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Stephen Williams (politician)
Encyclopedia
Stephen Roy Williams is a British
Liberal Democrat politician who was first elected as the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Bristol West in the 2005 general election
, being re-elected with an increased majority in May 2010. He is the first Liberal or Liberal Democrat elected for a Bristol
seat since 1935, and the first ever in Bristol West.
in the Cynon Valley. He attended Mountain Ash Comprehensive School
and the University of Bristol
, graduating in 1988 with a degree in History. During his first two years he lived in Wills Hall
, one of the University's halls of residence. Today Williams remains a member of the Wills Hall Association. He qualified as Chartered Tax Adviser and worked for several large firms including PriceWaterhouseCoopers
and Grant Thornton
.
society, and an active member of the local SDP
branch. He has also served on Avon County
and Bristol City Councils
, elected as Councillor for Cabot
ward in 1993 aged 26. He was leader of the Bristol Liberal Democrat group from 1995 to 1997. Williams had been the Liberal Democrat candidate for Bristol South in 1997
, before being selected to stand for Bristol West at the 2001 general election
. Williams won Bristol West in 2005, making him the first Liberal MP ever for that constituency and the first to be elected in the city of Bristol since 1935. He was also the first openly gay
Liberal Democrat MP.
appointed Williams as Liberal Democrat public health spokesperson, shadowing Minister for Public Health Caroline Flint
. In this role he served on the standing committee which scrutinised the Health Bill. One aspect of this Bill was the introduction of a ban on smoking
in public places. Williams strongly supported a ban on smoking in all public places, rather than the alternative proposal to exempt private clubs and pubs which do not serve food from the ban. He won an award from Cancer Research UK for his advocacy of a full ban.
In the 2006 Liberal Democrat leadership election
Williams was the agent of Chris Huhne
. Following the election, newly elected leader Sir Menzies Campbell
moved Williams to the Further and Higher Education portfolio, shadowing Labour Minister Bill Rammell
. After the reorganisation of government departments by new Prime Minister Gordon Brown in July 2007 Lib Dem Leader Sir Menzies Campbell reshuffled his team and Williams became Lib Dem spokesperson on Schools.
Since his election, Williams has served on two House of Commons select committees - the Education and Skills Select Committee and the Public Accounts Committee. He stepped down as a member of the Public Accounts Committee at the beginning of 2006 following his appointment as Further and Higher Education spokesperson in order to focus more exclusively on his portfolio. He transferred to the new Children, Schools and Families Select Committee in November 2007.
On 29 November 2005, Williams attempted to introduce a Ten Minute Rule
bill to the House of Commons to reduce the voting age to 16. The motion was supported by a majority of Labour members and Liberal Democrats, but opposed by the Conservatives. It was defeated by 136-128 votes.
In June 2006, Williams launched a campaign against homophobic bullying, after organising the Education and Skills Select Committee's first ever enquiry into the issue of bullying in schools. His petition read:
We, the undersigned, call for the following to support and protect the victims of homophobic bullying:
Following the election of
Nick Clegg
as leader, Williams became the spokesperson for Innovation, Universities and Skills
.
In 2008, Williams wrote an alternative policy proposal that would allow top-up fees as part of his role as spokesperson for universities, but this proposal was rejected at a later conference. On 9 December 2010, Williams was one of 8 Liberal Democrat MPs to abstain from the vote on Government proposals to increase the upper limit on university tuition fees. The vote was particularly controversial for Liberal Democrats as many Lib Dem MPs had previously signed an NUS pledge
promising to vote against tuition fee increases. 21 Liberal Democrat MPs voted against the proposal. 27 Liberal Democrat MPs voted for the proposal, citing that it could potentially see the poorest paying less through other measures.
with 1264 votes (20.61% in a double election), and a majority of just 82 over Labour candidate Paul Garland. That majority increased to 571 in 1998, with Williams polling 1027 votes (53.46%).
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Liberal Democrat politician who was first elected as the Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Bristol West in the 2005 general election
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
, being re-elected with an increased majority in May 2010. He is the first Liberal or Liberal Democrat elected for a Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
seat since 1935, and the first ever in Bristol West.
Early life and education
Williams grew up in the South Wales village of AbercynonAbercynon
Abercynon is a small village in the Cynon Valley in Mid Glamorgan, Wales. The unitary authority is now known as Rhondda Cynon Taff. It is composed of the village of Abercynon itself,Carnetown,Glancynon,Park View and Pontcynon. However, in recent years the sign to show motorists they are entering...
in the Cynon Valley. He attended Mountain Ash Comprehensive School
Mountain Ash Comprehensive School
Mountain Ash Comprehensive School is a comprehensive school that is situated in the town of Mountain Ash, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Wales...
and the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
, graduating in 1988 with a degree in History. During his first two years he lived in Wills Hall
Wills Hall
Wills Hall is one of the nine halls of residence in the University of Bristol. Cresting the Stoke Bishop site on the edge of the Bristol Downs, in Parry's Lane, it houses 340 students in two quadrangles...
