Happy Birthday, Jo Swinson

Five years ago today, I remember exactly what I was doing - it was the first day of the Scottish Liberal Democrats' 2 day training for activists and candidates in the run up to the 2005 election. It was held in Dunfermline and a huge amount of fun was had by all, as well as serious hard work, of course.

My day started at around 7am and ended at 4.45 the following morning after we had managed to drink the bar out of all of the red wine that we liked. As someone pointed out, we seemed to be having a lot more fun than the wedding in the next door room.

There was a dinner followed by a highly entertaining team organised by Alex Cole Hamilton and Fraser Grieve. I was in a team called Eastern Promise with Malcolm Bruce MP, then Chief of Staff Derek Barrie and John Barnett, a friend from St Andrews.

Part of the revelry was a celebration of then East Dunbartonshire PPC Jo Swinson's silver jubilee. A lot has happened for her in a highly successful five years - in the last few months her Real Women campaign has enjoyed spectacular success and could end up changing the lives of women for the better. She's tackled excess packaging and been acclaimed for her innovative and genuine approach to keeping in touch with her constituents and being a hard working constituency MP.

So, Happy Birthday, Jo, and hope that the next decade is as successful for you as the last one has been.