Political

Who should succeed Tim Farron as Liberal Democrat leader?

In the early stages of a leadership contest, there is often much media coverage about what ‘senior figures’ think and this can significantly influence how events play out. Yet the party’s leadership is about who will be leader for the whole party, not just the leader for senior figures.

Hence this survey I am running of party members, so that the views of all sorts of party members can influence how events play out, regardless of whether or not they have the mobile phone number of a journalist. If you are a member, please do take part.

Finally, here’s a reminder of one of the high points of Tim Farron’s time as leader, his passionate and moving 2015 autumn conference speech.

SURVEY CLOSES: Midnight, Saturday 17th June.

 

9 responses to “Who should succeed Tim Farron as Liberal Democrat leader?”

  1. I started on the survey but as soon as you get to ordering the who’s best list it’s impossible.

    I’ve not heard of half of them. You need to provide more background info.

    By default I’d go for Norman Lamb as top but…

  2. The problem is that most of these are unknowns to the most recent members, and you have forced all who complete the survey to rank all possible contenders. I know my ranking was pretty random, and I would have preferred to have been able to opt out of that task.

  3. I would have supported Jo Swinson for the leader, but am in doubt now. She seems too much of a preferred choice by the upper echelons of the party and I am not happy how Farron’s resignation has been managed.
    I am rather upset about the way in which Paddick, Laws et al. have turned Farron’s resignation into a purge. I also have a bigger problem with the views they espouse, not just on gay rights, which to me are human rights – basic and fundamental and as such no different from minority rights, gender rights, religious rights… (to a liberal there should be no hierarchy of rights or of entitlements to rights – as a secular Muslim I would never think to question a Christian politician on whether they felt Islam was a faith equal to Christianity or a Muslim believer on whether they thought me a proper Muslim).
    Liberals do not intrude upon other people’s private beliefs, personal conscience or any aspect of their intimate thoughts and feelings. I have no problem with people considering me a sinner in general or in particular for whatever reasons, but would have a problem with anyone who would seek to publicly examine my sins and pronounce judgement on them.
    Paddick and Laws have been just illiberal in their attitude to religious rights as they claim Farron has been to gay rights. Will every gay politician’s views on religion and the religious now be examined in public? The very essential freedom we each and every one should be allowed is private beliefs and personal conscience and all the confusion, compromise, anguish, doubt, guilt… that accompany them, without intrusion into the deepest aspects of ourselves by the uninvited.

    Rights and freedoms are never unconditional in practice but consensual and consensus is harder to maintain than to build. We must take care that as a party we do not become a political niche. And we must stay clear of identity politics. Which is why I may not cast a vote for Swinson, simply because I am rather upset by the illiberal streak at the top of the party and worry it may have the upper hand. Am I the only one? How do I resolve my private doubts? Can anyone reassure me?

    • I absolutely agree with the philosophy which you set out so clearly here.
      thank your for doing it.

  4. Your survey could do with a “don’t know” answer for the ranking of potential leaders, half of them I don’t know anything​ about

  5. Having looked at the survey, I need more information on the candidates. I am interested in where they stand on questions of principle rather than tactical election winning promises. Can brief statements be arranged?

  6. Tow routes.

    A man of substance , gravitas, quiet, warm, looks like a prime minister and seems like a real person.

    Norman Lamb has the Corbyn factor, dull to some, but imagine him as your father, husband , friend. He speaks well on tv and is very popular in the party. Ido not think because he is a good man, some hangers on who are divisive should let him be seen as this, he is not at all !

    Young, attractive , a woman, different, no baggage , articulate , telegenic , an audacious choice as she is the first Palesinian origin mp, as well as all that !

    Layla Moran!

    Who can not like Jo Swinson, of course she is terrific.

    On the whole she has less of the two factors than either of these two.

    She has too much emphasis on gender issues, seems younger than she is , and is Scottish, which wastes a leader for Scotland if Willie goes !

    I like her very much and would support her if she were elected, but do not like being bounced !

  7. I’ve only just seen this so can’t comment on the process but would accept any experienced leader as long as they agreed to have a special conference or part of the Autumn conference to sort out which way the party is heading. are we going to follow the Coalition policies,economic liberals or social justice, social liberals. I hope we could put the Coalition behind us in this way but if the majority of members want to carry on with austerity I’d have to accept it.
    I’d like to see all members consulted not just those who can attend conference, with papers putting out the case for the options.

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