The Liberal Democrats are getting a huge amount out of being in government: protection for the lowest paid, the most ambitious political reforms since universal suffrage, restoration of civil liberties… in fact the only thing we’re not getting is the credit we deserve!
That’s why I’ve decided to run to be President of the Liberal Democrats.
It’s not easy being in Government. As part of the Coalition, our distinctive message has often got buried, what we stand for has got blurred and our ability to campaign is blunted.
I’m not having that.
I joined the Liberals at 16. A Focus leaflet deliverer in Lancashire, then a student activist in Newcastle, a councillor in Lancashire, a couple of stints as a parliamentary candidate in unwinnable seats, then candidate for Westmorland – my home – and eventually success. We won Westmorland and Lonsdale from the Conservatives for the first time in 99 years in 2005 by a majority of just 267. This May we held the seat by 12,264.
Ros Scott has been a truly outstanding President. She’s accessible, she’s an activist, she’s not part of the establishment. Despite being an MP – which is a pretty ‘establishment’ thing to be – I’m not part of the establishment either. I find Westminster a peculiar place – I’m much more at home standing in a market square in Westmorland, fielding questions, talking to people and taking their ideas on board. The only way to learn anything new is to listen to others. If you only ever talk to other politicians, you will be an immensely dull and stale person. Sadly, Westminster is full of people who hardly ever talk to a normal human being – that’s why they don’t sound like normal human beings!
My focus will be to inspire Liberal Democrat members to be proud of our party, to work their socks off for the coming electoral contests and the AV referendum, and to inspire a new generation of members and activists to believe that they can make a difference by joining us. My focus will be on campaigning in the country and in the media – making it clear what we stand for, and talking to people in a human and accessible way.
My job as President will be to be an unwavering supporter of Nick in his role, to be a critical friend of the coalition and to get out there and make clear what the Liberal Democrats are for – why we are distinct from the coalition, why you should vote for us, why you should join us, why the Liberal Democrats should not just be a junior partner in government, but a party that can aspire to power in our own right.
If that’s the kind of President you want, I’m all yours.
If you want to help the campaign please email: [email protected]
My Facebook campaign page is here or I’m on Twitter as @Farron4Pres.
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25 Comments
I like you Tim, I really do; I’ve been enthralled and enthused by your conference speeches; but when you called the Tories ‘toxic’ and ‘ugly’ was your nuanced meaning lost, or were you misquoted? Does it benefit our party to be so emotive in our response and to allow historical resentment and bias to cloud our actions and judgement?
A very interesting and strong candidate for president . I am rather waiting for the time when Nic and others will beome ‘critical’ freinds of the coalition. It all seems to be a bit of a luv in at the moment with every one elses opinions left out in the cold. Not quite clear if Tim is saying we should be more critical when required or just follow with things as they are
If your reading these posts Tim , does you ‘unwavering’ supprt extend to Nick (reported) comments in the Times today that the state should not ‘compensate the poor for their predicament . Or will you allow yourself a bit of ‘wavering’ room at least now and again.
@ Andrew
when you called the Tories ‘toxic’ and ‘ugly’
The Tories have been both those things in the past and are showing signs of still being so . The unemployed making ‘lifestyle choices’ etc. A bit of robust rhetoric at the right time does no harm at all . It is a working partnership not a sharing of ideals. I assume you dont share their ideals Andrew ??? (please say you dont)
I’m a Liberal John; I’ll listen to arguments rationally and try and understand the points being made without prejudice because of who is making them. In a professional context, and I think government should be conducted professionally, I expect individuals to treat their colleagues with respect and consideration, not vitriol. Vince is really quite masterful at this, you know when he disagrees and why, but he attacks the idea, not the people; that’s what I expect of anyone who seeks senior office within our party.
Tim is an excellent MP (he’s my parents MP!) and his results in Westmorland against the trend speak for themselves. He is also an instinctive Liberal and a hard worker for the party. I hope he will get the chance to be president.
I’ve known Tim for almost as long as he has been active in the party and he is a very strong candidate for President.
For me the phrase ‘critical friend of the coalition’, along with personal support for Nick and his role, is the right one for the President and a role I think Tim would fulfil well.
Calling the Conservative Party “toxic” and “ugly” isn’t half rude enough, in my estimation. Paddy Ashdown once dubbed them “this sleazy gang”, and I think that’s pretty close to the mark. How about: “this tawrdy collection of self-satisfied, public school educated, rich-worshipping, neocon chancers”?
Tim Farron sounds and looks good. In thinly coded language he is telling us that he regards propping up Cameron’s right-wing Tory government (sorry, the coalition) as a short-term necessary evil, that the party must not remain silent while the propping up goes on, and that we have to be ready for the moment (hopefully soon) when we throw off Cameron’s unnatural embrace.
I don’t, however, think we can take any pride in Cameron’s proposed constitutional changes. Reducing the number of MPs, and thereby weakening Parliament? Redistricting, without the right of appeal, so as to marginalise the Liberal Democrats and advantage the Conservatives? And a voting system designed to fragemnt the opposition and keep the Tories in power forever? A pretty rotten package, all in all.
I don’t regard Clegg as the villain of the piece. He was ill-prepared to deal with Machiavellian operators like Cameron, Hague and Osborne, and has been stung damned hard. Whether or not his reputation will ever recover, history will tell.
Credit you deserve?
For gearing up for the biggest and most unecessary mass sacking of public sector workers in modern times? For hammering vital services in the name of ‘freedom and choice’, whilst at the same time letting banks off with the little more than a slap on the wrist?
