Tag Archives: stephen gilbert

Should councils be able to cap the number of second and holiday homes in their area?

By Stephen Tall | Published 2nd November 2011 - 8:55 am

Earlier this week, the Lib Dems’ Communities and Local Government Minister Andrew Stunell wrote here on LibDemVoice about the Coalition’s measures to increase councils’ powers to cut tax relief to those with second homes:

… our plans [are] to allow local authorities to charge an Empty Homes Premium – up to an extra 50% of council tax – on any property that has been vacant for two years or more. Crucially, we are retaining the exemptions for properties empty as a result of the death of an owner, or if the owner has moved into hospital or to give or

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Posted in News | Also tagged andrew stunell, council tax, eric pickles, housing | 7 Comments

Housing: six things that could be done

By Mark Pack | Published 1st November 2011 - 8:46 am

As Tim Leunig pointed out last week, housing plays an important role in most people’s concept of social mobility, a point highlighted in Stephen Gilbert’s piece over the summer recounting his own personal circumstances:

Last year I was probably the only MP to be elected while still living with my parents. Of course, I’d moved out of home and, like many others, had to move back again. It’s a symptom of the fact that housing policy in the UK is in crisis. We have millions of people languishing on social housing waiting lists, first-time-buyers priced out of the market

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Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged council tax, david laws, featured, green investment bank, housing, ippr, social housing, social mobility, tim leunig | 14 Comments

Andrew Stunell MP writes: Lib Dems should welcome localist reforms of Council Tax

By Andrew Stunell MP | Published 31st October 2011 - 4:23 pm

Liberal Democrats have long called for reform to local government finance. No matter what alternative systems we’ve proposed, the key element has always been that the revenue was raised locally, and decisions about how to spend that money were taken locally. As you would expect of a Government with a Liberal Democrat influence, the Coalition is adopting that same approach. The consultation on the relocalisation of Business Rates has just ended, and today’s announcement by DCLG of the Technical Consultation on Council Tax contains a number of positive news stories for Liberal Democrats.

Take second homes for instance. You …

Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged council tax, empty homes, housing, tim farron | 17 Comments

End of term report for Lib Dem MPs’ Class of 2010

By Helen Duffett | Published 16th July 2011 - 10:51 am

As the House of Commons rises this Tuesday, the BBC’s Gavin Stamp gives new MPs of all parties his end-of-term report.

Here’s what he has to say about the new Lib Dem intake:

New entrants were small in number but still accounted for almost one in six of the Parliamentary party.

No new MPs made it into the ranks of ministers or were asked to head up a series of backbench committees designed to help the party retain an independent voice on issues outside the coalition.

However, Gordon Birtwhistle and Duncan Hames became parliamentary private secretaries, the latter also finding time to

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Posted in Parliament | Also tagged duncan hames, gordon birtwistle, higher education, ian swales, julian huppert, simon wright, stephen lloyd, tessa munt, tuition fees, universities | 2 Comments

Opinion: Private sector tenants are disenfranchised

By Duncan Stott | Published 10th July 2011 - 2:15 pm

There has been a lively debate on Lib Dem Voice this week on housing policy. Well-argued articles from Alex Marsh, Mike Tuffrey and Stephen Gilbert have ignited equally interesting debates in the comments. All sorts of intriguing policy ideas have been proposed to address the growing crisis in housing supply.

However, a great idea is just the starting point on the long journey to create a successful policy. For a mainstream party with ambitions to form the next government, it is crucial that ideas enjoy popular support with voters. Housing development invokes strong feelings amongst the electorate, both …

Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged alex marsh, electoral reform, housing, mike tuffrey | 13 Comments

Lib Dem MP Stephen Gilbert sticks up for first-time buyers

By The Voice | Published 15th April 2011 - 7:45 am

Stephen Gilbert, Lib Dem MP for Newquay and St Austell, has spoken about his difficulties in getting a foot on the housing ladder in his own constituency. Despite earning over £65k, Stephen is renting a flat until he can build up the higher deposit now needed — usually £25k or more — to secure a first home.

The Cornish Guardian reports:

“This is the double whammy first-time buyers have been affected by,” said the 35-year-old Liberal Democrat. “If I can’t afford a deposit on £65,738, what about the thousands on lower incomes?”

Mr Gilbert said: “I think the Government needs to

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Posted in News | Also tagged housing | 30 Comments

WTF? Lib Dem MP Stephen Gilbert stands up for use of youth argot

By Stephen Tall | Published 6th April 2011 - 9:15 pm

You will all be thinking about leaving school in a few weeks and must be thinking ‘WTF’ about going to university.

So said Stephen Gilbert, Lib Dem MP for St Austell and Newquay, when addressing an assembly of 200 Year 11 students at a local community college, prompting a local Tory councillor to complain to the school, accusing Mr Gilbert of being “out of touch”.

Headteacher David Parker is more forgiving: “I was there at the time and I know people have picked up on something that was said during the talk. Perhaps if he had thought about it before he said …

Posted in News | 4 Comments

Stephen Gilbert MP writes: True LGBT equality finally on the horizon

By Stephen Gilbert MP | Published 17th February 2011 - 4:31 pm

Today’s announcement, that religious settings are able to hold civil partnerships, is a huge step toward achieving the Liberal Democrat policy of full equal civil marriage and partnerships for all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the UK.

