Stephen Williams' views on key issues

Below you can find out what Stephen thinks about a variety of issues on which he has been contacted by constituents. If you are interested in a topic that is not included here, why not get in touch!

Follow this link to ask Stephen his view or to let him know of yours...

Parliamentary Affairs

Liberal Democrat-Conservative Coalition Government

"The Conservative Party were the only one to offer a truly co-operative coalition government, with Liberal Democrat policies forming a significant portion of the coalition agreement. We now have a unique opportunity to dilute Conservative policies and inject a large part of the Liberal Democrat manifesto into the coalition government agenda. The alternative: side with an unco-operative Labour Party who offered nothing in terms of progressive, coalition politics or withdraw and allow a weak minority Conservative government to struggle to make any advances in tackling the key issues currently facing Britain...".

MPs' Expenses

"I understand the real anger that everyone feels about the revelations about MPs' expenses... I am not personally implicated at all in any of the revelations. I have always believed in an honest and transparent approach to politics and expect high ethical standards of those who work with me...".

Parliamentary Reform

"I have been an advocate of Parliamentary reform for two decades. I have always believed in an honest and transparent approach to politics and expect high ethical standards of my fellow Members of Parliament. I stood for election because I wanted to change Bristol and Britain for the better...".

Home Affairs

Immigration

"For centuries Britain has had a proud record of granting safe refuge to those fleeing persecution. In turn, refugees have enriched the UK's culture and wealth immeasurably. That record is under threat, however, by the Government, which has created a system that manages to be both bureaucratic and inhumane...".

ID Cards

"The Liberal Democrats and I have always been firmly against this illiberal and expensive measure...".

Violence Against Women

"Violence against women is a terrible problem both in the UK and on a global scale, affecting thousands of women every day in the home, in the street or elsewhere....".

"I think that it is important, with the levels of reported rape rising in the country, that we have sufficient levels of support for rape victims. It is worrying that only 5% of rape charges lead to conviction...".

Civil Liberties

Protests at the G20 Summit in London

"The right to protest is a fundamental Human Right and an important part of our democracy...".

Capital Punishment

"I abhor the death penalty. It has no place in any modern criminal justice system...".

Libel Reform Campaign

"I have backed the Libel Reform Campaign. As a Party the Liberal Democrats recognise the need for change, and so we have adopted a policy for radical reform of libel law...".

Health and the NHS

Cancer Support & Treatment

"My Liberal Democrat colleagues and I realise that whilst cancer treatment has improved significantly, there is still much more that can be done. The Government must ensure that cancer treatment is accessible across the country...".

Sale Of Tobacco

"The high level of smoking prevalence is a priority concern of mine and I believe that young people, particularly children, should be properly protected from the risks of taking up smoking...".

Smoking in Public Places

"Legislation to combat smoking has been one of my longstanding political interests...".

NICE decision on Alzheimer's Drugs

"I share concerns regarding the decision taken by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) that it will not approve access to Alzheimer's drugs on the NHS for those suffering from mild or early stages of the disease....".

Homeopathy

"I believe that people should be free to pursue homeopathic treatment if they so wish, but not on the NHS; public money should only be used to fund reliable evidence-based medical practices...".

AIDS

"The global AIDS epidemic is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity. It seriously undermines efforts to eradicate poverty in the least developed countries....".

Education

University fees

"It remains the policy of the Liberal Democrats to scrap tuition fees for all students undertaking their first undergraduate level degree. I believe it is right both in principle and in practice to scrap the tuition fee model of part-financing for higher education...".

Further and Higher Education

"As Shadow Secretary of State for Universities, Skills and Innovation, I have been making sure that education and employment opportunities for young people are provided...".

Apprenticeships and Skills Training

"Unfortunately, for young people who are leaving further and higher education, this year looks to be the worst jobs market for young people for over a decade...".

Home Education & The Badman Review

"I believe that parents should be allowed and supported to home educate, as home education can provide a fantastic opportunity for many young people...".

Faith Schools

"I share concerns regarding the expansion and exclusivity of faith schools whilst recognising that many of these schools have proved both the popular and successful....".

Trust Schools

"All major research shows that giving schools the power to control their own admissions policies leads to greater social segregation....".

Transport

Bristol International Airport expansion

"The airport currently has approximately 4.5 million passenger movements a year and they want to triple this number by 2030. I oppose this unsustainable growth in local air traffic...".

Expansion of Heathrow Airport

"I oppose the construction of a third runway and have been strongly lobbying the Government to prioritise tackling climate change above increasing air travel...".

Cycling

"My Liberal Democrat colleagues and I believe that cycling is a healthy, environmentally friendly, inexpensive mode of transport. More needs to be done to provide better facilities and support for cyclists...".

Foreign Issues

Israel and Palestine

"This conflict is inevitably an emotive subject, and a peaceful resolution cannot be achieved without dialogue and concessions from both sides....".

