Audio recordings
Including interviews, oral histories and radio programmes. Highlights here include an interview between Mark Abrams (social scientist and businessman) and his grandson, and interviews conducted throughout 2019 with Female MPs, Rebel MPs and Academics.
Showing 126 - 150 of 219 Records
Interview with economist Vicky Pryce - 50 years on and still NO equal pay in #Vote100 year
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Reference Code : - SOBA 1/15
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Date : - 2018-03-15 (creation)
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Description : - Pryce begins explaining why she thinks women do not get paid equally; stating that it is either because of the culture of organisations or because they have children. She states that women in their 20s earn more than men in many professions, but into their 30s, they do not. Often, organisations are not prepared to allow anyone to work flexibly. Many organisations lose women too early for them to end up in senior positions. Sones asks about the attitude of women in corporate situations, Pryce agrees it to be an issue in how women are educated but that the evidence does not suggest this. Women do better at University and earn more in their 20s, there must be wrong with the way private sector organisations are managing this as they think too short-term. Pryce argues that we need to ensure women are treated in the same way as men and quotas for senior positions in an array of sectors.
Interview with Melanie Onn MP on rejuvenating our Parks
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Reference Code : - SOBA 1/16
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Date : - 2018-03-21 (creation)
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Description : - Onn is talking about a recent debate on Parks to tackle childhood mental health issues and obesity. She is looking to ensure play equipment is available and built into new housing projects, Sones asks about whose responsibility it is, and Onn says that there is not enough to specify how to create fit-for-purpose play areas on new housing projects. Sones asks about the Jo Cox Loneliness Foundation and the use of green spaces for mental health, Onn says she will focus on keeping green spaces and parks safe.
Interview with Fiona Onasanya MP - #SlingTheMesh PMQ
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Reference Code : - SOBA 1/17
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Date : - 2018-03-21 (creation)
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Description : - Onasanya speaks about her PMQ to Prime Minister Theresa May calling upon her to support and join the #SlingTheMesh campaign to prevent further Mesh implants which can damage women's health. Onasanya discusses how mesh implants are used and the dangers associated with them. Sones asks about spending cuts and Onasanya agrees that it is a huge issue in her constituency. Sones and Onasanya discuss migrant workers and the need ensure a smooth Brexit transition.
Interview with Anushka Asthana, Joint Political Editor of the Guardian - Review of the Week
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Reference Code : - SOBA 1/19
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Date : - 2018-03-21 (creation)
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Description : - Asthana reviews her week in UK politics. Sones introduces the discussion by talking about Russia, Brexit and the Labour Party. Asthana talks about the Salisbury Nerve Agent Attack by Russian Operatives and Jeremy Corbyn MPs response as he brought up Russian-Conservative donations and Vladimir Putin. Asthana discusses the international response to congratulating Putin's re-election versus their support for Theresa May's speech in Parliament, talking against Putin. Sones and Asthana discuss the common fisheries policy and immigration during the Brexit transition period. The pair discuss the relationship between The Labour Party, Momentum, Blairites and Sure Start Centres.
Interview with Dame Caroline Spelman MP - Yezidi Women and ISIS survivors
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Reference Code : - SOBA 1/20
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Date : - 2018-03-26 (creation)
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Description : - Spelman hosted an exhibition of art in Westminster Hall on 26 March portraying the work of artist Hannah Rose Thomas who drew gold leaf portraits of Yezidi women who had escaped ISIS captivity. Working with the Christian Charity, Open Doors, Thomas hoped that her exhibition would draw further attention to the plight of the Yezidi Women. The recording first hears from Thomas about some of the art and the individuals behind them. Sones asks about the exhibition, Spelman discusses how important a cause this is and her experience of the Yezidi Women who visited Parliament. Sones talks to Thomas once again and she explains her art and her time spent with the Yezidi Women. Sones moves onto talk to Rosie Winterton MP and Open Doors Head of Advocacy Zoe Smith. Both women talk the listener through the stories within the exhibition and displays. Both add that international solidarity is very important, especially during #Vote100. Sones speaks to Spelman again, who maintains that International Aid is given to appropriate groups and to ensure that the poorest get the assistance they need.
