General Elections: Help us decide! - Candidate responses - 2nd April 2010.

Question 1 Anti Discrimination & Islamophobia	Do you support the establishment of a parliamentary committee on Islamophobia, akin to the parliamentary committee on anti-Semitism? Do you feel current legislation is sufficiently robust to protect against Islamophobia? How would you campaign over the next four years to combat Islamophobia?
Conservatives - Karen Lumley	Everyone in public life has to recognise that the growth in anti-Muslim hatred is a stain on our society and something that deeply concerns us all. We are determined to confront and defeat this new form of hatred in this country and beyond. We have to be tough on both anti-Muslim hatred and the causes of anti-Muslim hatred. Therefore, we would support the launch of an All-Party Parliamentary Inquiry into anti-Muslim hatred in the UK. We anticipate the Inquiry would fully investigate this worrying trend and make recommendations to the Government of the day. It is up to all of us to challenge those spreading hate against British citizens.
Greens - Kevin White	Islamophobia is a growing problem of recent years and more action by governments is required to address this. The Green Party support the establishment of a parliamentary committee on Islamophobia.
Labour - Jacqui Smith	No response received.
Lib Dems - Nicholas Lane	No response received.

Question 2 Climate Change & the Environment	How would you co-opt faith communities to encourage more responsible consumption? How would you work with churches / mosques / synagogues and temples to combat climate change?
Conservatives - Karen Lumley	From the very beginning of his leadership of the Conservative Party, David Cameron made clear that Britain must take a position of leadership on the global - as well as our own – environment. The Conservative Party’s plans are for an environmental and energy revolution, which would make Britain a world leader in moves towards creating a low carbon economy. Our plans will help create hundreds of thousands of jobs, raise skills and improve Britain’s competitiveness. Conservatives have argued for a global deal on climate change and for urgent domestic action too. In order to be successful in this we need to build broad support for the changes we need to make to our consumption more sustainable. We therefore need faith groups and charities etc, to help reinforce the message that we have obligations to hand on to our children and grandchildren the natural beauty and diversity of the world that we inherited from previous generations.
Greens - Kevin White	We will work with faith communities to achieve a just, low-carbon society for all, in order to safeguard the planet for the future. We believe that tackling climate change is a moral issue. We are seeking a just society in which quality of life is measured through human happiness and not material consumption. We would seek to work closely with faith community leaders in order to educate and raise awareness at a grass-roots level. We would enable churches, mosques etc to save money on energy bills by installing solar/wind power. Our renewable energy feed-in tariffs would pay premium rates for large and small producers of renewable electricity.
Labour - Jacqui Smith	No response received.
Lib Dems - Nicholas Lane	No response received.

Question 3 Crime and Security	Do you feel the balance between liberty and security has tipped too far in recent times in favour of security? Do you support the provisions contained within Section 44 of the Terrorism Act? Do you support the use of control orders and secret evidence?  Do you feel the introduction of the full-body scanners is proportionate, furthermore should an alternative screening process be provided for those who may have objections similar to what is implemented in the United States?
Conservatives - Karen Lumley	Labour have trampled civil liberties in the name of counter-terrorism. This has alienated many people and, as a result, may actually increase the number of people tempted towards extremism. We’d change the approach. Counter-terrorism powers such as stop and searches under section 44 of the Terrorism Act have been over-used by police and we will review them if we are elected. We will monitor the ethnicity of people being stopped by police so we’ll be able to take action if needed. It should be possible to strike the right balance between stopping those who give rise to genuine suspicion and ensuring that nobody is stopped purely because of their skin colour. We do not think the current control order scheme has been a success. We would like to find a way to get rid of them without aggravating the terrorist threat or endangering lives. If elected, we will launch a full review of the controversial Control Order programme.
Greens - Kevin White	The balance has certainly tipped too far in favour of security. The power to stop and search under anti-terrorism powers should only be used when there is evidence of a specific terrorist threat. The Green Party would restrict police use of random stop and search powers, which damage police and youth/Muslim/black relations. We are opposed to the use of control orders and secret evidence in court. The introduction of the full-body scanners is not proportionate and we believe an alternative screening process should be provided.
Labour - Jacqui Smith	No response received.
Lib Dems - Nicholas Lane	No response received.

