Interview with Shadow Whip Thangam Debbonaire MP on Parliament's Brexit chaos
Reference Code:
SOBA 1/68/5
Date:
2019-03-14 (creation)
Description:
Debbonaire is the Labour MP for Bristol West, a shadow whip for her party with a special interest in DEFRA, the Environmental Food and Rural Affairs. During this week, Theresa May's Withdrawal Agreement had suffered another defeat - by one-hundred-and-forty-nine votes, and a day later, MPs ruled out a no-deal by a majority of forty-three. In all, thirteen government and cabinet ministers abstained on that vote to defy their own Prime Minister and whip while one minister resigned and voted for it. The pair also discuss the new Independent Group of break-away MPs, Philip Hammond's new money for Leave Towns and how she's campaigning for more education funding for schools. Debbonaire believes that Article 50 would have to be extended and that there should be another referendum.
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


Interview with Baroness Julie Smith and the Liberal Democrat Surge
Reference Code:
SOBA 2/7/1
Date:
2019-05-27 (creation)
Description:
Smith talks to Women's Parliamentary Radio about the European Election Results which came the previous night. Smith is pleased with the results and thinks it was clear that those who would not usually vote Liberal Democrat did in this election on the basis of Brexit. Sones asks about the extent of the Liberal Democrat surge, Smith thinks that slogans such as 'bollocks to Brexit' and 'Stop Brexit' were ways of 'fighting fire with fire' against the Brexit Party. Whilst there was some Labour Candidates who were for Brexit, the party message was mixed according to Smith. Sones asks about Theresa May and the Conservative Leadership and the fact that 'Remain' parties got the most votes in the European election. Smith think there is a majority in 'remain' versus 'hard Brexit'.
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother



ERS Round Table
Reference Code:
SOBA 6/3/30
Description:
ERS here is Electoral Reform Society. From the 'Features' section.
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


#IWD2018 interview with Alison McGovern MP as she talks about Harriet Harman MP and those all too male works of art in Westminster
Reference Code:
SOBA 1/13
Date:
2018-03-06 (creation)
Description:
McGovern was just one year of age when Harman was elected to Parliament. McGovern talks about Harman's influence, all-women shortlists, having a nursery in the Houses of Parliament. Sones asks about how 'male' Parliament is, McGovern recognises that it will take time through the Committee.
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


Interview with Councillors Jerri Bird and Carla McQueen: Cambridge City Council Local Elections
Reference Code:
SOBA 1/27
Date:
2018-05-17 (creation)
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.
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


Interview with Councillor Bridget Smith on the May 2018 Local Elections
Reference Code:
SOBA 1/33
Date:
2018-06-12 (creation)
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.
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


Interview with Vicky Ford MP on #Abortion in Northern Ireland
Reference Code:
SOBA 1/32
Date:
2018-06-06 (creation)
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.
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


@Vote100 Voice and Vote Exhibition, Westminster Hall: Women's Place in Parliament
Reference Code:
SOBA 1/35
Date:
2018-06-27 (creation)
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.
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


Interview with Catherine McKinnell MP: Carillion and apprenticeships and childcare vouchers
Reference Code:
SOBA 1/5
Date:
2018-01-17 (creation)
Description:
McKinnell is the Labour MP for Newcastle North, her debate followed a petition that asked the government to think again before making the changes to phasing out vouchers which will cause hardship for some. McKinnell also asked Prime Minster Theresa May about what will happen to apprenticeships now that the construction company Carillion has gone bust. McKinnell is the co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Apprenticeships, McKinnell discusses tax free child care and formulating a fairer system and working against the government's decision to block new voucher applications, even though the vouchers scheme helps those worse off.
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


Interview with Maria Miller MP: Cox Report and Harassment in Parliament
Reference Code:
SOBA 1/50
Date:
2018-10-17 (creation)
Description:
Miller, Conservative MP for Basingstoke chairs the Women and Equalities Select Committee and used a debate (16 October) to discuss the Dame Laura Cox report on harassment and bullying in Parliament to call for Speaker John Bercow to resign. Miller was disappointed with the number of MPs in the debate and that it was obvious Bercow should step down.
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


Interview with Anne Marie Trevelyan MP: why when you are an MP, Country has to be the first battle to fight
Reference Code:
SOBA 1/58
Date:
2018-12-11 (creation)
Description:
'Brexiteer' Anne Marie Trevelyan and Conservative MP for Berwick Upon Tweed represents a fishing constituency that voted to Leave the EU in the 2016 Referendum. Trevelyan resigned her junior ministerial position in the Department of Education. Trevelyan was disappointed with Theresa May's decision to delay the Brexit vote. Speaking about her decision to resign from the government she said that after reading the agreement she felt she had little choice and that as an MP your loyalty is to your Constituency.
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


