We have a new leader...
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| New leader of the Liberal Democrats, Jo Swinson |
Our party's leadership election has been overshadowed by the farce that is the Conservative Party's leadership race, which is regrettable as Ed and Jo are more interesting, more personable, more intelligent and more politically astute than anything the Tories are currently able to offer.
Many have already stated the obvious - that the Liberal Democrats have now elected their first female leader, who also happens to be the first leader of a major UK political party to be born in the 1980s. Some have looked at the leadership campaign itself and analysed why Jo had advantages over her opponent - the prevailing view is that she was seen as more engaging, more likely to ensure media visibility and popular with grassroots campaigners. That might be true, but I have little interest in exploring the result in detail. What matters more is what the result now means - for both the party and, potentially, the country.
I think the first thing to say is that Jo is the first leader since Nick Clegg to inherit the party when there is reason for optimism. Tim Farron had a near-impossible task when he took over in the aftermath of the disastrous 2015 General Election; the party wasn't a great deal healthier when Vince Cable succeeded Tim two years later. But if a week in politics is a long time, two years is an eternity and Jo has the advantage of starting out not after a disappointing election but when the party is days away from an expected by-election victory in Brecon and Radnorshire. What a start to her leadership that would be.
The second thing to say is that Jo is relatively young. I say relatively, because such things are always relative. Someone who recently dismissed me as "a middle-aged white man" simultaneously praised Jo's "youthfulness" - there are only three years between us. But take out the prejudice and this person's comment points to an undeniable reality - Jo is perceived to be young, refreshing, new (even though she's been an MP for 12 of the last 14 years) and, dare I say it, more relevant. Essentially, she is viewed as tomorrow's person with the vision and the appeal to put the Liberal Democrats back on track. This is in marked contrast to Vince Cable, always seen as yesterday's man and hamstrung by the fact that his leadership was never going to be anything other than short-term. He did well in the circumstances, but Jo has the advantage of (hopefully) being around for some time to come.
Jo is generally good with the media and while she is not Charles Kennedy (who is?) it will now become increasingly difficult for the media to ignore our party and our leader. Jo is a good and positive communicator, being much more comfortable on this front that her immediate predecessors. It will help that her approach, personality, rationality and grasp of reality sets her apart from Labour's Jeremy Corbyn and whichever one of the unelectable stooges is returned as Conservative leader later today.
But positivity and personality are no guarantee of successful leadership, as Boris Johnson may soon discover. No amount of optimism will, in and of itself, alter difficult realities. How then can Jo Swinson - the fourth leader the party has had since I became a member in 2009 - succeed where previous leaders have failed? How can she ensure the advantages she now has are used to effect?
The key, I feel, is imagination. That Jo has energy, belief, personality and appeal is not in question. But what the party needs if it is once again to become relevant is an ambitious and imaginative policy platform. With Corbyn's policy stances rather predictable and lacking in ambition, and the Tories lurching ever-rightwards, there is a real opportunity to demonstrate that a different politics is possible - indeed, that a different society is possible. Important as the Brexit issue is, it cannot be allowed to define our identity. Instead, we must once again dare to be radical and become primarily driven by our liberal values rather than resistance to economic suicide.
There are those who point to Jo's voting record while in coalition and, with some justification, make criticisms. That much is inevitable. However, rather than argue with such objections the best course of action is to answer critics with a fresh, progressive policy programme that is distinctively liberal in its nature and outlook. This will help detoxify the party further. It's also the case that the majority of the public do not yet know Jo well and are more likely to warm to her if the party can champion value-driven policy to complement the leader's openness and image as the most human of the three main UK party leaders.
If our new leader can successfully present herself as the voice of reason among political tribalists - something that becomes easier if, as expected, Boris Johnson becomes Prime Minister - then the party could well reap the rewards. As The Independent observed, Jo can become “the antidote to Johnson, Corbyn and Farage. The public needs to get to know her, and they can do that just as well with Lorraine Kelly as with Emily Maitlis.” Charles Kennedy knew well that it’s impossible to dismiss someone as irrelevant when the public feel they have a relationship or understanding with them.
There will be
struggles ahead – no Lib Dem leader has been exempted from battles with the party
membership at conference or the hostility of sections of the press. But Jo
inherits an almost unique situation in which the political momentum is with the
party, a potentially stunning by-election victory is imminent, party membership
is increasing and all the signs point to the Liberal Democrats once again being
perceived as politically relevant. There is a real opportunity there if the
party – and its leader – can seize it.
I believe we can.
I believe we can.
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