Female MPs #Vote100 Documentary Part One
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Reference Code : - SOBA 1/21
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Date : - 2018-04-06 (creation)
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Description : - This recording selects soundbites from interviews Parliamentary Radio conducted with women MPs of all political parties about the issues they championed in 2018. We hear from Dame Caroline Spelman, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Harriet Harman, Melanie Onn, Fiona Onasanya, Alison McGovern, Maria Caulfield, Angela Eagle, Sharon Hodgson, Seema Malhotra, Theresa May, Vicky Ford, Helen Whately, Jo Swinson and Lisa Cameron. This recording is a summary of the previous recordings with headlines from each female MP.
Female MPs #Vote100 Documentary Part Two
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Reference Code : - SOBA 1/22
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Date : - 2018-04-09 (creation)
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Description : - This recording selects soundbites from interviews Parliamentary Radio conducted with women MPs of all political parties about the issues they championed in 2018. In part two, we hear from Jo Swinson, Sharon Hodgson, Ruth George, Lucy Powell, Maria Miller, Tessa Jowell, Catherine McKinnell, Dame Caroline Spelman, Maggie Throup and Theresa May. This recording is a summary of the previous recordings with headlines from each female MP.
Interview with The Liberal Democrat Peer Baroness Shirley Williams and former Labour foreign office minister Denis McShane
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Reference Code : - SOBA 1/23
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Date : - 2018-04-23 (creation)
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Description : - Williams and McShane speak to Parliamentary Radio about the @TutuFoundation #PeaceSummit2018 @RegentsUni in London. Sones and Williams are talking from the Desmond Tutu Peace Summit 2018, Sones asks about nationalism and Brexit. Williams agrees that we're going through a period of nationalism, but that the hope is the creation a global system of law. Williams and Sones discuss the importance of Brexit and the willingness to say that the process is not working. McShane is asked about mediating conflict with discussion, he talks about England's approach to treaties and solving conflict through discussion. McShane was said to have created the term 'Brexit', Sones asks about the conflict associated with it and McShane questions what 'negotiations' mean in this context in reference laws and regulations. McShane argues that the Government and Jeremy Corbyn have failed to mediate with the British public. Sones asks about 'Remainers' and McShane responds arguing that they are not true positions to hold and is sad that younger generations will not have the same rights as him to travel and live, just because Rupert Murdoch and Nigel Farage wanted it.
Interview with Catherine Smart the Cambridge Liberal Democrat Agent: Local Elections
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Reference Code : - SOBA 1/24
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Date : - 2018-05-09 (creation)
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Description : - Smart is a former LD Councillor and as agent she had to take charge of election literature of others, the expenses of her election, which are tightly regulated, and was there at the Count in Guild Hall in Cambridge on May 4th. Smart talks about her role in the mid-term local elections, the Liberal Democrats had a surprise win taking control of the neighbouring council in South Cambridgeshire although in Cambridge itself, Labour kept control. Smart requested that Antoinette Jackson, the CEO of Cambridge City council conduct a recount in Trumpington Ward which was a knife edge win for Labour by four votes, but originally two votes had been put on the wrong pile. Smart discusses the election, voting and her role. Sones was in the Guild Hall during the vote, and asks Smart to explain how the ballot papers are counted. Smart says that there are three different aspects to council work: case work, including planning issues; campaigning; committee work. Smart was Councillor for Romsey, she lost her seat and Sones asks if it was because of the national swing in politics. Smart agreed and goes onto explain why she joined the Liberal Democrats, pinning it on Thatcherism. Smart and Sones discuss Brexit and Cambridge voting to Remain. Smart clarifies that the Liberal Democrats want a public vote on the deal that has been agreed. The pair move onto discuss #Vote100, and Sones asks about all-women shortlists. Smart notes the amount of women in local politics and the importance of them, especially in Cambridge.
