Liberal Vision have published interviews conducted with each of the candidates for the Liberal Democrat presidency: Susan Kramer and Tim Farron.
Read the Farron interview here and the Kramer interview here.
As a taster:
Liberal Vision: In one sentence why should people who read our blog back your campaign?
Susan Kramer: Overwhelmingly it’s to be the voice for the grass roots of the party, creating that two-way connection between the grass roots and the leadership, and keeping us unified. We shouldn’t let other pull us apart
Tim Farron: Because they want the Liberal Democrats to win, and because the party’s separate identity is absolutely critical. If we’re not protected by a proportional system, if we’re seen as an appendage, we will not convince people there is a reason to vote for us. The President needs to articulate what the Liberal Democrats are for, not what Tim Farron is for, but what the Liberal Democrats are for.
(Whether either candidate’s inability to follow the instruction in one sentence should be considered relevant is up to individual members – as the Chair at the North West hustings, I was totally unable to persuade either candidate to give concise answers to anything at all – though both were lovely in every other respect).
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4 Comments
Certainly Kramer is a bit inclined to go on and on as new thoughts pop into her head – a common fault among politicos, who don’t understand that less is more. Her predecessor, Jenny Tonge, was much worse – unstoppable once in full flow.
A stop watch seems the obvious remedy. 1 minute is usually enough for any answer.
I shall vote Kramer as the best champion for the `underdog’ and conduit with members and to build new membership.She is an experienced media performer and shone in last outing on BBC Question Time.
Susan Kramer would make an excellent next President but Tim would also do well if he gets the chance.Identity is at the crux of the issue.
We need a new kind of President in a new situation. Someone who the national media will take seriously and who can tell people how and why the Liberal Democrats are making a difference in the coalition – and are distinctive outside it.
Sorry but Tim is not just the only candidate who will be able to do this but one of the few people in the party capable of doing both these things.
Tony Greaves
“Whether either candidate’s inability to follow the instruction in one sentence should be considered relevant is up to individual members…”
I don’t think Andy (who conducted the interviews) meant to sugget that “either candidate’s inability to follow the instruction in one sentence should be considered relevant”, but (like you) I think he wanted to encourage brevity. That seems perfectly reasonable.