What Tim Farron hopes to achieve for women in 2016
In Liberal Democrat Voice
Originally published by South Lincolnshire Liberal Democrats
Tim Farron has been doing all he can to get into a variety of media, from Have I got news for you, to Wetherspoons' newsletter and, this week, to Stylist magazine. This issue is featuring many politicians as guest editors.
Tim was one of three politicians asked to write a letter to their idol and also to say what he wanted to achieve for women this year. This was his response to the latter:
And who was Tim's idol? He chose one of his political inspirations, a man elected president of the US in the year Tim was standing against Theresa May, Bill Clinton.
In his letter, Tim cited Clinton's "We - the American people - we are the solution" mantra from his inaugural speech and his willingness to intervene to stop the genocide in Kosovo as his reasons for choosing him:
You helped fire my passion, encouraged me to put myself forward for office and most importantly, to try my best to make a difference to the world.
He told how the compassion shown by Clinton to someone suffering from AIDS had stayed with him:
When you responded to AIDS activist Bob Rafsky, saying, "I feel your pain", you summed up for me what a politician at their best should be. Compassionate, empathetic and determined to deliver a country where the next generation can do better than the last. At my surgeries I meet constituents who talk to me about a variety of problems. Those that stick with me are young people with mental health issues who have no idea where to turn. There are then events that have a profound and lasting effect: the deaths of young people who have struggled with mental health conditions. These events have brought to light serious flaws in the way we support young people. Improvements have to be made.
Some of us might have liked to see him choose the other Clinton, the one we hope might be President next January, as an idol, especially after all the work she did to improve the life chances of women and girls as Secretary of State. Tim does give her a mention, though, saying he hoped she inspires the next generation like Bill inspired him.