Question 4 EU Policies and EU Enlargement	Has the EU been an effective party in the Quartet for peace in the Middle East? Do you think the EU has done enough to condemn the Gaza blockade? Over the next four years how would you campaign for a firm and fair UK and EU foreign policy?
Conservatives - Karen Lumley	The EU has played an important role in the Quartet and we welcome Baroness Ashton’s recent visit to Gaza as a significant step to highlighting the Gaza blockade. We strongly support Turkey’s accession to the EU. Not only do Turkey and the rest of the EU have much to offer each other in terms of trade and energy but Turkish membership would show that there is no contradiction between being a modern Muslim country and European. The EU’s dialogue with the nations of the Middle East would also be powerfully strengthened. On the niqab, there is a need for sensitivity and understanding in our dealings with different societies, cultures and religions. We believe that debates about dress should not obscure the fundamental issue about whether women have access to education, healthcare and opportunities. Freedom to worship and freedom of speech are fundamental British values which must be protected. A Conservative government will be active and activist in Europe from day one. We want to see the EU use its collective weight in the world, and demonstrate effectiveness and consistency. Relations with countries bordering the Mediterranean form an important part of that and we support the new Union for the Mediterranean. Britain’s relations with the friendly nations of North Africa have been undervalued and those relationships should be elevated across the board.
Greens - Kevin White	As pre-conditions of continued favourable trading relations, we would oblige Israel to end the siege of Gaza, stop settlement expansion and commit to ending the occupation. We recognise that peace will be only be achieved when the principal peacemakers adopt a less one-sided approach. Green Party Leader Caroline Lucas has spoken out against Israel’s longstanding campaign of ‘collective punishment’ against the people of Gaza, which cuts off the flow of fuel, commercial and humanitarian supplies, profoundly affects the region’s water and sanitation system, and is responsible for the suffering of over 860,000 vulnerable people. The EU's Association Agreement with Israel is expressly dependent on both sides respecting basic human rights, yet despite persistent breaches, these clauses have never been invoked. Caroline says ‘Under these circumstances, the EU’s Association Agreement with Israel must be immediately suspended. Suspending the trade agreement and attaching the necessary conditions to any future trade policy with Israel would allow the EU an opportunity to play a significant role in bringing peace and stability to the Middle East.
Labour - Jacqui Smith	No response received.
Lib Dems - Nicholas Lane	No response received.

Question 5 Foreign Policy & Counter Terrorism	Is the UK government right to exclude Hamas from direct discussions in negotiations for peace in the Middle East? What is your view on the UN Goldstone report? Do you think the Arab citizens of Israel are subject to apartheid policies? Do you support Palestinians claims of sovereignty over Masjid Al Aqsa (located in occupied East Jerusalem). What would you do over the next four years to campaign for peace and justice for the Palestinian peoples?
Conservatives - Karen Lumley	We agree with the approach adopted by the Quartet (the United States, EU, UN and Russia) that Hamas should renounce violence, recognise Israel, and accept previous agreements with Israel. The onus is on Hamas to accept these principles and show some credible movement in their direction. We believe that to talk to Hamas directly at this time would simply undermine those Palestinians who are committed to peace. On Goldstone, it is important that allegations of war crimes are properly investigated. We call on both the Israelis and the Palestinians to respond to the findings contained within the Goldstone Report into the Gaza conflict. We do not think Arab citizens of Israel are subject to apartheid policies. We know that some leaders of Israeli Arabs have expressed strong concerns about the place of their community in Israeli society. At the same time Israeli Arabs have the right to vote and there are Arab members of the Kneset who express their views forcefully there on behalf of their community. We do also have concerns about movement and access for Palestinians in the West Bank, and regularly raise these concerns with the Israeli Government. It is longstanding British policy that Jerusalem should be the capital for both Israel and any new Palestinian state. We want to see the urgent resumption of negotiations to resolve all outstanding issues of the conflict, including the status of Jerusalem. Jerusalem is sacred to all three of the Abrahamic faiths and an enduring peace for the region has to involve access to their holy sites by Muslims, Christians and Jews. A Conservative Government would make achieving progress on the Middle East Peace Process a priority and work energetically to help bring this about. It will be up to the parties themselves to reach agreement on the basis for talks. The role of British diplomacy should be to buttress such efforts to the fullest extent possible. We believe that a settlement must involve the creation of an independent, viable and contiguous Palestinian state and helping achieve this is the best way of campaigning for peace and justice for the Palestinian peoples. Furthermore we do not support the closure of the crossings into Gaza, which has serious humanitarian consequences. We have called repeatedly for the crossings to be opened to allow humanitarian aid, food and materials for reconstruction to enter on the scale desperately needed.
Greens - Kevin White	The 1967 green line should be respected. That includes Al Aqsa Mosque which is to the east of that line. The Goldstone report appeared to be fair and it was disappointing to see it dismissed in Israel and the US as biased.
Labour - Jacqui Smith	No response received.
Lib Dems - Nicholas Lane	No response received.

Question 6 Foreign Policy & Counter Terrorism	What would you do to counter workplace discrimination based on religion and race?
Conservatives - Karen Lumley	Too many British people face discrimination because of their race, gender, religion, age and background, and Conservatives want action to bring that to an end. It is worrying that ethnic minorities in Britain still suffer from lower than average employment rates and higher than average unemployment rates. Our plans for an integrated welfare to work programme for everyone on out-of-work benefits give more support to people who are unemployed to get back to work. We also support the Equality Bill which will help to consolidate and simplify equality legislation. We also need to do much more to help young people from all backgrounds develop the skills they need in order to find good jobs. Under Labour, apprenticeships are drying up, careers advice is a mess and there’s a huge shortage of university places.  Problems like these often hit disadvantaged young people and those from minority backgrounds particularly hard. Our plans to fund an extra 100,000 apprenticeships and training places, an extra 10,000 university places, 100,000 college places and provide proper careers advice in every school would help more people learn the skills they need to succeed. We need to tackle the glass ceiling that too many Muslims seem to face in their professional lives. The key to tackling low representation in senior positions for British Muslims is complicated, we need a holistic approach to tackling this problem including education reform and action from business and government to open up all professions and positions to people of all backgrounds and encourage people to take up those opportunities.
Greens - Kevin White	The Green Party seeks to ensure positive action is taken to address limited representation in certain careers and professions, and at the higher level of many industries and professions. This is not simply a question of preventing discrimination in individual cases, but addressing broader social problems, including poverty and low levels of work, as well as a lack of role models and low aspirations amongst the minority communities and stereotyping amongst the majority community. Schools need to work on instilling in children a sense of cultural pride and confidence. Action at a community level to show respect and recognition of other cultures is important. We would enforce penalties against employers who continue to implement unequal pay.
Labour - Jacqui Smith	No response received.
Lib Dems - Nicholas Lane	No response received.

