Tag Archives: stephen gilbert

Equal marriage: the speeches of Stephen Gilbert, Stephen Williams and Simon Hughes

By The Voice | Wed 6th February 2013 - 8:45 am

Last night saw the House of Commons approve the second reading of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill. Three Lib Dem MPs spoke, and here are their contributions to that historic debate…

Stephen Gilbert (St Austell and Newquay) (LD):

It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Chesterfield (Toby Perkins), who has articulated what many people of faith across our country have struggled with before coming to the conclusion that love should be for one and all and that marriage should not be an exclusive institution.

I declare an interest:

…

Posted in News and Parliament | Also tagged equal marriage, simon hughes and stephen williams | 4 Comments

Rather better day at Black Rock… and Vale of White Horse, Brentwood, Sutton…

By The Voice | Fri 7th December 2012 - 10:43 am

We keep being told that, where we work, we can win. And it’s still true, no matter how gloomy the opinion polls are, as this week’s by-election results demonstrate.

The Liberal Democrats have gained two seats from the Conservatives in a stunning by-election win in Oxford West & Abingdon constituency. Elizabeth Miles and Val Shaw won on a 17% swing from the Tories in Sunningwell & Wootton ward, and their double victory reduced the Conservative majority on the Vale of White Horse District Council to just three.

Speaking after …

Posted in Local government and News | Also tagged brentwood council, sutton council and vale of white horse | 12 Comments

Lynne Featherstone MP wins Attitude magazine’s Politician of the Year Award

By Helen Duffett | Thu 18th October 2012 - 1:40 pm

At the inaugural Attitude Awards, former Liberal Democrat Equalities Minister and current Minister for International Development, Lynne Featherstone received the Politician of the Year Award for her work to secure equal marriage for same-sex couples.

From the Attitude website:

As much of the debate over the issue has descended into hysterical farce, we salute Lynne Featherstone for her clear and concise defence of the reforms. The minister has refused to be sidetracked, stating in March: ‘The

Posted in News | Also tagged attitude, equal marriage and lynne featherstone | 18 Comments

Opinion: Why Grant Shapps must be evicted as Housing Minister

By London Liberal | Sat 9th June 2012 - 2:25 pm

Ask teachers what they think of Michael Gove and I suspect that most will reply with derision. Ask doctors and nurses what they think of Andrew Lansley and I would imagine that, similarly, most will spit with rage. Ask housing professionals what they think of Grant Shapps and you certainly get an equally dismissive response from the vast majority.

Does the lack of professional support for the Tory policies being pursued by Tory Ministers in these crucial public services mean that these sectors are hopelessly leftist, resistant to change, and are just keen to protect their status, or is the Government’s unpopularity with them proof that the Tories still are the ‘nasty’ party and are as contemptuous of public services as ever? Or is this tension simply what always exists between public sector industries and the politicians that seek to govern/meddle with them, be they Labour or Conservative (or Liberal Democrat)?

Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged grant shapps and housing | 25 Comments

In other news… Mensch sticks up for Clegg, Rennie takes on Salmond, Bristol mayoral election latest & other stories

By Stephen Tall | Sun 27th May 2012 - 5:25 pm

Here’s a round-up of stories we haven’t had time to cover on the site this past few days…

On day UKUncut protestors targeted Clegg family home, Tory MP Louise Mensch urges people to donate £5 to Lib Dem funds (ConHome)

Louise Mensch, the Tory MP for Corby is recommending that her followers donate £5 to the Liberal Democrats for today only. She thinks it will show solidarity with the Cleggs who have been targeted by UNuncut protestors today. Hundreds gathered outside the Putney home of the Lib Dem leader, some chained themselves to railings and they held a noisy but apparently

…

Posted in News | Also tagged alex salmond, bristol council, graham walker, iain roberts, leamington council, louise mensch, nick clegg, st austell & newquay, stephen williams, ukuncut, willie rennie and yvonne moore | 11 Comments

How much chocolate can you put on a gingerbread man before he becomes standard-rated for VAT?

By Mark Pack | Mon 30th April 2012 - 8:25 am

You may not have considered this question before, so I’ll give you a little time to ponder it.

So, got your answer?

Here’s the official one from HMRC: standard-rate VAT applies to “Gingerbread men decorated with chocolate unless this amounts to no more than a couple of dots for eyes”.

But, but, but… what if the eyes are not chocolate and instead the gingerbread man has a couple of chocolate buttons instead? And what if, hurtling dangerously out of the 19th century, the gingerbread man is actually a gingerbread …

Posted in News | Also tagged featured, pasty tax, tax and vat | 30 Comments

LibLink: Stephen Gilbert – This half-baked pasty tax is offensive

By Mary Reid | Fri 27th April 2012 - 3:31 pm

You really must follow the link to the Guardian to see what Stephen Gilbert, MP for St Austell & Newquay, is eating.

The pasty industry is rising up and marching, it seems.

He writes:

It’s just over a month since George Osborne presented his budget to the House of Commons but the uproar over the proposed “pasty tax” hasn’t subsided. The VAT extension on hot food, which would include the Cornish pasty, is not only politically unpopular, it’s also unworkable, unfair and based on a flawed logic.

…

Today, I’m joining hundreds of people from the pasty industry to demonstrate

…

Posted in LibLink | Also tagged pasty tax | 25 Comments

PMQs: It’s déjà vu all over again

By Paul Walter | Fri 20th April 2012 - 12:05 pm

Andrew Selous MP (Conservative) got up at Prime Minister’s Questions this week and said this:

What does he think about Ken Livingstone, who said that: “I get loads of money, all from different sources, and I give it to an accountant and they manage it”? Is that modern socialism for you?

A superb question. But one could be forgiven for being reminded of Yogi Berra’s remark:

Posted in PMQs | Also tagged andrew cunningham, andrew selous, budget 2012, david cameron, ed miliband, ian murray and naomi long | 2 Comments

The Local Government Slot: Fighting for a Better Deal for Park Home Owners

By Annette Brooke MP | Thu 1st March 2012 - 3:23 pm

We have recently seen a lot of activity in Parliament on the issue of park homes and the problems park home owners are facing across the country.

To some extent 2011 saw familiar frustrations and delays that have, unfortunately, often characterised attempts to solve park homes problems in the past.

However 2011 also saw headway being made. The tireless efforts of campaigners and activists have built real momentum and an appetite for change amongst my colleagues in Parliament. I firmly believe this is filtering through and that the Government will be drawn to action soon.

Events such as the Park Homes Justice Campaign’s demonstration in October have been hugely successful in raising awareness. As part of this campaign Downing Street was presented with new evidence showing that as many as 23,473 homes from across the UK could be living under the regime of an unscrupulous park owner. The fantastic work of this campaign, and of its organiser Sonia McColl, has had a real impact over these last months. Also of real importance has been the large number of letters written to MPs. I can only encourage this – the more letters that are written, the more MPs will push for change and the more chance we have of succeeding.

Posted in Local government | Also tagged andrew stunell and park homes | 3 Comments

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

By Stephen Tall | Wed 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 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

…

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

Housing: six things that could be done

By Mark Pack | Tue 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

…

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

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

By Andrew Stunell MP | Mon 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 and tim farron | 17 Comments

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

By Helen Duffett | Sat 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

…

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

Opinion: Private sector tenants are disenfranchised

By Duncan Stott | Sun 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 and mike tuffrey | 13 Comments

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

By The Voice | Fri 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

…

Posted in News | Also tagged housing | 31 Comments

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

By Stephen Tall | Wed 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 Steve Gilbert MP | Thu 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 and lynne featherstone | 13 Comments

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

By Stephen Tall | Wed 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

…

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

PMQS: Cameron promised faster wheels amidst squeaky bums

By Paul Walter | Wed 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 and vince cable | 18 Comments

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

By NewsHound | Tue 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

…

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

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

By NewsHound | Thu 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

…

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

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

By Helen Duffett | Fri 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 and st albans | 5 Comments

Deputy Leadership contest latest: Huhne backs Farron

By Mark Pack | Wed 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 and tim farron | 1 Comment

Conservative candidate Caroline Righton ‘goes to ground’

By Mark Pack | Wed 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

…

Posted in News | Also tagged caroline righton and st austell & newquay | 7 Comments

Could Cameron cost Tories the West?

By Mark Pack | Thu 21st January 2010 - 7:40 pm

That’s the question posted by the Western Morning News’s London editor, Matt Chorley:

CONSERVATIVE high command make no secret of the importance of the Westcountry to their hopes of winning the general election, but there seems to be growing unease in the region about the impact (negative or non-existent) their leader is having on voters…

Speaking to MPs and PPCs from Devon, Cornwall and Somerset there is a distinct lack of confidence, even in private.

They talk about “hanging on” to seats, “picking up one or two” others. Don’t forget the Tories need to win an extra 10 seats in the three

…

Posted in News | Also tagged caroline righton and conservative party | 8 Comments

Liberal Democrat victory in St Austell Bay by-election

By Helen Duffett | Fri 27th November 2009 - 12:26 am

John Oxenham after the St Austell Bay by-election count Lib Dems in St Austell and Newquay are celebrating another win: John Oxenham has been elected Liberal Democrat councillor for St Austell Bay in the first ever Cornwall Council by-election.

This comes two weeks after their victory in the Newquay South by-election.

The result this time – with an estimated swing of 13% from the Conservatives to the Liberal Democrats:

Posted in Council by-elections | Also tagged cornwall, john oxenham and st austell bay | 9 Comments

Your Caroline Righton reader

By Mark Pack | Thu 29th October 2009 - 8:08 pm

On Sunday Stephen blogged about the behaviour of Caroline Righton, the Conservative candidate for St Austell & Newquay, whose campaign is being accused of faking a message about her Liberal Democrat opponent, Stephen Gilbert, in a botched smear attempt.

The story has also been taken up on quite a few other Lib Dem blogs so, bearing in mind that our readers often ask for more links through to stories on other Lib Dem blogs, here is a selection of the most recent posts:

Posted in News | Also tagged caroline righton | 2 Comments

Tories’ St Austell & Newquay candidate in ‘Dhd!!!’ smear storm

By Stephen Tall | Sun 25th October 2009 - 11:15 pm

Lib Dem blogger Matt Davies reports on a clumsy attempt by Tory PPC for St Austell & Newquay, Caroline Righton, to extract political advantage from her Lib Dem opponent, Stephen Gilbert – but, unfortunately, without trying to check her facts first.

Ms Righton accused Stephen of calling her a ‘D***h***d!!!’ on Twitter in an email to residents. Except that he didn’t. And as Matt explains, it’s hard to know how Ms Righton could have failed to realise this before broadcasting her allegation:

She might not have liked Steve highlighting their different priorities when it comes to helping local residents

…

Posted in News | Also tagged caroline righton, matt davies, st austell & newquay and twitter | 8 Comments

Stephen Tall asks: "Did Nate Silver write in vain?"

Nick Clegg: "Of course the EU has to change"

"Mad, swivel-eyed loons": a top Tory on the Tories

Ed Davey: Helping consumers to get cheaper energy bills

Tag Archives: stephen gilbert

Equal marriage: the speeches of Stephen Gilbert, Stephen Williams and Simon Hughes

Rather better day at Black Rock… and Vale of White Horse, Brentwood, Sutton…

Lynne Featherstone MP wins Attitude magazine’s Politician of the Year Award

Opinion: Why Grant Shapps must be evicted as Housing Minister

In other news… Mensch sticks up for Clegg, Rennie takes on Salmond, Bristol mayoral election latest & other stories

How much chocolate can you put on a gingerbread man before he becomes standard-rated for VAT?

LibLink: Stephen Gilbert – This half-baked pasty tax is offensive

PMQs: It’s déjà vu all over again

The Local Government Slot: Fighting for a Better Deal for Park Home Owners

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

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

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

Opinion: Private sector tenants are disenfranchised

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

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

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

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

PMQS: Cameron promised faster wheels amidst squeaky bums

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

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

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

Deputy Leadership contest latest: Huhne backs Farron

Conservative candidate Caroline Righton ‘goes to ground’

Could Cameron cost Tories the West?

Liberal Democrat victory in St Austell Bay by-election

Your Caroline Righton reader

Tories’ St Austell & Newquay candidate in ‘Dhd!!!’ smear storm

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"Mad, swivel-eyed loons": a top Tory on the Tories

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