Jo Swinson is on Question Time tonight on the day that her book Equal Power is published. I spent a very pleasant hour in a cafe this morning reading it. I love the bright orange, yellow and aqua colour scheme – it’s like it’s all the Lib Dem colours of the past 20 years.
There is a slight chance that the BBC debate might actually be worth watching as Justine Greening will be on too. She may not be disposed to be too loyal to the PM who effectively sacked her last month.
You can find out how it all unfolds at 10:45 pm on BBC1.
Jo was on Woman’s Hour this morning to talk about her book. She also touched on her time in Government and had some words of criticism for Nick Clegg. He was, she said, an outstanding Deputy PM and he had her back on issues like gender pay gap and shared parental leave. You felt that there was a BUT coming, though. Sure enough, she said she felt he could have done more to put women in the Cabinet and the Lords.
She also talked about that thing where someone important comes in to a meeting and needs a seat – and it’s the women who tend to give up theirs. I thought about the times I’ve done that. I also thought about the times when I’ve felt a bit naughty by claiming a seat at the front, for example at a Scottish Conference Leader’s speech when, as an office bearer, I had a perfect right to be there.
You can listen to her talk about issues like the gender pay gap and the cultural change needed to bring about equal power here.
* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings. You can find her on Bluesky at caronmlindsay.bsky.social
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6 Comments
Sorry to go off topic but I am genuinely flabbergasted if reports are correct that we have taken a Council Seat from Labour in Sunderland, 2 years ago we got 4% in the same Seat & came 4th of 5.
Breaking: gain from lab in Pallion, Sunderland. 49.5% increase in vote!!!
How naughty of you for going off topic. I suppose I will let you off with it just this once, given the circumstances. But that excellent news has its own post now. We just have to wait and see if we can pull it off in Cornwall too.
I thought Jo was excellent on Question Time tonight. In 2 weeks time the program comes here to Yeovil. I will be disappointed if no Lib Dem is on the panel.
Hope to watch the programme on Sunday evening.
Not a programme I normally watch but have finally got round to doing so.
I cannot disagree An excellent performance from Jo Swinson, and indeed the other female panellists. It takes a certain bravery to stand up for one’s beliefs when facing to the pent up anger and aggression of some members of the audience.
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