Interview with Clare King, Labour candidate for West Chesterton, Cambridge
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Reference Code : - SOBA 1/25
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Date : - 2018-05-10 (creation)
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Description : - Clare King was selected on an All-Women shortlist to be the Labour Candidate for West Chesterton in May 2018. She lost by 111 votes, but three of her female colleagues did win their seats elsewhere. This was not the first time that the Cambridge Labour Party has used all women shortlists for the selection of candidates to fight ward seats but it was the first time the rules had been applied to strictly. King was also in charge of the procedure committee, the Cambridge PLP General Secretary, and press officer for her party. She ensured objections to candidates on all women shortlists were dealt with properly and that enough women came forward. King previously held a seat for the Liberal Democrats but changed party after they went into the coalition government with the Conservatives in 2010. King discusses how she feels the election was lost because of postal votes and strategy in comparison with the Labour Party. King discusses the demographics of Cambridge and how to make voters feel welcome. Sones asks about all women's shortlists, Stone's role as Procedures Secretary was overseeing the all women's shortlist. Stone's role was to ensure the process was fair and to redress the imbalance. In Cambridge, if a councillor stands down, the Labour Party decided that the person to take over would be chosen from an all women shortlist.
Remembering Baroness Tessa Jowell MP
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Reference Code : - SOBA 1/26
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Date : - 2015-05 (creation)
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Description : - This is a recording of a documentary made in May 2015 by Parliamentary Radio in which Jowell and her Labour Cabinet colleagues talk about their achievements in government for Labour. Jowell is interviewed by journalist Jackie Ashley and reflects on women in Parliament and #SureStart and #Olympics2012. Jowell passed away on 12 May 2018 after a heroic struggle with a brain tumour during which she fought for better treatment for cancer patients. The Government said that they would double brain cancer research funding to 40 million pounds a year. Jowell talks about the working hours in Parliament as MPs. Jowell talks about her experience with Prime Minister Tony Blair. Sones and Jowell discuss working in Parliament and the work-life balance and carrying on working on the Olympics even after she was not in The Cabinet. Sones asks about whether the amount of female MPs in 1997 had changed the environment in Parliament, Jowell thinks it has and this is evidenced by changes around the working hours, simple changes such as to the amount of toilets and changes to the Smoking Room as female MPs occupied the room every Tuesday.
Interview with Councillors Jerri Bird and Carla McQueen: Cambridge City Council Local Elections
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Reference Code : - SOBA 1/27
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Date : - 2018-05-17 (creation)
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Description : - Bird is a Labour Cambridge City Councillor and helped McQueen win her seat in East Chesterton, McQueen was elected off an all-woman shortlist. Bird is former Mayor of Cambridge and as someone who is in a wheelchair has campaigned on disability issues alongside others. In 2019 she was Deputy Mayor of Cambridge. The interview took place when McQueen had popped over to Bird's house for a meeting on anti-social behaviour and dangerous driving when Sones spoke to both of them. Sones asks Bird about 'door-knocking', Bird says that while there are a few who do not like the experience, many people like talking to their local councillor. The pair discuss disability and Bird becoming Mayor of Cambridge as a disabled person. Sones talks to McQueen about the election night voting count and all-women shortlists. McQueen gives an account of her work in the face of being criticised for being on an all-women shortlist. Sones and Bird discuss special needs education and Bird's childhood, Bird sees it as a serious issue that needs tackling and that is not being tackled by the government. Sones asks both about what their meeting is about: dangerous driving and anti-social behaviour. McQueen talks about the importance of having a strong team around her, especially a team of women. Bird talks about the PIP process and living in Cambridge as a disabled person.
Interview with Nicky Massey and Katie Thornburrow as they take up their council seats in Cambridge: Abbey and Trumpington Wards
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Reference Code : - SOBA 1/28
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Date : - 2018-05-21 (creation)
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Description : - Both were selected on all-women shortlists for Labour and both campaigned on local issues. Nicky led the fight to get 10,000 signatures on a petition to keep Sure Start Centres open in the face of national closures and campaigned on a host of issues including traffic flows and garden fences that had blown down. While Thornburrow, an architect, spoke up for environmental improvement: more cycle ways; more electric car charging points; the introduction of water fountains; and affordable food shops. Sones, Massey and Thornburrow discuss the voting for the local elections and local issues concerning Cambridge. Sones asks about Brexit, Massey and Thornburrow discuss the sadness of talking to EU Nationals in Cambridge.
