Key Quotes - Politics

A world perspective in bite-size chunks
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Last update: Wednesday 25th March
 
The expected attack on US abortion laws by the newly re-elected Bush administration began this week when Republican senators launched plans to allow hospitals to opt out of performing abortions without incurring financial penalties.
PoliticsThe Universe – 28th November 2004
 
Alcohol Concern has attacked as "extraordinary" the Governments proposal to hand the lead role in tackling binge drinking to a lobbying group set up and funded by the drinks industry. The plan, contained in last week's public health White Paper, states that the Department of Health will "work in partnership with the Portman Group to develop a new and strengthened information campaign to tackle the problems of binge drinking"..Richard Phillips, acting chief executive of Alcohol Concern said "We broadly welcome the public health White Paper, but singling out the Portman Group is deeply worrying because there is a clear conflict of interest there.The drinks industry makes its profit by selling drinks, and the best way to reduce harm caused by alcohol is to get people to drink less. So the idea that the industry should be entrusted with that task is extraordinary."
PoliticsThird Sector – 24th November 2004
 
Evangelicals ranked issues like abortion, stem cell research and gay marriage as more important for voters than even Iraq, and George Bush was the clear favourite on such issues of personal morality. According to the poll, 22% of the electorate said "moral values" were the issues that mattered most in how they voted, compared with 20% who cited the economy, 19% who cited terrorism and just 15% who said Iraq, was the key issue.Two-thirds of voters who attend religious services regularly (once a week or more) backed Bush rather than Kerry and they make up 40% of the electorate. Those who never attend services, in contrast, backed the Democrats by the same margin, but they make up only 15% of the electorate.
PoliticsJoy – December 2004
 
The signing in Rome of the EU Constitution by My Blair and the 24 other heads of government of member states of the European Union on 29th October 2004, in the same hall where the Treaty of Rome was signed on 25th March 1957, was unconstitutional. Her Majesty's Government having signed the Constitutional Treaty when Britain already has a unique and great Constitution still in force - will now seek to force this alien written constitution through Parliament before holding a referendum.
PoliticsCrown and Commonwealth – Winter 2004
 
In Switzerland, voters overwhelmingly approved a law permitting stem cell research yesterday.The law passed last December still sets stricter limits than in some European countries, allowing the use only of embryonic stem cells left over from in-vitro fertilisation and forbidding human cloning. But it was the first time that the issue had been put to a national referendum, noted the Interior Minister Pascal Couchepin. It was approved by 66.4% of those voting.
PoliticsThe Independent – 29th November 2004
 
A cross party attempt to block legislation allowing seriously ill patients to refuse treatment was defeated in the Commons yesterday after the Government reassured MPs it would not lead to euthanasia by the back door. The Government bought off the rebels by slipping out an exchange of letters between the Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer of Thoroton, and a leading Roman Catholic archbishop guaranteeing the Mental Capacity Bill would be changed in the Lords to ensure it would not allow mercy killing.
PoliticsThe Independent – 15th December 2004
 
France moved yesterday towards the creation of a new law which would make sexist or homophobic comments illegal and forbid job discrimination against homosexuals.If the Bill is passed, anyone found guilty of making such remarks, verbally or in writing, would risk a one-year prison sentence and a fine of up to £31,000. The law, which would make penalties against homophobia and sexism stronger in France than almost any other EU nation has been pushed very strongly by President Jacques Chirac.
PoliticsThe Independent – 9th December 2004
 
Labour former minister Tony Banks today admitted he found his constituents' problems "boring" and got "no satisfaction" from helping them. Mr Banks, who is standing down at the next election after more than two decades in Westminster, said his work as MP for West Ham was often like being "a high-powered social worker".
PoliticsThe Sentinel – 27th November 2004
 
Legislation which will impose fines on businesses or public organisations that prevent mothers from breastfeeding children in public was yesterday given the go-ahead by Scottish MSP's. The Bill, which was launched last year by the Labour backbencher Elaine Smith, was passed 103 votes to 13. Only Conservative MSP's voted against the legislation, which they branded an example of "the nanny state taken to the extreme", and called instead for a voluntary code to be introduced.
PoliticsThe Independent – 19th November 2004
 
The fast-food giant McDonalds could be in trouble with race watchdogs for ordering its staff at a restaurant in Manchester to speak English at all times, including in the staff room. The Commission for Racial Equality said it was examining the case to see whether the instruction infringed workers' human rights and European employment law.
PoliticsThe Independent – 19th November 2004
 
Chile's first divorce law took effect yesterday. It was passed by Congress six months ago, amid strong opposition from the Catholic Church and conservative groups.
PoliticsThe Independent – 19th November 2004
 
Lord Falconer of Thoroton moved to defuse an explosive Labour backbench revolt yesterday over claims that a government Bill would allow euthanasia by the backdoor. The Lord Chancellor held behind-the-scenes meetings with Labour MPs over growing anxieties about the Mental Capacity Bill, which will give legal backing to "living wills", enabling people to refuse treatment when they are incapacitated or in a coma. Yesterday, the Lord Chancellor's junior minister in the Commons, David Lammy, tabled a series of amendments with the Health minister Rosie Winterton to try to meet some of the anxieties. Ministers also signalled they may support other Labour amendments, including one by George Howarth, a former minister, making it clear that doctors must assume that the patient's best interest is to live.
PoliticsThe Independent – 11th December 2004
 
People who refuse to register with the planned national identity cards database will be fined £2,500, the Government said yesterday. There will also be penalties of £1,000 for those who fail to renew their ID cards or forget to update their details when they move home. The fines will be levied when it becomes compulsory to co-operate with the controversial ID cards scheme, expected to happen by 2012. With polls saying 20% of the public oppose the plans and an anti-ID cards group claiming to be signing hundreds of new supporters daily, it raises the prospect of "ID card martyrs" embarrassing a future Labour government.
PoliticsThe Independent – 30th November 2004
 
When asked why they supported the President's re-election a third (35%) of Americans cite his leadership, a third (29%) his character, while only a fifth (19%) cite his politics. Among Kerry supporters, 43% say they support him because he is not George Bush.
PoliticsThe Church of England Newspaper - 29th October 2004
 
Polls showing that moral values were the number one issue for 22% of voters - topping concerns about the economy, terrorism and the war in Iraq - have jolted those who confidently expected the high turnout to yield a Kerry presidency. 80% of "moral issues" voters cast their ballot for Bush, a sleeper trend that most pundits missed.
PoliticsThe Sunday Times – 7 November 2004
 
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