Les Bonner (Free subscription) | 30/09/2008
Commenting on Theresa Villier’s speech at the Conservative party conference, in which she called for a new high speed rail network and the scrapping of the third runway at Heathrow, Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, Norman Baker said: “It seems the Tories have finally recognised the need for high speed rail and the scrapping of [...]
Liberal Democrat Voice (Free subscription) | 17/09/2008
Iain Dale’s list continues in the Telegraph, and the Voice team, variously drunk, hungover and sleep deprived have reacted most waspishly to nos 11-20: “Former Lib Dem MP? Don’t they mean ‘Lib Dem Peer’?” “Norman Baker is more influential than Ed Davey?!” “Graham Watson is no longer the Leader of the Lib Dem MEPs - he’s leader [...]
Bathers' Blog (Free subscription) | 03/09/2008
This wouldn't be a politician trying to deflect attention from MPs own pointless spending would it? Considering Norman Baker was ranked 6th in terms of "Incidental Expenses Provision" in 2006/07 this seems a little rich. Or maybe he's jealous of the travelling BBC staff get to do considering he only managed to spend £5,576 in 2006/07 on travel. BBC NEWS Politics BBC flights spending 'frivolous' The...
Liberal Democrats (Free subscription) | 28/08/2008
Commenting on today’s Office of Rail Regulation report, which calls for Network Rail to dramatically reduce disruption for passengers, Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, Norman Baker said: "This damning report shows that Network Rail’s attempts at cost-cutting have turned a fifth of all weekend journeys into a marathon of cancelled trains, delays and rail replacement buses for many passengers....
Liberal Democrats (Free subscription) | 28/08/2008
Commenting on DfT statistics that show car ownership is increasing while fewer people are walking long distances, Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, Norman Baker said: "With services being taken away from villages and town centres and local public transport often poor and unreliable, the car is becoming a necessity rather than a choice in many rural areas. "Unless our streets and town centres...
Les Bonner (Free subscription) | 20/08/2008
Commenting on figures released recently by the Office of Rail Regulation, which show that rail fares have rocketed in price since the mid-1990s, Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, Norman Baker said:“It is absurd that rail fares continue to rise well above inflation.“Rail is the greenest form of mass transportation and the Government should be taking [...]
Liberal Democrats (Free subscription) | 20/08/2008
Commenting on Government proposals to introduce trial road pricing schemes, Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, Norman Baker said: "There is a real danger that motorists will end up paying their road tax twice over if road pricing is introduced without scrapping Vehicle Excise Duty. "Motorway and trunk road pricing is the way forward but only if it replaces other taxes. Otherwise it will...
Liberal Democrats (Free subscription) | 20/08/2008
Commenting on today’s Competition Commission report, which recommends that BAA sell two of its three London airports, Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, Norman Baker said: "Today’s decision is a victory for UK air passengers who have put up with a second class service at what should be London’s first class airports. "The Liberal Democrats were the only party to call for the sale of two of...
Liberal Democrat Voice (Free subscription) | 19/08/2008
Well, Norman Baker’s proposals to scrap the Oath of Allegiance certainly caused a stir on Liberal Democrat Voice, didn’t they? Jennie Rigg and others were certainly most riled by the ‘crawling out of the woodwork’ of ‘little republicans’. She feels that the role of the monarchy in a constitutional monarchy state is ‘largely symbolic’. It [...]
newsjiffy (Free subscription) | 17/08/2008
Anti-monarchy campaigners have been trying to mount a legal challenge to the oath of loyalty MPs swear to the Queen. 22 MPs have signed a Commons motion by the excellent Lib Dem Norman Baker, supporting an alternative oath in which MPs would swear allegiance to their constituents. Sounds a good idea, and let's hope more sign the paper. MP's are elected by their constituents and their first duty should...
The ThunderDragon (Free subscription) | 16/08/2008
MPs have to swear an oath of loyalty to the Queen when they take their seat in the House of Commons. But anti-monarchy campaigners want to challenge this requirement in the courts on human rights basis. There is also an early day motion proposed by Lib Dem front bencher Norman Baker proposing an alternative oath, claiming [...]
Nouslife (Free subscription) | 09/08/2008
In this article, Norman Baker: A curse upon the oath of allegiance | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk we are given the reasons why a parliamentary motion is being put forward to change the oath of allegiance an MP swears on taking their seat. Part of the argument is that it discriminates against republicans. What do you think? Here's the oath: "'I swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and
Pickled Politics (Free subscription) | 09/08/2008
“An extension of police powers to stop and search anyone near a protest camp in Kent is undermining civil liberties, two MPs and an MEP have said. South East MEP Caroline Lucas and MPs Norman Baker and Colin Challen have written to the Kent force with concerns about the policing of the protest. The Climate [...]
The Guardian (Free subscription) | 08/08/2008
Norman Baker: Pledging loyalty to an unelected monarch is no way for modern parliamentarians to behave
Liberal Democrat Voice (Free subscription) | 08/08/2008
For those who are surprised that Norman Baker should have come third in our poll of most-rated Lib Dem shadow cabinet members, much of Stormin’ Norm’s popularity is the result of his championing of causes just like this: A collection of 22 cross party MPs are launching a campaign to end the tradition of swearing allegiance [...]