UK Parliament Week: Why you need to persevere in politics
Reference Code:
SOBA 1/54
Date:
2018-11-14 (creation)
Description:
Dame Caroline Spelman, the Conservative MP for Meriden and former Secretary of State for the Environment in David Cameron's 2010 government, hosted an event in Westminster to explore ways of encouraging more women to enter the Church.
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


Interview with Caroline Spelman MP and Jack Dromey MP - Preventing a no-deal Brexit
Reference Code:
SOBA 1/63
Date:
2019-01-09 (creation)
Description:
Sones discusses attempts by MPs to ensure that the UK will not leave the European Union with a no-deal. Over 220 MPs signed a letter trying to guarantee this. The no-deal letter was started by neighbouring Midlands MPs from opposite sides of the party divide, Dame Caroline Spelman, Conservative MP for Meriden and Jack Dromey, Labour MP for Birmingham Erdington who both said jobs had already been lost in their constituencies. Dromey tells Sones that MPs have to remain focused to do everything to get a deal and ensure that the economy. Spelman supports Theresa May's Withdrawal Agreement.
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


Interview with Professor David Howarth, University of Cambridge and former MP on why Alexander 'Boris' Johnson 'should have already gone'
Reference Code:
SOBA 2/16
Date:
2019-09-17 (creation)
Description:
Sones asks Howarth about the prorogation of Parliament and a ruling in Scotland. Howarth discusses the importance of the decisions and what prorogation means. Howarth goes onto to discuss the relationship between the House of Commons, The Prime Minister and The Queen. Howarth discusses the relationship between the Police, Courts and the Government and the potential impacts of the breaking down of the rule of Law.
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


Interview with Meg Hillier, Labour MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch and Chair of the Public Accounts Committee. Hillier was knocked out in the first round of voting for the new Speaker of the House of Commons
Reference Code:
SOBA 2/25
Date:
2019-11-14 (creation)
Description:
Hillier stood for Speaker of the House, Hillier expands on why and Sones is curious as to why many recommendations in reference to bullying in Parliament have not been implemented as of yet. Hillier thinks MPs need better Human Resources advice and trained office managers, many MPs rush into the role without any experience once they get into Parliament. Hillier says that when there is an issue with an MP, it is often the staff member who gets removed from their role. Hillier thinks that Parliament has been modernised under John Bercow's speakership but that there is a long way to go where bullying is concerned. Sones asks whether Parliament has done its job in recent years, she believes so as it kept the Executive in check, but that it was a difficult system to operate in. However, Hillier does believe that there have been many things that have not gone through Parliament as there is no majority either way.
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


Thursday: The Cambridge European Elections and Vox Pops
Reference Code:
SOBA 2/6
Date:
2019-05-27 (creation)
Description:
The event is being recorded live from St Mary's Church for the Election Hustings - candidates include the Brexit Party (Edmund Fordham), Change UK (Neil Carmichael), Greens (Catherine Rowett), Labour (Alvin Shum), Conservatives (Tom McLeren), Liberal Democrats (Lucy Nethsingha) and UKIP (Stuart Agnew). Each candidate talks through why they should be the choice for Cambridge. Sones then speaks to some attendees after the event.
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


Booklet
Reference Code:
SOBA 6/1
Date:
2008 (creation)
Description:
The published “The day the Carlton Club accepted women” – 90 years after women first got the vote' / Women MPs in Westminster photocall booklet (in physcial and PDF form), along with individual versions of the photographs used within. There are two PDF versions of the booklet, with only minor differences.
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