Or for this: http://etonmess.blogspot.com/2010/09/britains-berlusconi-moment.html
… letting Murdoch continue his ceasless power grab, despite all his vast media empire threw your way during the general election campaign.
Mike Hartley,
(1) What did Murdoch throw our way during the General Election campaign other than a torrent of lies and misinformation?
(2) What did Tony Blair do to curb Murdoch during the period when Murdoch was supporting the Labour Party?
The Honourable Lady Mark (in his post on t’subject) reckoned you need about 30 hours a week minimum to do the job properly. Is this really compatible with being an MP? Isn’t there a potential danger that taxpayer-funded staff from the MP’s office will end up with some of the workload? Also, someone on the other thread made the point about whipping – doesn’t this somewhat limit an MP’s ability to speak out against things if they then have to vote for them? I suggest there’s a danger all the press focus will be on that tension rather than anywhere we’d like it to be.
I still think Tim was robbed for Deputy Leader, but that doesn’t mean we should all vote him into something less suitable as compensation.
“My job as President will be to be an unwavering supporter of Nick…”
With that, Tim, you just lost my vote. We need a president who is an unwavering supporter of the whole party from bottom to top, not of one particular individual. Unwavering loyalty to a leader is a trait of fascists not of liberals or social democrats.
@Al
My vote was lost with the second word – ‘will’. There is an election, others may stand, he is not certain of election (I hope) – ‘would’ please.
And of course there is more to the party than Nick. The grassroots need a listening ear and the coalition needs a critical rather than an unswervingly supportive friend.
“the state should not ‘compensate the poor for their predicament’ “. This is not an accurate description of what NIck said. He said a “fair society” is not one in which this “simply” happens. I think it was not too judicious a way of putting it but the Times has distorted and over-hyped it.
As for the Presidency I think that as a rule the President should not be an MP. But we live in unusual times and I will back and campaign for Tim Farron (who a long time ago I used to sit next to on Lancashire County Council!)
Tony Greaves
@Christine – in the context of this piece I think we can take the ‘if elected’ bit as read!
And Tim very clearly says that he would be a ‘critical friend’ of the coalition.
An excellent choice, just what we need.
Christine Headley,
“My vote was lost with the second word – ‘will’. There is an election, others may stand, he is not certain of election”
Oh please. Do we have to couch things in endless caveats to appease the pedantic? “Will”, at hustings and in manefestos is taken to mean “Will, if elected”. Whilst style and accuracy are important, the roll of president is important if we are to get the message across that we are different to the Tories. Please try to choose on more substantial matters than this.
Christine – Pledging what you plan on doing if elected doesn’t mean you are ignoring the fact that there is an election first
Christine, fair point – ‘would’, not ‘will’! That was poor grammar – not arrogance – I promise!
I must confess that I’m strongly influenced in these contests by “the company they keep”. So, yes, it is worth producing those endless lists of Candidate xx is supported by :
427. Cllr Bill Brown, deputy leader, Muddsley on Sea Town Council.
(Though two members of the Lords are probably the strongest influence on my vote ….)
Since Tim obviously scans this site, can he clarify the issue of fitting the President’s workload into an MPs hectic schedule?
I guess this contest will be exciting and the result close. Four or more good candidates of which two are prominent ! Roll on the hustings – Kramer or Farron OR another ? They are all good Liberals – not like the last London Mayoral Selection – whatever happened to one of the defeated candidates who defected to the Tories ?
Always been impressed with Tim Farron – hope he wins – but who else is standing? Couldnt Paddy be brought back into the limelight?
@Roger R: whatever happened to one of the defeated candidates who defected to the Tories?
She (Chamali Fernando) stood for selection to be Conservative candidate for Cambridge in the 2010 election but was beaten by Nick Hillman. Since then she’s dropped off my radar.
@david: who else is standing?
Jennie Rigg is standing, and running a pledge drive so that she can afford to take up the job if she wins (few Lib Dem members can afford to do the 30 hours a week of unpaid work required so this should not be surprising). She outlines her priorities and promises on the linked blog post.
Susan Kramer is also apparently standing, but there is no further info as her website is down. (And we should all hope that she doesn’t adopt “Krazy4Kramer” as her slogan!)
Jason Zadrozny (the Lib Dem candidate in Ashfield who nearly took the seat from Labour in a very strong performance) is standing although short on specifics.
Well I’m glad to hear it won’t be a coronation. With all due respect to Tim, I have grave concerns about a President of the party being able to perform that task effectively whilst also acting as a constituency MP and keeping a beady eye not only on our coalition partners, but also on our own Ministers.
Right now, albeit with a paucity of data, I’d be inclined to vote for Susan Kramer.
In answer to Keith and Crewegwyn… I am now a humble backbencher, in the last Parliament I was in the Shadow Cabinet, covering Defra and attempting to track, respond to and provide a critique on every utterance of Hilary Benn, his junior ministers and the whole Defra administration (not to mention the various quangos e.g. natural england, environment agency etc. and the various EU directives on Defra issues). Thats a massive chunk of time that I now want to devote to preventing the Party getting the pasting that the media predict, and instead emerging inspired, and energised to win the AV referendum, the elections in Scotland and Wales and English councils next year.
Just as the Leader did before he began running the country, I would often be away from Westminster fighting campaigns, standing alongside candidates and councillors, attempting to inspire voters and give renewed confidence and energy to our campaigns.
I don’t want to give away careless words on a public website, but we all know what a huge risk (as well as an opportunity) it is for us to be in the coalition. I’ve been a Liberal since I was 16, I’m not prepared to let it get dashed to pieces now… I have the time and more important I’ve got the energy and the passion to be a different kind of President for markedly different times.
Cheers
Tim