How liberal is Cameron's Cabinet?
Wednesday, May 12, 2010 
The new Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition government has released a document outlining a programme of measures intended to reverse "the substantial erosion of civil liberties under the Labour Government and roll back state intrusion". It includes plans to:
- Scrap the ID card scheme and the national identity register and the next generation of biometric passports
- Extend the scope of the Freedom of Information bill to provide greater transparency
- Adopt protections of the Scottish model for the DNA database
- Protect trial by jury
- Review libel laws to protect freedom of speech
- Regulate use of CCTV and other items
But how liberal are the individual members of our new coalition government? Watch this space.
H/T Big Brother Watch and Police State UK
Simon Clark
DAVID CAMERON, Prime Minister (Con)
Mysteriously avoided voting on the public smoking ban. Allegedly told Daily Mail journalists (during a private visit to their Kensington office a year ago) that he wouldn't repeal the ban because "I don't smoke". Well, not anymore.
NICK CLEGG, Deputy Prime Minister (Lib Dem)
Another no show when it came to voting on the smoking ban, despite the fact that our new deputy PM is an "occasional smoker". Now a strong supporter of the ban, having swallowed the propaganda on passive smoking.
GEORGE OSBORNE, Chancellor of the Exchequer (Con)
Like his mate Cameron, Osborne didn't vote on the smoking ban. Perhaps he dislikes taking tough decisions.
WILLIAM HAGUE, Foreign Secretary (Con)
Voted against blanket smoking ban, supporting exemption for private members' clubs.
THERESA MAY, Home Secretary (Con)
Voted against smoking ban, supporting exemption for private members' clubs.
DR LIAM FOX, Defence Secretary (Con)
Voted against ban on smoking in private member clubs.
ANDREW LANSLEY, Health Secretary (Con)
Voted for smoking ban with exemption for private members' clubs. Supports removal of vending machines from public areas of licensed premises. Not in favour of extending smoking ban (yet).
MICHAEL GOVE, Education Secretary (Con)
Voted against blanket smoking ban.
VINCE CABLE, Business Secretary (Lib Dem)
Voted to ban smoking in all pubs and clubs with no exemptions.
KENNETH CLARKE, Justice Secretary (Con)
Voted against blanket ban, as you would expect of a smoker and the deputy chairman of British American Tobacco.
IAN DUNCAN SMITH, Work and Pensions (Con)
Voted for smoking ban, with exemption for private members' clubs.
CHRIS HUHNE, Energy and Climate Change (Lib Dem)
Voted to ban smoking in all pubs and clubs with no exemptions.
DAVID LAWS, Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Lib Dem)
Voted moderately on smoking issues.
DANNY ALEXANDER, Scottish Secretary (Lib Dem)
Voted to ban smoking in all pubs and clubs with no exemptions.
ERIC PICKLES, Local Government Secretary (Con)
Didn't vote on smoking ban.
CAROLINE SPELMAN, Defra (Con)
Voted to ban smoking in all pubs and clubs with no exemptions.
FRANCIS MAUDE, Cabinet Office (Con)
Didn't vote on public smoking ban.
JEREMY HUNT, Culture, Media and Sport (Con)
Voted against blanket ban, supporting exemption for private members' clubs.
OWEN PATERSON, Northern Ireland (Con)
Voted moderately against smoking ban, with exemption for private members' clubs. Attended Forest dinner at The Savoy in 2007.
PHILIP HAMMOND, Transport (Con)
Voted against blanket ban, supporting exemption for private members' clubs.
ANDREW MITCHELL, International Development (Con)
Voted moderately against smoking ban, with exemption for private members' clubs.
OLIVER LETWIN, Minister Without Portfolio (Con)
Voted "ambiguously" but against ban in private member clubs.
CHERYL GILLAN, Wales (Con)
Voted moderately against smoking ban, with exemption for private members' clubs.
PATRICK McLOUGHLIN, Chief Whip (Con)
Voted moderately for smoking ban, with exemption for private members' clubs.
H/T The Public Whip
Simon Clark
Looking at the above, how f*ckin' liberal are the Liberal Democrats!!!
Reader Comments (66)
Is that a vote in favour of hanging Jeff then Mark?
Andy Murray gets my vote. Arrogant, obnoxious, spoilt brat.
Are we allowed a little scourging first Peter?
