Jo Swinson
"This was careless use of language, meant in electoral sense and in no way literally."
MP for East Dunbartonshire and deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats Jo Swinson has announced she’s running for the party leadership position. Current leader Vince Cable is stepping down on 23 June, as the party enjoys a surge in popularity after taking the second most seats in the European Elections. A recent YouGov poll had them as the most popular party in the country, as the Conservative and Labour parties find themselves bogged down in Brexit, anti-Semitism investigations and an upcoming Tory leadership race.
She made headlines as the first MP to bring her baby to a House of Commons debate.
"We are in politics to make a difference, and being in government is part of that."
Brandon Lewis, Helen Whately, Barry Gardiner, Andrew Gwynne, Rebecca Long-Bailey and Jo Swinson on the pre-election TV tour.
Lib Dem MP Jo Swinson was at home with her 10-week-old son when she realised a fellow MP that she was paired with had voted in her absence. While she had already been working to get proxy-voting implemented in the House of Commons, outrage over the incident helped move the stalled changes into reality. Swinson worked with Leader of the House, Conservative MP Andrea Leadsom, to bring the pilot programme into effect. Both politicians want to make parliament a more welcoming place, and believe that fostering respect during divisive times is key to getting more women into public positions.
Sir Vince Cable will stand down in May.
Here's what you need to know.
She said she couldn't trust parliament's flawed 'pairing' system.