Interview with Jo Swinson MP on #Equal Power: Northern Ireland abortion reforms, women in the boardroom, women and rape, local election results and MPs and maternity and paternity leave
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Reference Code : - SOBA 1/29
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Date : - 2018-06-01 (creation)
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Description : - Sones and Swinson discuss Northern Ireland and abortion reforms, Swinson cannot believe Northern Ireland is this far behind, especially in light of the Republic of Ireland voting to make abortion legal. The pair discuss devolution and how it impacts decisions of this kind, Swinson argues that this is a human rights issue and that devolution should not allow for human rights breaches. Sones asks about women in the boardroom and the recent government report. They discuss Swinson's book, 'Equal Power' and what advice Swinson has for women, focusing on looking at your strengths and recognising that we still live in a prejudice world. However, it is very important to listen to people and learn from those who have succeed. Swinson notes how important equality is for men and boys as improving the world as a whole. Sones asks about the recent local elections and the Liberal Democrats being the remain party. Swinson talks about how flexible being an MP whilst pregnant is, and paternal leave after birth or adoption.
Interview with Jo Platt MP
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Reference Code : - SOBA 1/30
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Date : - 2018-06-06 (creation)
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Description : - Platt asked the Prime Minister if she would help set up a national database of ADHD sufferers. Platt, the Labour and Co-operative MP for Leigh and the co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on ADHD asked Theresa May the Prime Minister if she would do more to help people with ADHD and set up a national database. Platt and Helen Whately MP launched the APPG for ADHD at the beginning of 2018 has been working with support groups to enable more research to be conducted about it and to ensure better integration of services. Platt talks to Sones about the Prime Ministers supportive response to it.
Interview with Helen Goodman MP: supporting Labour's new Brexit Bill Reasoned Amendment
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Reference Code : - SOBA 1/31
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Date : - 2018-06-06 (creation)
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Description : - Goodman, Labour MP for Bishop Auckland talks about the announcement that Labour will be putting forward its own reasoned amendment on the Brexit Bill when all 15 Lords amendments will be debated in one day to ensure it does not have to support membership of the European Economic Area. This would have meant that the UK would remain part of the Single Market, but would also have to accept all of the four freedoms including the freedom of movement of people. Goodman represents a constituency that voted to leave the EU and as a member of the Shadow Cabinet she supports this new amendment and says she will be voting with Jeremy Corbyn. She also spoke up in favour of two other of those fifteen amendments, including membership of a customs union and the right for MPs to vote on the final agreement.
Interview with Vicky Ford MP on #Abortion in Northern Ireland
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Reference Code : - SOBA 1/32
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Date : - 2018-06-06 (creation)
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Description : - Ford speaks about her speech in the recent debate on reforming the abortion laws in Northern Ireland and amending the Offences Against the Persons Act 1861 proposed by the Labour politician Stella Creasy. The debate was brought forward after a referendum in Southern Ireland [Ireland] where the vote was in support of abortion reform leaving Northern Ireland out of step with the rest of the UK. Ford talked to Sones before Supreme Court ruled whether or not the UK in contravention of the Human Rights Act on this.
Interview with Councillor Bridget Smith on the May 2018 Local Elections
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Reference Code : - SOBA 1/33
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Date : - 2018-06-12 (creation)
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Description : - The May 2018 local elections resulted in normally safe Conservative parliamentary seat of South Cambridgeshire becoming a Liberal Democrat controlled council with a healthy majority winning 30 of the 45 seats. There were boundary changes and a reduction in the number of seats from 57, the Conservatives were reduced to just 11 when they previously had 35. Some put the dramatic change down to the 2016 Referendum and Brexit, and the vote to leave the EU, in which 60% of South Cambridgeshire voters wanted to Remain. However, there were other factors at play, such as no proper local plan, controversial housing developments, transportation, the lack of face-to-face debt advice, and the need for more affordable housing. In this interview, Bridget smith, the new leader of South Cambridgeshire spoke to Sones about the victory, the issues on which the Liberal Democrats campaigned, the impact of Brexit, and the vulnerability of the seat now in any future General Election and their use of the 'Minivan' application which allowed them to know which houses they needed to call upon in each ward. Smith discusses the 'waterfall of yellow votes', but notes that 'putting it down to Brexit is far too simplistic. Smith and Sones discuss the other issues affecting Cambridge, having four years of no plan, no five year housing land supply and out of control speculative land development. Smith states that people are really upset by the effects of austerity.