I’ve always believed that equality is a black and white issue. You’re either equal or you are not, there’s no grey area and no room for ambiguity. And, despite the real achievements over the last decade, the LGBT community is still not fully equal in the eyes of the law.

This wouldn’t be considered acceptable if we were talking about ethnic …

Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged equalities, lynne featherstone | 13 Comments

LDV survey: The new Lib Dem MPs who’ve impressed party members the most

By Stephen Tall | Published 12th January 2011 - 7:18 pm

Lib Dem Voice has polled our members-only forum to discover what Lib Dem members think of various political issues, the Coalition, and the performance of key party figures. Over 660 party members have responded, and we’re currently publishing the full results.

LDV asked: Which of the newly elected Lib Dem MPs has genuinely impressed you to date?

Our sample of party members could tick as many (or few) of the 10 ‘newbie’ MPs as they liked. Here are the top five:

45% – Julian Huppert, Cambridge
17% – Tessa Munt, Wells
17% – Duncan Hames, Chippenham

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Posted in LDV Members poll | Also tagged duncan hames, julian huppert, stephen lloyd, tessa munt | 7 Comments

PMQS: Cameron promised faster wheels amidst squeaky bums

By Paul Walter | Published 17th November 2010 - 4:52 pm

What a relief! For a change, Prime Minister’s Questions gave more cause for Tories to be uneasy than it did for LibDems. Don’t get me wrong, LibDems care passionately about frontline policing. Of course they do. But the Tories tend to see it as more of a cojones (or should I invent the adjective “cojonal” here?) measurement issue – it’s closer to the nerve with them. So I think there must have been a lot of uncomfortable shifting around on the benches behind David Cameron today. “Squeaky bum time”, as Sir Alex might put it.

For once there was a good …

Posted in PMQs | Also tagged alan johnson, alastair campbell, brian donohoe, bridget phillipson, damian mcbride, david cameron, harriet harman, harry potter, malcolm bruce, policing, ruth mackenzie, short money, vince cable | 18 Comments

LibLink: Stephen Gilbert – It’s time for an equal, gender-neutral, marriage law

By NewsHound | Published 21st September 2010 - 7:05 pm

Over at The Independent, Lib Dem MP for Newquay & St Austell Stephen Gilbert explains his support for equal LGBT rights, which took another step forward today with the Lib Dem conference support for equal marriage. Here’s an excerpt:

… despite the repeal of Section 28, the equalisation of the age of consent, same-sex adoption and civil partnerships; homophobia still rears its ugly head in playgrounds, workplaces and even in the home. It’s unacceptable. It’s an individual’s right to live their lives as they see fit, without discrimination, with personal privacy, with equal rights in front of the law. That’s

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Posted in LibLink | Also tagged gay marriage, LGBT rights | 2 Comments

LibLink: Stephen Gilbert – Why we must be fighting for full same sex marriage equality now

By NewsHound | Published 9th September 2010 - 6:13 pm

Over at Pink News, Lib Dem MP for St Austell & Newquay Stephen Gilbert writes in support of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) marriage equality and explains why LGBT rights organisations should be fighting for marriage equality now. Here’s an excerpt:

As a society we have set a standard for people who want to show they are in a committed relationship, for people who want to show that they have found love and wish to remain together until death do them part. We call it marriage. Why should we deny that institution to people who wish to show that commitment

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Posted in LibLink | Also tagged equalities, gay marriage | 9 Comments

By-election results 3 June 2010: four cheers for the Lib Dems

By Helen Duffett | Published 4th June 2010 - 7:50 am

Liberal Democrats are celebrating four by-election wins this week (two gains, two holds) in Newquay, South Oxfordshire and St Albans.

Posted in Council by-elections | Also tagged andy grant, dave sleeman, john griffin, martin frearson, newquay, south oxfordshire, st albans | 5 Comments

Deputy Leadership contest latest: Huhne backs Farron

By Mark Pack | Published 2nd June 2010 - 9:15 pm

A news release from the Tim Farron campaign says:

Tim Farron today announced that Secretary of State for DECC, Chris Huhne, will be supporting Tim’s candidacy for Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats.

Mr Huhne’s support comes on the same day as candidates for Deputy Leader put forward their nominating signatures to the Parliamentary Party. Other MPs who have now confirmed their support for Mr Farron include MP for Cheltenham, Martin Horwood and newly elected MP St Austell and Newquay, Stephen Gilbert.

Commenting Mr Huhne said:

“Tim Farron has the passion, experience and energy to be highly effective as deputy leader. Working alongside Nick …

Posted in News | Also tagged chris huhne, deputy leader election, martin horwood, simon hughes, tim farron | 1 Comment

Conservative candidate Caroline Righton ‘goes to ground’

By Mark Pack | Published 14th April 2010 - 9:20 am

Caroline Righton, the Conservative candidate in St Austell & Newquay who was previously implicated in the faking of a message that smeared her Liberal Democrat opponent, Stephen Gilbert, has now turned all elusive again:

Caroline Righton, is one of only 7 candidates across the whole south west not to respond to a BBC request to give her view on the issue of fox hunting and has pulled out of the first local radio debate of the campaign.

The BBC’s Politics Show asked the 110 candidates in the south west what they would do if given a free vote on

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Posted in Opposition watch | Also tagged caroline righton, st austell & newquay | 7 Comments

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