Mary Reid is a Liberal Democrat councillor and blogs at Mary Reid's blog.

Why did you get involved in the political world?

I have always been a liberal – politically, ethically and theologically – but it was only after I’d had my first child that I realised that you have to be pragmatic if you want to bring about change. So I joined up.


When did you join your political party?

I joined the Liberals around 1975, then became a founder member of the Liberal Democrats.


What is your earliest political memory?

In the campaign team for the Liberal candidate in a school election when I was about 14. The Communist won.


Which one law would you repeal?

42 days, of course. The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 is also an attack on civil liberties.


Which one law would you introduce?

To force manufacturers and retailers to a) reduce the overall amount of packaging; b) use only compostable materials for any necessary packaging


What’s your favourite view in the world?

Half way up Glen Coe.


What’s your favourite political quotation?

“Power is the greatest aphrodisiac” Henry Kissinger (and he should know since he didn’t have much else going for him).


What music gets you up to dance?

60s stuff, especially Beatles.


Imagine you are planning a dinner party, pick six people (living or dead) to invite

Jo Brand, Alan Turing, Helen Mirren, Benjamin Britten, Heather Couper and Tim Berners-Lee.


Who is your best friend in politics?

Ian, my fellow ward councillor, who I’m also married to.


What’s your favourite form of transport?

Eurostar.


What’s your favourite dish?

Paella.


Do you have any phobias?

Yes, but I’m too scared to mention them.


What do you dream about?

Forgetting very important appointments – I wake up in a sweat.


When did you last cry, and why?

Family upsets – the usual things.


What’s the last thing you bought in a shop?

Six toy cars for my grandson.


What is the best speech you have ever heard (and been present at)?

Nelson Mandela accepting the Freedom of the City of London in 1996. It wasn’t one of the great political speeches– it was just wonderful to be there and hear him talking about his days in London as a young man. The speech is here.


Who’s your favourite comedian?

Paul Merton.


Have you ever cried at a film? Which one(s)?

Yes – too many to list.


What is your favourite novel?

I can’t pick just one, but my favourite novels play in my head for months after reading them. A recent example was The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger.


What job would you be doing if you weren’t involved in the political world?

Teaching – I did it for 30 years.


Do you have a party trick, or hidden talent?

I make great ice-cream.


What’s the best holiday you have been on?

Fall in New Hampshire.


Where in the world would you most like to go on holiday?

Back to Finland to explore the lakes.


When was the last time you used public transport?

The last time I travelled up to London, which was last month.


What do you collect?

Books, clothes, paperclips, loose coins, empty CD cases.


What is your most unusual hobby?

I only have one hobby – singing. Is that unusual enough?


When was the last time you went to the theatre and what did you see?

This gives me a chance to blag about the greatest new theatre in the country, The Rose Theatre Kingston. I saw a version of Sophocles’ Antigone there a couple of weeks ago.


Which newspapers do you read regularly?

The Guardian, plus all the local papers.


Which websites do you visit regularly?

BBC, Lib Dem Voice, Facebook.


Which blogs do you love or hate?

I love Millennium Elephant.


Which magazines do you subscribe to?

Private Eye.


Which five words would your enemies use about you?

Liberal Democrat, er…..that’s only 2.


Are you into sport? If so, which ones?

Heaven forbid!


Who is your favourite football team and player?

Pass – Does Beckham still play for England?


Who is your political hero?

Shirley Williams – she once gave me the best advice ever, and the next day I applied to be a candidate.


Who is your political hate figure?

Margaret Thatcher – she dismantled the caring society and made greed a virtue.


What’s your most memorable time in politics?

My year as Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.


What’s your most embarrassing moment in politics?

Being told by one of my electors that my skirt was caught in my knickers.


What’s your prediction for the next general election?

Conservative win.


Who is your favourite and least favourite political interviewer?

Andrew Neil is appallingly rude, so is Paxo, but at least he asks decent questions.


What do you never miss on TV?

Have I Got News For You.


Which current foreign politician do you most admire?

Barack Obama.


What do you listen to / watch when you get up in the morning?

I’m woken every day by Radio 4's Today programme.


Complete this sentence: The thing I hate about politics is...

... being wrongly maligned.


Complete this sentence: The thing I love about politics is...

... making things happen.


What would you like your political epitaph to be?

At least she tried.