, one of the University's halls of residence. Today Williams remains a member of the Wills Hall Association. He qualified as Chartered Tax Adviser and worked for several large firms including PriceWaterhouseCoopers
PricewaterhouseCoopers
PricewaterhouseCoopers is a global professional services firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest professional services firm measured by revenues and one of the "Big Four" accountancy firms....
and Grant Thornton
Grant Thornton
Grant Thornton LLP encompasses the U.S. operations of Grant Thornton International, the largest accounting organizations outside of the Big Four . The member firms of Grant Thornton International comprise a global network of 27,000 employees and 2,207 partners in more than 110 countries...
.
Political background
Williams was interested in politics from a young age. While at the University of Bristol he was President of the SDP/LiberalSDP-Liberal Alliance
The SDP–Liberal Alliance was an electoral pact formed by the Social Democratic Party and the Liberal Party in the United Kingdom which was in existence from 1981 to 1988, when the bulk of the two parties merged to form the Social and Liberal Democrats, later referred to as simply the Liberal...
society, and an active member of the local SDP
Social Democratic Party (UK)
The Social Democratic Party was a political party in the United Kingdom that was created on 26 March 1981 and existed until 1988. It was founded by four senior Labour Party 'moderates', dubbed the 'Gang of Four': Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams...
branch. He has also served on Avon County
Avon (county)
Avon was, from 1974 to 1996, a non-metropolitan and ceremonial county in the west of England.The county was named after the River Avon, which runs through the area. It was formed from parts of the historic counties of Gloucestershire and Somerset, together with the City of Bristol...
and Bristol City Councils
Politics of Bristol
The city of Bristol, England, is a unitary authority, represented by four MPs representing seats wholly within the city boundaries. As well as these, Filton and Bradley Stoke covers the northern urban fringe in South Gloucestershire and the north eastern urban fringe is in the Kingswood constituency...
, elected as Councillor for Cabot
Cabot, Bristol
Cabot is a council ward that covers the centre of Bristol. It gets its name from the Cabot Tower - a memorial tower on Brandon Hill that was built to commemorate John Cabot's voyage and "discovery" of North America.-Areas:...
ward in 1993 aged 26. He was leader of the Bristol Liberal Democrat group from 1995 to 1997. Williams had been the Liberal Democrat candidate for Bristol South in 1997
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
, before being selected to stand for Bristol West at the 2001 general election
United Kingdom general election, 2001
The United Kingdom general election, 2001 was held on Thursday 7 June 2001 to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. It was dubbed "the quiet landslide" by the media, as the Labour Party was re-elected with another landslide result and only suffered a net loss of 6 seats...
. Williams won Bristol West in 2005, making him the first Liberal MP ever for that constituency and the first to be elected in the city of Bristol since 1935. He was also the first openly gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
Liberal Democrat MP.
Parliamentary career
After his election on 5 May 2005, Charles KennedyCharles Kennedy
Charles Peter Kennedy is a British Liberal Democrat politician, who led the Liberal Democrats from 9 August 1999 until 7 January 2006 and is currently a Member of Parliament for the Ross, Skye and Lochaber constituency....
appointed Williams as Liberal Democrat public health spokesperson, shadowing Minister for Public Health Caroline Flint
Caroline Flint
Caroline Louise Flint is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Don Valley since 1997. She served as the Minister of State for Housing and Planning in 2008, and later as the Minister for Europe until her resignation in 2009, citing the leadership of Gordon...
. In this role he served on the standing committee which scrutinised the Health Bill. One aspect of this Bill was the introduction of a ban on smoking
Smoking ban
Smoking bans are public policies, including criminal laws and occupational safety and health regulations, which prohibit tobacco smoking in workplaces and/or other public spaces...
in public places. Williams strongly supported a ban on smoking in all public places, rather than the alternative proposal to exempt private clubs and pubs which do not serve food from the ban. He won an award from Cancer Research UK for his advocacy of a full ban.
In the 2006 Liberal Democrat leadership election
Liberal Democrats leadership election, 2006
In the 2006 Liberal Democrats leadership election, Sir Menzies Campbell was elected to succeed Charles Kennedy as Leader of the Liberal Democrats, the third-largest political party in the United Kingdom....
Williams was the agent of Chris Huhne
Chris Huhne
Christopher Murray Paul-Huhne, generally known as Chris Huhne is a British politician and cabinet minister, who is the current Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for the Eastleigh constituency in Hampshire...
