SWI-MMING IN SUCCESS
Who is Jo Swinson and what was her constituency?
JO Swinson is the first female Liberal Democrats leader - and their youngest ever. But she spectacularly lost her seat in the 2019 general election.
Here's more about the Lib Dem leader - her incredible rise and devastating fall from grace.
4
Who is Jo Swinson and what's her constituency?
The 39-year-old is MP for East Dunbartonshire and a former equalities minister in the Coalition Government.
She was born in the west coast of Scotland and was educated at a comprehensive before studying at the London School of Economics.
After graduating with a first class degree in Management, she worked for a radio station in Hull.
A member of the Liberal Democrats since the age of 17, Swinson unsuccessfully stood for Parliament at the 2001 general election, but was elected in 2005.
At the time she was the youngest MP in the House of Commons and went on to become a junior employment minister in David Cameron’s Government.
She was one of 28 Lib Dem MPs who voted for tuition fees.
She lost her seat at the 2015 general election to the SNP but won it back in 2017.
Swinson was the Lib Dem's Spokesperson for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs until she became leader of the party.
Jo Swinson's husband is former MP, Duncan Hames.
The pair married in a humanist ceremony in 2011, and have two children together.
4
What is Jo Swinson's voting record?
Jo Swinson came under fire when it was revealed she had previously backed the Brexit referendum.
Footage was shared on social media of Jo Swinson saying: "The Liberal Democrats would like to have a referendum on the major issue of whether we are in or out of Europe."
Footage showed Jo Swinson in 2008 demanding an “in or out referendum” on Britain’s membership of the EU, eight years before the vote on the EU took place.
The video surfaced after Swinson claimed she didn't "forgive" David Cameron for calling the EU referendum at a recent Liberal Democrats party conference.
4
4
When did Jo Swinson become the leader of the Liberal Democrats?
The official results were announced on July 22, 2019, with Swinson receiving more than 50 per cent of the vote.
She said she was "over the moon" to have been elected and was "ready for the fight of our lives".
Swinson took over from former Lib Dem leader, Sir Vince Cable and saw off former Energy Secretary Sir Ed Davey, who had also put his name in the ring.
Lib Dem leadership candidates must be an MP supported by at least 200 members spread across at least 20 different local parties.
They must also have the backing of 10 per cent of the parliamentary party, which currently stands at 11 MPs.
In 2019 Jo Swinson lost her Dunbartonshire East seat by 19,523 votes to 19,672 after a disastrous below-par anti-Brexit campaign.
latest on lib dems
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.
Topics