Question Time and other stuff

Last night after exec watched Question Time whilst catching up on e.mail. Just thought how well Emma Nicholson performed, and how good it is to see her developing into an elder stateswoman figure for the party. With an interesting political background, having been an MP for the Tories and then crossed the floor, Emma experienced the inevitable sceptical glances and mutterings from all sides in the House of Commons. Her subsequent election to the European Parliament and work in the Lords has kept her very busy and I haven't seen her perform for a long time. I have to say that she was excellent, although the geography and news headlines this week didn't exactly make her the ideal choice from the Liberal Democrats. She certainly brought some gravitas and common sense to the panel.

On a Scottish note, I was sad to see Nicol Stephen standing down as Liberal Democrat leader in the Scottish Parliament. I haven't really followed his career closely although my husband was involved in the K&D by election that saw him elected to the Westminster Parliament years ago, but know that at various points his future has been considered to be bright. What saddened me most was the reasons he gave for standing down. The incompatability of working in politics with family life is depriving us of very able younger and less young people, with real life experience, who are in touch with real people in this country. It is a shame.