UK Liberal Democrat leadership election, 2015

[Phony Moderate]

For whatever it is worth, the result of this is announced tomorrow. Or maybe Friday. Either way the deadline is tomorrow. Farron seems to have it in the bag with a poll the other day showing him 58-42 ahead.

[Phony Moderate]

Yeah, it is being announced later today. Online apparently. I'm sure you are all on the edge of your seats.

[Phony Moderate]

Farron wins 56.5%-43.5%.

[Silent Hunter]

On a 56% turnout. Interesting. If Labour elect Corbyn as leader, I can see myself voting for Farron.

That's still a big if of course.

[ChrisDR68]

Norman Lamb 43.5% (14,760 votes)
Tim Farron 56.5% (19,137 votes)

I wonder why 44% of Lib Dem members didn't bother to vote?

Anyway despite his religious views I think he's a good choice for the party. A genuine left leaning protest politician is just what they need right now (one who comes across as a normal bloke too) 

[YL]

Norman Lamb 43.5% (14,760 votes)
Tim Farron 56.5% (19,137 votes)

I wonder why 44% of Lib Dem members didn't bother to vote?

Anyway despite his religious views I think he's a good choice for the party. A genuine left leaning protest politician is just what they need right now (one who comes across as a normal bloke too) 

I don't think his religious views have influenced his votes enough for them to be a problem.

Politically he's probably not a bad match for me, but unfortunately the behaviour of my local party in recent election campaigns rules out me voting Lib Dem in the near future, even before I think of their record in government.

[Phony Moderate]

Hard to see him gaining places like Cambridge next time. Also hard to see him gaining places like St Ives and Eastleigh.

[Grand Wizard Lizard of the Klan]

Anyway despite his religious views I think he's a good choice for the party.

Okay, I have question to the British posters:

Today, one Polish conservative website posted article about British media approach towards fact that Farron is practicing Chrisitan (heretic, but still). John Humphreys almost molested him with questions about religion, some bullsh**t articles on Guardian and strange interviews in other media. Why the hell British media have so big problem with that he is Christian? He is not even putting his faith into political activity and still journalists reacts like something awful happened. Moreover he is Anglican so he is from one of the most liberal religious near-Christian sects.

United Kingdom really have such problem even with its state religion? I really don't understand what is going on.

[Cassius]

Anyway despite his religious views I think he's a good choice for the party.

Okay, I have question to the British posters:

Today, one Polish conservative website posted article about British media approach towards fact that Farron is practicing Chrisitan (heretic, but still). John Humphreys almost molested him with questions about religion, some bullsh**t articles on Guardian and strange interviews in other media. Why the hell British media have so big problem with that he is Christian? He is not even putting his faith into political activity and still journalists reacts like something awful happened. Moreover he is Anglican so he is from one of the most liberal religious near-Christian sects.

United Kingdom really have such problem even with its state religion? I really don't understand what is going on.

The UK has a particularly peculiar relationship with religion, which is partly a result of the way in which the Church of England has developed. It also might be a result of our general distrust of people who deeply believe in anything, which of course extends to religion. We're a strange bunch.

[YL]

Anyway despite his religious views I think he's a good choice for the party.

Okay, I have question to the British posters:

Today, one Polish conservative website posted article about British media approach towards fact that Farron is practicing Chrisitan (heretic, but still). John Humphreys almost molested him with questions about religion, some bullsh**t articles on Guardian and strange interviews in other media. Why the hell British media have so big problem with that he is Christian? He is not even putting his faith into political activity and still journalists reacts like something awful happened. Moreover he is Anglican so he is from one of the most liberal religious near-Christian sects.

United Kingdom really have such problem even with its state religion? I really don't understand what is going on.

Because the nature of his Christianity (evangelical Anglicanism, so not that liberal) raises questions about his positions on issues like abortion and gay rights which are important to many liberals, and for some people his record on those issues doesn't satisfy them.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Farron is not exactly a common or garden Christian, practicing or not: he's at the Evangelical end of the Evangelical wing of the CofE for want of a better way of putting it, a happy clappy even unto happy clappies. He's also said and supported some things that put him beyond what is entirely typical even of people in his part of the CofE. And he's just been elected leader of a liberal party. So, yeah, there will be media interest in this, inevitably. It doesn't help that he has a habit of giving weird equivocal answers to questions about certain issues.

[Simfan34]

Ugh.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

How not to handle this kind of situation:

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[Grand Wizard Lizard of the Klan]

He will have no easy life until next leader elections.

[minionofmidas]

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Oh wow, that's pretty cranky.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Yes. Crankery and a parliamentary party small enough to fit into a taxi; it's just like old times!

[Phony Moderate]

Tbh they probably should have gone for one of the four nonentities; the other four (Farron, Clegg, Lamb and Carmichael) are all at least vaguely known to the wider public and have been at or near the top of the party for a number of years.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

I'd say a faith healer, given the circumstances of the Lib Adams, is highly appropriate. Only God can help them now.

[ChrisDR68]

How not to handle this kind of situation:

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Out of interest what does the bible say about homosexuality?

[SNJ1985]

Out of interest what does the bible say about homosexuality?

It says that homosexuality is a sin.

http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Bible-Verses-About-Homosexuality/

[joevsimp]

tbf, his answer was that "we're all sinners" which is a perfectly reasonable answer, although not necessarily a popular one

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

Not sure if anyone cares, but the shadow shadow cabinet has been announced.

Baroness Kramer is Economics spokeswoman, Brake has Foreign affairs, Carmichael has Home, Lamb Health, Education Pugh, Mullholland "campaign chair". Defeated MP's Burt and Featherstone have Business and Energy respectively. The mayor of Watford speaks for Local Government and the leaders of the Scottish and Welsh Lib Dems are in charge of those portfolios. Every other portfolio is filled with peers (including a Bonham-Carter!)

Clegg declined a job, and for some reason Mark Williams MP wasn't allowed any portfolio at all, which is a bit of a burn considering the lack of competition.

[Phony Moderate]

Kind of a burn for Lamb too given that he came closer to winning than many had expected.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

Great spinning by Farron though, as he proudly proclaims the lack of non-Parliamentary politicians as a display of diversity rather than, err, lack of choice.