. Following the election, newly elected leader Sir Menzies Campbell
Menzies Campbell
Sir Walter Menzies "Ming" Campbell, CBE, QC, MP is a British Liberal Democrat politician and advocate, and a retired sprinter. He is the Member of Parliament for North East Fife, and was the Leader of the Liberal Democrats from 2 March 2006 until 15 October 2007.Campbell held the British record...
moved Williams to the Further and Higher Education portfolio, shadowing Labour Minister Bill Rammell
Bill Rammell
William Ernest Rammell is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Harlow from 1997 to 2010, and has served as the Minister of State for the Armed Forces at the Ministry of Defence...
. After the reorganisation of government departments by new Prime Minister Gordon Brown in July 2007 Lib Dem Leader Sir Menzies Campbell reshuffled his team and Williams became Lib Dem spokesperson on Schools.
Since his election, Williams has served on two House of Commons select committees - the Education and Skills Select Committee and the Public Accounts Committee. He stepped down as a member of the Public Accounts Committee at the beginning of 2006 following his appointment as Further and Higher Education spokesperson in order to focus more exclusively on his portfolio. He transferred to the new Children, Schools and Families Select Committee in November 2007.
On 29 November 2005, Williams attempted to introduce a Ten Minute Rule
Ten Minute Rule
The Ten Minute Rule, also known as Standing Order No. 23, is a procedure in the British Parliament for the introduction of Private Member's Bills in addition to the 20 per session normally permissible. It is one of the ways in which a bill may receive its first reading.Any MP may introduce a bill...
bill to the House of Commons to reduce the voting age to 16. The motion was supported by a majority of Labour members and Liberal Democrats, but opposed by the Conservatives. It was defeated by 136-128 votes.
In June 2006, Williams launched a campaign against homophobic bullying, after organising the Education and Skills Select Committee's first ever enquiry into the issue of bullying in schools. His petition read:
We, the undersigned, call for the following to support and protect the victims of homophobic bullying:
- Homophobic taunts and name calling in schools should be challenged immediately by staff.
- All schools' anti-bullying policies should be required to include measures specifically to deal with homophobic bullying.
- At least one teacher in every school should undergo training which includes how to tackle homophobic bullying.
Following the election of
Liberal Democrats leadership election, 2007
The 2007 Liberal Democrats leadership election was held following the resignation of Sir Menzies Campbell as leader on 15 October 2007, after 19 months as leader of the Liberal Democrats, the third-largest political party in the United Kingdom. Vincent Cable, the deputy leader of the parliamentary...
Nick Clegg
Nick Clegg
Nicholas William Peter "Nick" Clegg is a British Liberal Democrat politician who is currently the Deputy Prime Minister, Lord President of the Council and Minister for Constitutional and Political Reform in the coalition government of which David Cameron is the Prime Minister...
as leader, Williams became the spokesperson for Innovation, Universities and Skills
Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills was a UK government department created on 28 June 2007 to take over some of the functions of the Department of Education and Skills and of the Department of Trade and Industry. In June 2009 it was merged into the newly formed Department for...
.
In 2008, Williams wrote an alternative policy proposal that would allow top-up fees as part of his role as spokesperson for universities, but this proposal was rejected at a later conference. On 9 December 2010, Williams was one of 8 Liberal Democrat MPs to abstain from the vote on Government proposals to increase the upper limit on university tuition fees. The vote was particularly controversial for Liberal Democrats as many Lib Dem MPs had previously signed an NUS pledge
Vote for Students pledge
The National Union of Students "Vote for Students" pledge is a pledge to vote against tuition fee increases that was signed by over 1000 candidates standing in the UK general election in 2010, notably including all 57 subsequently elected Liberal Democrat MPs.-The pledge:The pledge states:The NUS...
promising to vote against tuition fee increases. 21 Liberal Democrat MPs voted against the proposal. 27 Liberal Democrat MPs voted for the proposal, citing that it could potentially see the poorest paying less through other measures.
Bristol City Council
Williams contested two Bristol City Council elections in Cabot ward before stepping down in 1999. The first, in 1995, saw him electedBristol City Council Elections, 1995
The 1995 Bristol City Council election took place on 4 May 1995 with all seats being up for election, in preparation for Bristol City Council becoming a Unitary Authority following the abolition of Avon County Council...
with 1264 votes (20.61% in a double election), and a majority of just 82 over Labour candidate Paul Garland. That majority increased to 571 in 1998, with Williams polling 1027 votes (53.46%).
General elections
Williams has contested four general elections - 1997, 2001, 2005 and 2010. In 1997, he stood against Labour Minister Dawn Primarolo in Bristol South, coming third with 13.4% of the vote. In 2001, he stood for the first time in Bristol West, polling 28.89% of the vote and coming in second place. In 2005, this increased to 38.3%, winning the seat from Labour. In the 2010 election, Williams held the seat with an increased majority of 11,366, winning 48% of the vote.External links
- Stephen Williams MP official site
- Profile at the Liberal Democrats
- Bristol West Liberal Democrats
- Interview with Stephen Williams politicsjunkie.co.uk interview, April 2006