the same baggage as Cable or the other rumoured contender, Ed Davey, who had been coalition cabinet ministers. |
| However, in a frank blogpost, Swinson said she did not feel the time was right to take on the job, but suggested that, had she been a man, she might have been more likely to seize the opportunity. | However, in a frank blogpost, Swinson said she did not feel the time was right to take on the job, but suggested that, had she been a man, she might have been more likely to seize the opportunity. |
| The viral post caused a furore she had not been expecting. “I didn’t think it was a controversial thing to say!” Swinson said. “But obviously some people did. And then I thought, you people are going to hate my book.” | The viral post caused a furore she had not been expecting. “I didn’t think it was a controversial thing to say!” Swinson said. “But obviously some people did. And then I thought, you people are going to hate my book.” |
| The former Labour party deputy leader Harriet Harman was among those clamouring for her to reconsider. “The men can aspire to be your deputy!” she tweeted. Swinson said she felt a pang when she saw Harman’s tweet, though she did not doubt her decision. | The former Labour party deputy leader Harriet Harman was among those clamouring for her to reconsider. “The men can aspire to be your deputy!” she tweeted. Swinson said she felt a pang when she saw Harman’s tweet, though she did not doubt her decision. |
| “I love Harriet Harman, she is a supporter of women of all parties, a kind word, a friendly voice, and this country is lucky to have her,” she said. The pair have spoken since, Swinson said. “I still knew I was right, but she is reflecting on her own career too.” | “I love Harriet Harman, she is a supporter of women of all parties, a kind word, a friendly voice, and this country is lucky to have her,” she said. The pair have spoken since, Swinson said. “I still knew I was right, but she is reflecting on her own career too.” |
| Swinson entered parliament aged 25 and has been in Westminster for a decade – a third of Harman’s career – and says she has hopes to emulate how the Labour grandee has encouraged younger women of all political stripes. | Swinson entered parliament aged 25 and has been in Westminster for a decade – a third of Harman’s career – and says she has hopes to emulate how the Labour grandee has encouraged younger women of all political stripes. |
| “Sometimes I also look back and see things differently to how I did when I was 21,” she said. “If I can share some of that with the next generation of women coming through, I want to be strong advocates for them.” | “Sometimes I also look back and see things differently to how I did when I was 21,” she said. “If I can share some of that with the next generation of women coming through, I want to be strong advocates for them.” |
| Cable won the leadership unopposed but, at 74, there has been widespread speculation that the former business secretary will eventually hand over to his deputy. | Cable won the leadership unopposed but, at 74, there has been widespread speculation that the former business secretary will eventually hand over to his deputy. |
| Swinson’s relative youth and growing profile may mean she believes she can afford to wait until liberalism is back in vogue and she does not deny she may eventually want the top job. “I’m not going to sit here now and plot out my entire future,” she said. “Four months ago I didn’t think I’d even be sitting here in parliament.” | Swinson’s relative youth and growing profile may mean she believes she can afford to wait until liberalism is back in vogue and she does not deny she may eventually want the top job. “I’m not going to sit here now and plot out my entire future,” she said. “Four months ago I didn’t think I’d even be sitting here in parliament.” |
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