Author Archives: Roger Crouch

Opinion: Rights for cohabiting couples

By Roger Crouch | Wed 6th February 2013 - 11:41 am

The progress of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill through Parliament, with its Second Reading in the House of Commons, should be a cause of celebration amongst Liberal Democrats. As a party we have been, on the whole, united behind these proposals and we should applaud the leadership that Nick Clegg, Lynne Featherstone and, let’s give credit where it is due, David Cameron have demonstrated on this particular issue.

Working in Coalition, Liberal Democrats have introduced legislation which will secure equal marriage in law. I doubt very much whether a single party government, whether Conservative or Labour led, would have dared …

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged cohabiting couples, inheritance law and law | 44 Comments

Opinion: Vote for Fairer Votes to End Safe Seats

By Roger Crouch | Fri 15th April 2011 - 2:14 pm

I grew up in Bournemouth, a bucolic place beside the sea where very little disturbs the peace. For over a century, Bournemouth’s politics at parliamentary level have been as sedate. In every election since Queen Victoria was on the throne, the same party has won. A candidate dons a blue rosette, shows up and becomes the MP. Whilst the Liberal Democrats have valiantly tried their best in recent elections, the two Bournemouth constituencies are like many places across the country where General elections do not really matter, where elections are a foregone conclusion, places where real power lies in the …

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged bournemouth, john butterfill and yes2av | 21 Comments