Patrick O’Flynn – UKIP general election candidate
Reference Code:
SOBA 5/1/15
Date:
2015-4-18 (creation)
Description:
Interviewed while campaigning in King's Hedges. As described by the depositor: We met Patrick O’Flynn when he and his team were campaigning in a target ward for them, Kings Hedges. He said: “This is one of the more working class wards in Cambridge and we have had a series of action days where we have targeted and leafleted people in our target wards, which tend to be the more blue collared wards. Last night we had a big public meeting in the Ward in the Arbury Community Centre, and other members of our Party attended. We had the added attraction of Douglas Carswell, and I am UKIP national campaign director too so I have been on the television quite a lot. Douglas brought in the extra turnout and we had a really good night. We are getting the leaflets through the door, but it is very mixed. Some say there is no place for UKIP in Cambridge, because we want migration controls. “I do Tweet but I don’t do Facebook but the Party puts a lot into Facebook with Nigel Farage and others in the party. We are coming from a fairly low base in Cambridge but we are the new kid on the Cambridge scene but we have taken massive strides forward. We have eight candidates for 14 wards, I am proud of that, and through the local elections we will find out where our strength lies to hopefully go on to win local seats in 2016. “Cambridge is a Liberal Left city but the liberal left vote is split so it gives me a niche between the blue collar and Conservative vote who might like some of our pledges on defence spending and looking after some of our veterans, law and order and EU and immigration and inheritance tax.”
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother



Labour 'Big Footing' event
Reference Code:
SOBA 5/1/24
Date:
2015-2-25 (creation)
Description:
Interviews on Harrian Harman's pink bus, including with Harman, and members of her team Sally Gimson, from the Labour List website, and Ann Sinnott a Cambridge Councillor. As described by the depositor: We asked Harriet, how many places her pink bus would be visiting and why the colour of the bus had provoked so much criticism? She spoke of how important the women’s vote was to her party. Harriet told us: “There has been a lot of controversy about the colour, but I can’t really regard it as negative publicity because how can you have a debate about something so insignificant. As we have gone around the Country, women are concerned, not about the colour, but about what is going on in women’s lives and what local government and national government can do for them. The women’s vote is very important to Labour and for women to vote. Last time in 2010, 9.1 million didn’t vote. I think it is important that we hear women’s voices that women have their say and exercise their vote. Politics is too important to be left to the boys.” Sally Gimson, from the Labour List website, said: “People are hooting on the motorway as the pink bus goes by. It has been mocked but not viciously attacked. It has made people look at women’s issues. All publicity is good publicity. The cost of living, people’s income, child care, DV, the grooming of children, sexual harassment, are big issues for women as well. The battle has not yet been won for women and that is why we are out on the pink bus.” Ann Sinnott, a Labour City Councillor since May 2014, said: “I was delighted with the pink bus and there is nothing wrong with the colour. The mediation service we visited, do very good work, and there were other representatives there working with vulnerable women and women with DV. It costs the police huge amounts of money each year, it is costly and there is a human cost too. DV is the biggest crime anywhere.”
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


Cambridge Evening News: part one
Reference Code:
SOBA 5/1/33
Date:
2015-4-23-2015-4-27 (creation)
Description:
Interviews with John Vale political editor and reporter at the Cambridge Evening News. As described by the depositor: After attending one Hustings event and chairing another John told us: “It is very important that people know where their candidates stand on a wide range of issues. People need to know the full range of issues from what the candidates will do about potholes to the big humanitarian crisis facing us, such as the Palestinian situation. The Conservative and UKIP candidates were invited and didn’t turn up to that one today on Palestine, so people need to know that too. “What I try and do with Twitter is not to give any sort of interpretation but to give an account of what was said. The candidates go within two hours from talking about how you solve dyslexia to how you solve the crisis of the Middle East. “Twitter has 140 characters and we very rarely go beyond 600 in a story in the paper. It is only possible to capture 10 or 20 per cent of the debate, so it’s not an easy task, what I find interesting might not be interesting to others, but I do my best. There is a lot of knowledge to get on the page.”
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


Poll card deliverers
Reference Code:
SOBA 5/1/5
Date:
2015-4-22 (creation)
Description:
As described by the depositor: Robert also delivers poll cards, as does Harriet Morgan, who we met at the Buddhist Hustings event. Robert has delivered 4000 poll cards this year. However Harriet thinks delivering cards does matter as it can give people the chance to realise they need to register if they haven’t done so already. .“People do say “where’s mine”. Vicky told us she has 150 staff that work for her department on polling day, and training them is essential. There is no electoral legislation to cover the use of mobile phones, Twitter or Facebook.
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


Postal voter and hustings organiser
Reference Code:
SOBA 5/1/7
Date:
2015-4-27 (creation)
Description:
As described by the depositor: We caught up with a postal voter who had helped organise the Brunswick and North Kite, Residents Association Hustings, Sue Gordon Roe. Around 200 people attended from the area after Sue and her friends delivered 500 invites to their neighbours. She organised a postal vote for her husband and daughter and voted on April 24th before she went on holiday: “I rang up and they sent it. We voted locally and we voted nationally. Double envelopes, all through the post and the door.”
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother