Today we talk to Catherine Bearder, who is MEP for the south east of England

 

WHAT I’M CALLED: Catherine Bearder. It depends on who is calling. Mum, wife, sister, boss or elected Lib Dem Member of the European Parliament.

MY AGE: Somehow older than I feel. It’s a constant source of surprise to me that I have got to this great age at all with still some energy and drive to do more. Suffice to say I qualify for a bus pass and winter fuel allowance (which goes to Crisis at Christmas) WHAT I DO: I amend legislation, campaign on the issues that I care about (environment, trafficking of people and spreading the truth about the EU in the South East) and help my constituents with issues that fall under the European influence. I sometimes even get to write the policy documents that inform those who write the legislation, that’s really worthwhile. I also spend a lot of time travelling, so thank heavens for my iPad.

WHERE I LIVE: Oxford city, and I feel really privileged to do so. I love the city and never fail to keep finding interesting bits of buildings or views each time I go into town.

WHOM I LOVE: My wonderful long-suffering husband, who I see too rarely since I was elected, and my sons, of course.

DARKEST MOMENT: I try not to dwell on these as I learned at an early age that the sooner you pick yourself up and get on with the next job the quicker you get over disappointments. But losing my dad was pretty tough, as it is for most people when they lose a parent.

PROUDEST BOAST: Getting elected to a chamber that represents half a billion people. Standing in the chamber for the first time as they played Beethoven’s 9th (Ode to Joy), which is used as an anthem for Europe, was very moving. I have to pinch myself often to think that I have been elected to office, which I always thought is the sort of thing other important people did.

BIGGEST REGRET: That I didn’t learn to sing at a young age. We had music lessons as children, but no one thought about singing lessons for me. It would have been lovely to be able to sing properly.

WORST WEAKNESS: Chocolate, which is not good given I am a diabetic.

LESSON LEARNT: That we are all capable of more than we think, if we are given the help, support and opportunities.

DULLEST JOB: Hoovering and changing the beds. I often joke that I went into politics in the first place as an excuse to get away from housework.

GREATEST SHAME: That I didn’t say or do anything when I saw an African man being kicked (literally) out of a shop in South Africa in the 1970s. I should have stood up for him and I have always felt ashamed I didn’t.

LIFE-LONG HERO: My dad, he faced enormous challenges. He was disabled from polio as a child but went on to farm and run various inventive industries at a time when disabled people were still very marginalised.

OLDEST FRIEND: My wonderful husband. We’ve been together now for a long time!

WIDEST SMILE: It’s the ridiculous that I laugh at the most, and watching Father Ted and Fawlty Towers are a sure way to get me laughing.

FAVOURITE DREAM: That we will all be living on the planet in a way that does not damage it, but I can’t see that happening very soon. I wouldn’t mind a grandchild or two either, but I’m a bit busy, so probably just as well they haven’t arrived yet.