Iran

"Understandably, many people are anxious at the current situation brewing in Iran. History shows that military conflict tends not to alleviate political tension.....".

Iraq

"I have been a long-standing advocate for an inquiry into the British Government's decision to go to war in Iraq in 2003...".

Afghanistan

"I attend Prime Minister's Question Time every week, and it always begins with the sad announcement of the death of servicemen and women in the Armed Forces, some of whom have died at only eighteen years old...".

Rendition

"The US has admitted the practice of rendition, but says that terrorist suspects are never rendered to states where they may be subject to torture. The question is what possible purpose is served by these transfers other than to subject individuals to harsher treatment than would otherwise be the case.....".

Darfur

Many constituents have understandably contacted me about Darfur, and I and my Liberal Democrat colleagues have repeatedly called for action to end the ongoing atrocities being committed there. .

Conflict in Sri Lanka

"The Liberal Democrats have strongly urged the Government to take immediate and affirmative action to resolve the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka...".

International Aid

Global Poverty

"Violent conflict is an everyday reality for millions of the world's most vulnerable people and it continues to hamper efforts to meet the Millennium Development Goals. We believe that access to justice and security should be treated as rights in the same way as access to health and education...".

Defence

Trident

"The issue of nuclear non-proliferation is a long standing interest of mine...".

Economy

Government Bail-out of UK Banks

"I share taxpayers' concerns that the money used in the government's rescue-package should be spent reshaping the banks rather than paying for executive bonuses...".

Council Tax

"The Liberal Democrats believe council tax is fundamentally unfair and should be abolished...".

Housing

Affordable Housing

"One of my Party's aims is to provide one million affordable homes by 2020. We would do this by freeing up the planning rules to give local authorities more discretion and incentives, making available public land for affordable housing and increasing investment in affordable housing...".

HMOs

"Regarding the new licensing regulations for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)...".

Animal Welfare

The Animal Welfare Bill and use of Animals in Circuses

"My Liberal Democrat colleagues and I believe that the Animal Welfare Bill is predominantly a welcome step forward...".

Badger Culling and Bovine TB

"It is clear that the incidence of Bovine TB is increasing rapidly in certain parts of the country, most notably the South West and South Wales...".

Whaling

"I am vehemently against the practice of whaling. I believe that it is an unethical practice that ought to be ended once and for all...".

Animal Testing

"I am a strong supporter of animal rights and welcome measures that help to improve the welfare of animals...".

The Ivory Trade

"The issue of the ivory trade agreement to allow a one off sale of stockpiled ivory by Botswana, Namibia and South Africa is very concerning. ..".

Seal Hunting

"I believe that this is an unacceptably cruel practice, especially when one considers that in 2001 it was reported that 42% of the seals killed in a hunt were likely to have been conscious when skinned...".

Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Sustainable Farming

"I have supported Friends of the Earth's 'Food Chain Campaign', which calls for urgent support for planet-friendly farming. The campaign is also calling on Government Ministers to reverse the long-term decline in small farms...".

Environment and Energy

Climate Change

"The reality of climate change is becoming clearer, both at home and abroad... What has to be done is clear, our current way of living is not tenable and there is a global imperative to act without delay with meaningful changes if we are to succeed in combating climate change...".

Recycling in Bristol

"Low levels of recycling meant that for years, Bristol faced the possibility of considerable council tax rises due to additional landfill tax bills resulting from an unsustainable waste disposal system....".

Severn Barrage

"I have recently put forward a report, along with fellow Liberal Democrat MPs, Welsh Assembly Members and councillors from both sides of the estuary, urging ministers to seriously consider the prospect of a Severn Barrage...".

Nuclear Power

"Energy policy is obviously of increasing importance because the burning of fossil fuels - coal, oil and gas - is a major contributor to climate change, and a significant cause of acid rain and local air pollution...".

Fuel Poverty & Energy Bills

"I am extremely concerned about the rising fuel bills in the UK. A typical household now pays more than £1,000 in combined gas and electricity charges a year and energy bills might rise significantly...".

The Marine Bill

"My Liberal Democrat colleagues and I are very supportive of the introduction of this Bill, which will create a long overdue spatial planning system for our territorial waters...".

Trade and Industry

Supermarkets

"Britain's farmers and small shops are in crisis and people are being exploited by supermarkets' ever increasing market power. Consumers faced by local monopolies with only one supermarket are paying excessively high prices, and too many rural shops and farmers are being squeezed out of business...".

Royal Mail & Post Office

"For years these businesses have been under-funded by successive Conservative and Labour Governments which has led to a massive programme of post office closures...".

Beer tax and closure of pubs

"I am very concerned about the continued loss of local pubs in Bristol, often as a result of restrictive covenants placed on the use of premises by the large chains..." .

Sunday Trading

"I am against the further liberalisation of Sunday trading hours. My understanding is that the recent campaign for longer opening hours is being led by supermarkets rather than consumers...".