Question 7 Prevent	Do you feel the Prevent exercise has been a success? Has Prevent skewed the perception and participation of Muslims in politics and society through the dominance of a prism of "violent extremism" and terrorism? Moving forwards, would you retain or modify Prevent?
Conservatives - Karen Lumley	While we accept the framework provided by CONTEST, we are critical of the Government’s approach and delivery in a number of areas. We depart significantly from Labour on the policies grouped under the Prevent strand. Prevent has been accused of spying on Muslims. And there's a real danger that if we allow what are to all intents and purposes normal everyday community activities to be seen to fall under the counter-terrorist umbrella, we will just end up alienating even more people and undermining good community relations. That defeats the objectives of the Prevent programme. The increasing frustration felt by many involved in Labour’s Prevent Strategy is a reflection of its confused and mistaken approach. A Conservative government will conduct an evidence-based review of the Government’s Prevent strategy and consolidate national security-related legislation to ensure its compatibility with fundamental rights and freedoms. The long-term strategic challenge to the UK, both abroad and at home is from the extremism that fuels alienation, violence and terrorism. If we are to provide security on a sustainable basis, security measures must be proportional, consistent with liberal democratic values and the rule of law.
Greens - Kevin White	Prevent has seriously backfired, alienating communities across the country. The Green Party would either radically modify Prevent or scrap the strategy altogether.
Labour - Jacqui Smith	No response received.
Lib Dems - Nicholas Lane	No response received.

Question 8 A Responsible Media	Is self-regulation of the press effective enough? How might it be tightened? Do sufficient sanctions exist to prevent newspapers engaging in absurdly hostile reporting – like recent Daily Express front pages?
Conservatives - Karen Lumley	We have a strong and diverse free press in the UK, and we would not do anything to jeopardise this. The current system, whereby the Press Complaints Commission monitors the press and deals with complaints from the public concerning the editorial content of newspapers and magazines, works well. It is vital that the press is monitored independently and we would not wish to change this. The press is free from statutory regulation which makes it fully independent, and allows it to play a vital part in our democracy. But we have said we would support the launch of an All-Party Parliamentary Inquiry into anti-Muslim hatred in the UK which would have the power to look into hostile reporting, wherever it originates. We anticipate the Inquiry would make full investigations and make recommendations to the Government of the day. The press is, of course, subject to the rule of law like everyone else, and any breaches of the law must be followed up and dealt with properly. In instances where the press is found guilty of inciting racial hatred or breaking any other law, clear sanctions are, and must remain, in place.
Greens - Kevin White	Press reporting is very hostile towards muslims. Self regulation is not effective enough. There should be further sanctions to stop hostile reporting.
Labour - Jacqui Smith	No response received.
Lib Dems - Nicholas Lane	No response received.

Question 9 Voter Apathy & Disengagement	Has your party done enough to attract ethnic minorities to stand as parliamentary candidates and if so, why has this not translated into a more representative Commons? How would you improve matters in subsequent elections? If you are elected, how would you ensure ethnic minority views are regularly listened to in your constituency?
Conservatives - Karen Lumley	Under David Cameron, the Conservative Party has changed. We have opened up our party and have more candidates from ethnic minorities ready to bring their expertise to help change this country. We have 43 black and ethnic minority candidates, and whereas Labour has too often confined ethnic minority candidates to areas with large ethnic minority populations, we have candidates standing in seats such as Stratford-upon-Avon, Surrey East, Chippenham and Windsor – winnable seats. So the best way to have a more representative House of Commons is to elect Conservative MPs who reflect the diversity of modern Britain. The best way to engage members of ethnic minorities is to ensure that we give everyone more of a say in the decisions that affect their lives. That’s why we will create new rights for members of the public to demand debates in Parliament, comment on legislation and even table Bills in Parliament.
Greens - Kevin White	The Green Party is seeking greater internal representation of people from minority ethnic communities at all levels of the party, including those seeking elected office in winnable seats. We would very much welcome views from potential members about what we can do to encourage this and dismantle any barriers. We would work vigorously towards ensuring that all levels of government are representative of the diversity of the populations for whom they work.
Labour - Jacqui Smith	No response received.
Lib Dems - Nicholas Lane	No response received.