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...

Crime and Policing

ID Cards

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

Capital Punishment

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

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....".

Health and the NHS

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....".

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

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...".

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.....".

Lebanon Crisis

"From the outset of the conflict in Lebanon my party called on Tony Blair to support an even handed response and an immediate ceasefire....".

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. .

The Armed Forces Bill

Arms Exports

Trident

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

Taxation

Council Tax

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

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...".

Environmental issues

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 motion to parliament urging ministers to look again at 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...".

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

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...".