Author Archives: Ed Fordham

Opinion: My marriage will be different, but equal, my Lords and Ladies…

By Ed Fordham | Tue 4th June 2013 - 2:26 pm

It has been said that people who vote against the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill will be ‘standing on the wrong side of history’ – as those of us who know and study history accept, only time will tell. But yesterday, as we led the Equal Marriage Vigil outside the House of Lords I was struck that we were witnessing and perhaps even making history.

What occurred at our Vigil can be variously described as glorious, fashionable, tuneful and positive. In short we gathered together the LGBT+ communities and their families …

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged equal marriage and same sex marriage bill | Leave a comment

Opinion: The same sex marriage bill is not perfect, but Lib Dem MPs should get behind it

By Ed Fordham | Thu 16th May 2013 - 11:22 am

In the next week it is likely that The Marriage (Same Sex) Bill will pass it’s third reading in the House of Commons and then will go up to the House of Lords. This is without hesitation good news for Liberal Democrats – a key part of the fight for equality will move forwards, it’s party policy and something that many members, individuals, charities and support groups have been pushing for.

The debate has been loud, full and genuine and sincere – the first debate in the House of Commons was emotional, real and heartfelt as members on all sides of …

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged equal marriage | 26 Comments

Marriage for same sex couples, but not yet equal for all…

By Ed Fordham | Fri 1st February 2013 - 3:21 pm

In 2013 we celebrate 15 years of having been ‘going out’ together. That’s a long time to be ‘going out’ – even for the decidedly commitment-phobic.

Over the last fifteen years we have attended many weddings, christenings, funerals of friends and family that mark out the great stations of life.

Apart from the occasional birthday bash and Eurovision party- we haven’t provided a similar opportunity for our friends and family to celebrate our life together.

On Tuesday the House of Commons will have a free vote on the Marriage (same sex couples) Bill – it’s not a perfect bill and in committee and …

Posted in News | Tagged equality and Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill 2012-13 | 86 Comments

New Liberal Democrat Forum for Africa

By Ed Fordham | Wed 13th June 2012 - 11:56 am

The adage goes that all politics is local. And I believe it to be true – certainly local to the individual for whom specific issues are a concern. Living and working in London you can enjoy one of the most diverse and multicultural cities in the world. I can eat on any continent of the world every day of the week, you can pick virtually any country of the world and we have at least 250 from that country living near me in Kilburn, NW6. It’s just great!

Campaigning here is an education and a lesson in the rich tapestry of …

Posted in Europe / International and News | Tagged catherine bearder mep, david chidgey, forum for africa and michael bukola | 1 Comment

Opinion: Three steps to better campaigning in London

By Ed Fordham | Wed 30th May 2012 - 3:24 pm

Immediately after the London Mayoral and GLA election Mike Tuffrey wrote some very shrewd observations on Lib Dem Voice. Now the dust has settled and the election results are known by ward perhaps it is time to think through the next stage of learning.

For me getting Caroline Pidgeon re-elected was always a top priority. I’m delighted that she has been joined by my long-standing friend Stephen Knight – the shame being that they are not joined by Bridget Fox and Shas Sheehan. But Stephen and Caroline will punch above their weight and the work they have already started …

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged Caroline Pidgeon, london and mike tuffrey | 3 Comments

Opinion: Handling Israel/Palestine issues can be difficult, but…

By Ed Fordham | Tue 6th March 2012 - 1:35 pm

I can still remember a night in 2009 when our canvass team came back from a night out on the doorsteps asking “Who is Jenny Tonge? We have just been canvassing and had the most awful time over this person who apparently is a Liberal Democrat…” I explained calmly and with a wry smile that Jenny was a former MP, now member of the House of Lords, that she held strong views and was not afraid to voice them. “But these residents are not going to vote Liberal Democrat because of the views she articulates,” said one of the canvassers. It was not a one-off incident.

Posted in Europe / International and Op-eds | Tagged israel, jenny tonge and palestine | 32 Comments

Ed Fordham writes: Oooh… equal everyone – surely not?

By Ed Fordham | Thu 17th February 2011 - 11:08 am

Filling out a form the other day the options were single, married, divorced, civil partnerships – so I didn’t complete that question.

No other, no long-term relationship – so it clearly didn’t apply to me… I tried explaining this to the person at the desk and they were positively un-interested. But yet again it irritated me.

Surely I’m not the only person who because I can’t marry (and therefore can’t divorce!), who hasn’t had a civil partnership, but considers themselves to be in a long term relationship?

Cue Equality Minister, Lynne Featherstone and the influence of the Liberal Democrats in the Government.

