It has been a pretty stressful few weeks to be a Lib Dem, let’s be honest. It’s good, then, that there is something to cheer us up. Tim Farron went on Russell Howard’s Good News last night and came over really well – funny, decent and showing all signs of getting what actually matters to people.
I’m not going to spoil it for you, because you need to watch it yourself. I will just make an observation that he probably never expected to be asked, way back in the 90s when he was speaking at Conference (clip shown) to be on national television being asked if he’d ever had a sexual encounter with a pig. He repeated his answer made when that story came out – that he had never been so glad to be a vegetarian.
“The wonderful Tim Farron” were Russell Howard’s parting words. This was the first many people will have seen of Tim, his first proper tv interview. It’s a very, very good start. Watch it here. He recorded that just after the parliamentary party meeting that made the decision about Syria and he does talk about that. His response was very well received by the audience.
* 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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9 Comments
Much better than Tim’s appearance of HIGNFY, I thought. He came across as really genuine and likeable.
I think he did really well. Came across as decent, personable and he seemed at ease. Probably the best TV coverage I’ve seen of him. Well done Tim!
I liked the studio chairs made from bales of newspapers. If memory serves me rightly many a student Lib Dem has had “furniture” like that!
He’s definitely getting more into the swing of these telly appearances.
Just watched it. Thought he was bang on in his Syria response and talked about it in a way that people would understand.
Russell Howard looks to me as trying to emulate Jon Stewart’s success in The US – roughly centre-left political comedy. It should be quite popular. He made me laugh at times and I wouldn’t have watched it unless someone like Tim was on.
Second Lib Dem leader in a row who is bad at making decisions compatible with his party’s views, but is good on comedy shows? Just what British politics needs.
Actually, I don’t even think he was “comedy material” or perhaps I’m experiencing a loss of sense of humour!
Great performance! Tim was good on HIGNFY but this was fantastic. He was funny and yet managed to explain what the Lib Dems stood for really well.
‘I liked the studio chairs made from bales of newspapers. If memory serves me rightly many a student Lib Dem has had “furniture” like that!’
When I was a student, and for some years afterwards, I couldn’t have afforded the newspapers (or a TV to watch the programme on.) (Though I did have limited TV access in relatives’ houses or clubs.)