Sorry Michael, you cannot just hang someone because you think they are spoilt.
Disqualified!
I'm not aware of anyone shouting or screaming like a bunch of kids, Peter. To me, it's not about "rescuing" Dave, it's about being loyal and fair to someone I respect who is being treated unfairly. I'd like to think people would do the same for me in any community I inhabit.
I wonder sometimes what makes you feel the need to say some of the things you do :-/
Oh dear...I need help, Rose is attacking me....please..I need my "community" to come and rescue me..
Peter, I share your views on many things but not the way you express them. Calm down, dear! It's Friday afternoon. Have a Margarita.
Where is Jeff Toomey when I need him?
p.s. I can't stand the salt Simon, now if you had said have a nice cool Havana, that would have been different. But really, I am very calm indeed, and very much writing in a tongue in cheek mode!
Peter wrote
.
Where is Jeff Toomey when I need him?
.
In his bunker with Mandy and Campbell.
@guys
When you put your head above the parapet do not expect an easy ride. Many people are genuinely sceptical, cynical or in some cases down right hostile.
Jeff raised some questions, I hope I answered them, but bearing in mind the evidence I offered, maybe he should of been more concillaty.
Simon has been at Forest for 10 years and he should wear as a badge of honour that the only people that he has upset are ASH, Labour and the nannies at the Department Of Health.
In my defence I know a lot more than I dare publish and if Jeff has more questions or points I am happy to answer them. My question to Jeff is, do you smoke?
Thanks very much for all your kind words, much appreciated.
Pubic hanging? Lansley's neck in the noose please if he is going to continue with the nanny state crap.
As for the smoking ban, those of you who voted ConDem made clear to our new masters that the smoking ban doesn't matter. You have no right to moan about it now. Those of us who voted with conscience, AND BECAUSE OF THE SMOKING BAN, can take the moral high ground as Cameron becomes the Tory's Bliar and you find out too late what you have done.
Very well put, the Rev Patricia Nurse. The sermon endeth here (I hope).
Wow !
So why don't we get 'debates' like THIS in 'Parliament' ?
You know - like we used to.....................
(According to the history books)
By the way Mark, I am not in my bunker with Mandy and Campbell, I'll leave that to a few other names that seem to be connected to the left, that I have seen on here.
In answer to Mr Atherton, of course I smoke, why else would I have come to this site? And in answer to several other posters, I do not have to prove any connections with any party as I have none! I have friends and colleagues in the Conservative Party, and I am a staunch Conservative myself, but that is as far as it goes.
I am also not against Mr Atherton in any way. The only thing I questioned was his exact connections with the Conservatives, as they did not seem quite real to me, but he now seems to have cleared up exactly what he does, and I accept that and I apologise profusely to him if I have caused him any embarrassment.
Now however, I have something else I would like to ask, and Mr Atherton does not need to answer, I will not push him, it is completely up to him. This question refers to his statement, 'I know a lot more than I dare publish'.
That sounds very much to me like Mr Atherton is now saying that he could possibly be connected to MI5? If this is true in any way, it would be impossible for Mr Atherton to confirm, so what other 'questions or points', could I ask him then?
@Jeff
Thanks for your apology, there was no need to go that far. It is of course humbly accepted.
Let me try and put the record straight. I have been a lifetime Conservative voter and polemicist, only abstaining in 1997. I was a few years ago a member of Ilford North Conservative Party for a year in 2004, but it was not until the smoking ban came and noting that the Tories voted 2 to 1 against it did I become an activist. However most of my political work has been involved in trying to get the ban amended. I have not only lobbied the Conservative Party but also Labour and Liberal too.
Politics is not only about MPs and ministers it is also about influencing think tanks and advisors to the government and also challenging our opponents.
When I say 'I know a lot more than I dare publish'.it is in reference to tobacco control. For example I have caught a major international organisation bare faced lying on passive smoking. I hope to publish this in the next few weeks. I also have very strong proof with information gained under Freedom Of Information Requests of a British organisation blatantly telling fibs. Again I hope to publish this soon.
As I say Jeff if you live in the London area you are more than welcome to meet up May 24th in the evening and there is another equally important event in the next 2-3 weeks you are welcome to come along to, especially being a Tory..
My private email is daveatherton20@hotmail.com
Well put Dave, let's hope this is an end to all the speculation.