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged ed fordham, gay equality, gay marriage and lynne featherstone | 16 Comments

Opinion: BSF is dead – thank goodness‏

By Ed Fordham | Thu 16th September 2010 - 10:30 am

With the Conference season now upon us and with Labour preparing to crown their new Leader it seems appropriate that we lay to rest the myth that BSF (Building Schools for the Future) was some great effective scheme. In fact it was a bureaucratic joke with too few beneficiaries and huge expensive processes. The Liberal Democrat Conference is a good chance to cheer and toast the end of BSF and focus on education and pupils and real improvements.

It was 2005 and the local elections in London were scheduled for 2006. It was clear, we were clear, parents were clear, that there was a need for additional secondary school places in north west London in the Borough of Camden. The case for more places in the south of the Borough was also compelling – the campaign for a school ‘south of the Euston Road’ was pretty noisy and indeed compelling. And yet Camden Council had got itself to a place whereby it looked inactive, unable to articulate a more pro-active vision and lacking the political leadership to secure a new school.

I remember very clearly the conversation in Cllr Keith Moffitt’s front room in West Hampstead about the need for a new school.

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged building schools for the future, camden and education | 6 Comments

Opinion: I’m no longer prepared to support Stonewall under the leadership of Mr Summerskill

By Ed Fordham | Mon 7th June 2010 - 11:20 am

David Laws has resigned and the story has more or less moved along. For my part I know and like David a lot and his loss is a real blow to the Liberal Democrats, the Government and the country. But most of all this was a personal story.

So I was appalled by the decision of Stonewall’s Chief Executive Ben Summerskill to take the airwaves and print media to launch his own mini-campaign against David.

The very organisation that you would expect to have the courage to stand up and explain the moral realities of being gay and struggling with a public …

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged ben summerskill, david laws and stonewall | 37 Comments

Outstanding Liberal Democrat Campaigner of the Year

By Ed Fordham | Fri 11th September 2009 - 12:30 pm

Campaigning is an all year round slog and most intensive for the staff and full-time campaigners who do this every day, every week. In that context many of you will have fond memories of Cllr Neil Trafford, Federal Campaigns Officer for the north west of England. Neil tragically died in an accident last year, but a group of us have used that sad occasion to institute a new award within the party.

This award will be for the outstanding member of campaigns staff – be they employed by a Local Party, constituency, MP, MSP, AM, MEP or indeed the federal …

Posted in News | Tagged award, democrats, featured, internships and neil trafford | 7 Comments

Opinion: Ed Fordham’s Career Choice

By Ed Fordham | Wed 13th May 2009 - 4:15 pm

Last night my Dad rang me all concerned about my career choices. I stood in the general election of 2005 and am planning to be the Liberal Democrat candidate for Hampstead and Kilburn at the next election – whenever it comes.

My Dad’s concern was pretty simple: why would I want to join a club of such scoundrels, hasn’t the career of politician been devalued and he was concerned that people get caught up in the maelstrom of the noise and the club-atmosphere and accept as the norm what in fact is wrong.

I believe politics is a calling …

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged ed fordham, expenses, hampstead and kilburn, norman baker and sarah teather | 3 Comments

Neil Trafford’s memorial celebration

By Ed Fordham | Wed 10th December 2008 - 10:16 pm

Last Friday saw the memorial celebration of Councillor Neil Trafford in Manchester Town Hall.

The memorial celebration was recorded and is now available on YouTube at www.youtube.co.uk/russelleagling. Part I is below:

Posted in News | 5 Comments

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EU in/out referendum bill - will Lib Dem MPs abstain?

The Morrissey Report: "No excuses" says Caron Lindsay

Author Archives: Ed Fordham

Opinion: My marriage will be different, but equal, my Lords and Ladies…

Opinion: The same sex marriage bill is not perfect, but Lib Dem MPs should get behind it

Marriage for same sex couples, but not yet equal for all…

New Liberal Democrat Forum for Africa

Opinion: Three steps to better campaigning in London

Opinion: Handling Israel/Palestine issues can be difficult, but…

Ed Fordham writes: Oooh… equal everyone – surely not?

Opinion: BSF is dead – thank goodness‏

Opinion: I’m no longer prepared to support Stonewall under the leadership of Mr Summerskill

Outstanding Liberal Democrat Campaigner of the Year

Opinion: Ed Fordham’s Career Choice

Neil Trafford’s memorial celebration

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Nick: "Jobs are right at the heart of the Lib Dems’ agenda"

"Lib Dems set to name 7 new peers for House of Lords"

EU in/out referendum bill - will Lib Dem MPs abstain?

The Morrissey Report: "No excuses" says Caron Lindsay

Author Archives: Ed Fordham

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