Author Archives: Elizabeth Jewkes

Elizabeth Jewkes

Lizzie Jewkes – why I am standing for Party President

By Elizabeth Jewkes | Tue 24th September 2019 - 7:00 pm

We are in hugely exciting times for the party. Our membership is higher than ever before. We need a President who is capable of meeting the challenge of valuing each and every one of our members and ensuring that whatever their reason for joining, we meet their expectations and encourage them to play an active role in our party. As an employer, I understand the importance of valuing people. I often work with voluntary organisation and always encourage them to value their volunteers more. As a volunteer myself, I know how important it is to be valued. Members join the …

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Posted in News and Op-eds | Tagged and | 4 Comments
Elizabeth Jewkes

The abortion debate is more complicated than arguing the rights of mums versus babies

By Elizabeth Jewkes | Mon 21st May 2018 - 3:35 pm

It’s easy to assume the upcoming vote on abortion in Ireland is a black and white issue. A straight decision between the rights of an unwanted, unborn child versus the rights of a woman who doesn’t want to be pregnant.

Actually, it’s much more complicated than that. Let me tell you my story, as the nearly mum of a much wanted baby.

I’ve never had morning sickness so it’s really only if I’m overdue, very short tempered, very hungry and along with that little blue line that I know I’m pregnant. At 12 weeks, I went to the hospital for my booking …

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged and | 21 Comments
Elizabeth Jewkes

Equality motion 15 years on

By Elizabeth Jewkes | Thu 10th March 2016 - 9:15 am

Spring Conference Agenda 2016Back in Autumn 2001, we in the Liberal Democrats had the opportunity to take action to improve the gender balance of our parliamentary party.

Among those who spoke out against was a young woman who declared that she did not need help to be elected as a female MP. She insisted she would manage it by herself. I spoke to her after the debate and pointed out to her that in 20 years time, when the gender balance of our parliamentary party has barely improved, and once again, a young woman, who today is not yet born, stands up she insists that she doesn’t need positive discrimination, she will get elected all by herself, I predict she will be as angry with that young woman as I am with her today.

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged | 34 Comments
Elizabeth Jewkes

Opinion: How I helped develop our £10,000 tax threshold policy

By Elizabeth Jewkes | Mon 25th March 2013 - 11:55 am

When Nick Clegg was first elected leader, he announced a new tax policy – to reduce the percentage paid from 20% to 16%. The policy was duly passed at the 2008 Conference. Another delegate mentioned to me that he would prefer to see the Income Tax threshold raised taking the lowest paid out of tax. ‘Too late now’ he said.

I took this as a challenge and looked for a way of changing tax policy. I didn’t have to wait long. Jo Swinson MP sent an email to Women Liberal Democrats asking for policy ideas for the Manifesto Day at the …

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Posted in Op-eds | Tagged , and | 8 Comments
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