Interview with Baroness Ruth Deech: Brexit and the House of Lords Amendments
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Reference Code : - SOBA 1/34
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Date : - 2018-06-15 (creation)
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Description : - Baroness Deech supported Brexit, and tells Sones why she believes the House of Lords has every right to amend the legislation of the Commons and that the so called 'ping pong' process is good for democracy. During this week, the House of Commons considered fifteen Lord's Amendments to the Brexit Bill, and overturned them all, but this did inflict considerable damage to both the Conservative and Labour parties whose leaders, Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn were unable to get their front benches to vote with their party line. Deech described the vote, and the Scottish National Party walking out of PMQs as 'chaotic'. Deech states that her instinct is that if there were to be another referendum vote it would still be 52 to 48, believing that we would vote the same way again.
@Vote100 Voice and Vote Exhibition, Westminster Hall: Women's Place in Parliament
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Reference Code : - SOBA 1/35
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Date : - 2018-06-27 (creation)
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Description : - Interview with Maria Miller MP, the Chair of the Equalities Select Committee provides her own tour of the new Voice and Vote exhibition. The exhibition takes visitors through the historic moments of women's suffrage and their struggle for the vote.
Interview with Lucy Allan MP: Child Sexual Exploitation - CSE
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Reference Code : - SOBA 1/36
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Date : - 2018-06-27 (creation)
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Description : - Allen, MP for Telford talks about Child Sexual Exploitation, upskirting, the expansion of Heathrow Airport and why she strongly supports Brexit two years on from the vote to leave. On CSE, Allan talks about working with the Sikh community in Telford who help feed the homeless and how they feel discriminated against as a 'Muslim Gang' as people group those of Asian origin. When discussing Heathrow and Brexit, Allen voted in favour of a new runway and this is especially the case when looking to expand our horizons post-Brexit.
Interview with Sarah Wollaston MP: a new law on stalking and supporting Theresa May on her new Brexit Plan
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Reference Code : - SOBA 1/37
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Date : - 2018-06-12 (creation)
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Description : - Wollaston, MP for Totnes had a new Private Members Bill going through Parliament that would allow victims of stalking to get the police to take out stalking protection orders. She hoped the government would expedite the PMB just like it did with Wera Hobhouse MP's Upskirting Bill. On the new Chequers Brexit Plan, Wollaston states that she thinks Theresa May is doing a 'very good job'.
Interview with Baroness Susan Kramer on Theresa May's Chequers Brexit Plan, free trade deals and food standards post-Brexit needing greater scrutiny
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Reference Code : - SOBA 1/38
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Date : - 2018-07-12 (creation)
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Description : - Kramer is the Liberal Democrat Treasury and Economics spokesperson and believes the Chequers Brexit Plan left much to be desired. Kramer warns that any future free trade deal with countries like America could mean UK consumers eating less healthy foods and lowering standards. She was stunned by the Chequers Agreement and agrees with President Donald Trump, that the UK is in chaos.
Interview with Vicky Ford MP: #AskHerToStand, Proxy Voting, Brexit White Paper and on her Prime Minister Theresa May
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Reference Code : - SOBA 1/39
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Date : - 2018-07-19 (creation)
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Description : - Ford, Conservative MP for Chelmsford, chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group on Women in the House of Commons, this week with others she laid a wreath at the statue of Emmeline Pankhurst to commemorate Pankhurst's birthday. Ford had been attending Pankhurst parties and she is part of a movement which is encouraging women from all parties to come forward and stand for parliament with the campaign group #AskHerToStand. Sones asks about the week's events in Westminster as the government got its amendments to the Brexit White Paper through when four Labour MPs voted with it.
Interview with Siobhain McDonagh MP: housing and the National Trust rent rises, proxy votes, Brexit and Antisemitism in the Labour Party
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Reference Code : - SOBA 1/40
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Date : - 2018-07-24 (creation)
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Description : - McDonagh, Labour MP for Mitcham and Morden speaks about being concerned with the National Trust's plans to increase their tenants' rent to market levels, believing that this will impact those with disabilities. Sones asks about the proxy voting row over the breaking of Liberal Democrat MP Jo Swinson's pairing arrangement while she was on maternity leave, McDonagh calls it a 'breach of trust'. On Brexit, McDonagh believes in a Peoples' Vote when the deal is known.