"Another middle-aged man": Shelagh Fogarty questions Lib Dem MP on new leader Sir Ed Davey

27 August 2020, 17:35

Shelagh Fogarty challenges Lib Dem MP on Ed Davey's leadership win

By Fiona Jones

"Some say this is just another middle-aged white man": Shelagh Fogarty questions Lib Dem MP Daisy Cooper over the party's new leader Sir Ed Davey.

Sir Ed Davey has won the race to become the new leader of the Liberal Democrats; the acting leader will now take over on a permanent basis after beating his competitor fellow MP Layla Moran.

Lib Dem MP Daisy Cooper said Sir Ed Davey is the right man for the job as "we're about to go into the autumn and we're facing a triple threat: Covid, Brexit and the climate emergency."

Ms Cooper said Sir Ed is the man who has championed renewable energy before Parliament and has secured a promise from the Prime Minister to conduct a coronavirus inquiry.

These are examples of him holding the Government to account at an incredibly worrying time, she said.

Shelagh asked: "Some criticism I've seen is it's all white middle-aged men again leading the party, what do you say to that?"

"Another middle-aged man": Shelagh Fogarty questions Lib Dem MP on new leader Sir Ed Davey
"Another middle-aged man": Shelagh Fogarty questions Lib Dem MP on new leader Sir Ed Davey. Picture: PA/LBC

Ms Cooper responded, "We've got a very diverse team and, let's be honest, politics is a team sport. If you look at the group of eleven Liberal Democrat MPs we have more female than male MPs, we have to MPs from a black Asian or minority ethnic background.

"As a team we are quite diverse and I think we need to take every individual candidate on their merits."

Shelagh asked whether Ms Cooper is confident that the "whiff of coalition" has gone.

Ms Cooper confirmed the Lib Dems "are a long way from that now" as there has been "enormous levels of incompetence" from the Conservative Government "with U-turn after U-turn."

The MP told Shelagh she is optimistic for the future of the party as in last year's election they won a million more votes and came second place in around 90 different seats so "some of those building blocks are there already."

She concluded that Sir Ed is the right man to continue building the blocks of success and is pleased the other members agreed.

More Shelagh Fogarty News

See more More Shelagh Fogarty News

Caller Sharon

Caller Sharon weighs in on 16 year olds being able to vote

'People get what they vote for': Shelagh can’t help but agree with caller Colin

'People get what they vote for': Shelagh can’t help but agree with caller Colin

'We're blaming graduates for the migration crisis?'

Adam calls it 'absurd' to blame graduates for rising migration

Watch Again: Shelagh Fogarty is joined by Health Secretary Wes Streeting to take your calls

Call the Cabinet: Shelagh Fogarty is joined by Wes Streeting to take your calls

Caller Sue accuses Starmer of letting in illegal immigrants

Caller Sue accuses Starmer of rolling out the red carpet for 'illegal immigrants'

Caller Ayo's impassioned defence of trial by jury

Caller Ayo’s impassioned defence of trial by jury

LBC caller's blistering message to millionaires leaving the country to avoid tax

Caller Sabrina's blistering message to millionaires leaving the country to avoid tax

Kemi Badenoch owes Rachel Reeves a 'public apology', says LBC caller

Kemi Badenoch owes Rachel Reeves a 'public apology', says LBC caller

Caller Comp

LBC Callers react to Glastonbury IDF controversy

'Let us have a referendum on the death penalty,' demands LBC caller

'Let us have a referendum on the death penalty,' demands LBC caller

Natasha calls Shelagh Fogarty

Natasha ‘won’t vote Labour again’ over tax on private school fees

LBC callers react to Donald Trump’s sweary outburst

LBC callers react to Donald Trump’s sweary outburst

Caller Sarah says Trump’s F-word rant shows his ‘thuggish’ side

Caller Sarah says Trump’s F-word rant shows his ‘thuggish’ side

LBC caller accuses Shelagh Fogarty of 'whitewashing' grooming gang statistics

LBC caller accuses Shelagh Fogarty of 'whitewashing' grooming gang statistics

'It makes me angry, it's a bit rich from him'

Jay accuses Robert Jenrick of using youngsters' poverty to chase clicks from the far-right

'How do you get Hamas out? We didn't get the IRA out...'

LBC caller from Northern Ireland warns trauma will perpetuate conflict in Middle East