THE WAR IN IRAQ

I voted against the war in Iraq. I was not in favour of the invasion in 2003 because I felt that there was no evidence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and was aware of the request for more time to inspect. I do not think that the invasion was legal under international law.

ANIMAL WELFARE

I voted for the fox hunting ban in 2004 and will continue to support it. It’s worth noting that David Cameron opposes the ban and is committed to giving MPs a free vote to repeal it.

For more on what Labour has done for animal welfare, click here and here.

TOP-UP TUITION FEES

I voted against top-up tuition fees in 2004.  I’ve also signed the NUS Funding our Future Pledge:

“I pledge to vote against any increase in fees in the next parliament and to pressure the government to introduce a fairer alternative.”

NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE

I voted for the National Minimum Wage – two thirds of those who have benefited from this have been women.

SMOKING

In 2005, I introduced a Private Member’s Bill to ban smoking in public places in Wales. This fell due to lack of time, but I subsequently voted for Government legislation for a smoking ban in public places in 2006. I strongly support this public health measure.

For more information on my Bill, click here.

GAY RIGHTS

I voted for Civil Partnerships and I supported the repeal of Section 28 and the equalising of the age of consent.

For more information, click here.

COUNTER TERRORISM

I voted against both the proposed increase to 90 days and then 42 days detention without charge.

BURMA

I support the cause of Aung San Suu Kyi and in 2008, held a Spotlight on Burma event at the Wales Millennium Centre to highlight the human rights abuses in Burma and the need for aid in the wake of Cyclone Nargis.

For more information on this, click here.

FAMILIES

I have voted on a wide range of legislation designed to help families out.  I supported increases in maternity leave and child benefit, the introduction of paternity leave, the right to request flexible working, tax credits and Child Trust Funds.

TIBET

I support the Dalai Lama’s calls for autonomy for Tibet. I have visited the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile in Dharamsala, India on two occasions and have had the great privilege of meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

For more information on this, click here.

OLDER PEOPLE

I support Pension Credits, the Winter Fuel Payment for the over-60s, free TV licences for the over-75s, free eye tests for the over-60s, and free bus passes.

HOUSE of LORDS REFORM

I think that there should be a second chamber, but that it should be totally elected – I have always voted for a mainly or totally elected second chamber. I think it’s important for legislation to be scrutinised by two chambers. This is an aid to the legislative process and laws are often improved in this way.  

TRIDENT

I voted against replacing Trident in 2007.

AFGHANISTAN

I believe that this is a war that cannot be won and that there must be dialogue with the Taliban. I was opposed to going into Afghanistan and feel that there should be a phased withdrawal handing over power to the Afghanistan forces. I very much support the men and women who are serving there and would like to bring them home as soon as possible.

VOTES AT 16

I have always supported votes at 16. I think that 16 year-olds should be able to vote at the same time that they are able to marry, join the army and pay taxes. They would also have the opportunity to discuss political issues when they are usually in school or college and may get into the habit of voting.

For more information on this, click here.

WELSH ASSEMBLY POWERS

I support primary law making powers for the Welsh Assembly. I have always supported devolution and was proud to be elected to Parliament in time to support the Government of Wales Act. Now is the time for Wales to have more powers and I am confident that a referendum will be won.

WOMEN

I supported the Equality Bill, the National Minimum Wage (two thirds of the beneficiaries are women), stronger domestic violence legislation,  the Pension Credit  (this has lifted 900,000 pensioners, mostly women, out of poverty), the doubling of maternity pay,  all-women shortlists and the huge investment into childcare.

For more information on what has been done for women, click here.

THE GURKHAS

I supported the campaign for Gurkha Justice and was the only Labour MP in Wales to vote for the right for all Gurkha Soldiers who retired before 1997 and served for at least four years to

be granted the right to settle in the UK.

For more information, click here.

VOTING SYSTEMS

I support a fairer voting system and believe it was right that Labour introduced a more proportionate system when it set up the Welsh Assembly. This means that, except in an exceptional year, Wales will be governed by a coalition. In Westminster, I support a referendum on the Alternative Vote system (which I will support).

CLIMATE CHANGE

I supported the 2008 Climate Change Act – this made the UK the first country in the world to put its carbon targets into law. I also support initiatives like the WWF’s Earth Hour 2010 campaign and have signed several EDMs on sustainability, climate change and biofuels.  

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

I strongly support the target of 0.7% of GNI being spent on development assistance. I have seen firsthand in my work with the APPG on Global TB just what effect extreme poverty can have on people’s chances and have organised events in support of initiatives like Make Poverty History. Most recently, I have pledged support for the Robin Hood Tax campaign.

CULTURE

I strongly support free entry into national galleries and museums and free theatre for young people.

EQUITABLE LIFE

I support the recommendations of the Ombudsman and regret the length of time it is taking to get this sorted out. I am encouraged to hear that there is unlikely to be any means testing when it is decided what should be paid out and that consideration will be made to paying next of kin.

ORGAN DONATION

I believe in an opt-out system for organ donation. People should indicate that they don’t want to give an organ rather than the other way around. Something must be done to help people who are on waiting lists for organ donation. I welcome the Welsh Assembly’s bid to legislate for a soft opt-out system where the views of relatives are still asked.

PRISONS

I believe that prisons should be reserved for offenders who are a risk to society. Short prison sentences are ineffective as the time is too short for any rehabilitative work to be done. I am glad that the numbers of women and young people in prison are going down and greater efforts should be made to keep them in the community.

EDMS/PRESS RELEASES/TWITTER/

SPEECHES

EDMS, press releases, Twitter and speeches often give a good idea of where I stand on particular issues.

For a list of EDMs I’ve signed in this session of Parliament, click here.

For press releases, click here.

For my Twitter page, click here.

To read what I’ve said in the House of Commons, click here.