1.0Sgwrs Tei Bowhttp://52.19.228.105/cyClarke Robertshttp://52.19.228.105/cy/author/clarke-roberts/rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="fovfhm87TD"><a href="http://52.19.228.105/cy/2015/09/14/trade-union-bill/">The Trade Union Bill Isn’t Perfect, But Reform Is Needed</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="http://52.19.228.105/cy/2015/09/14/trade-union-bill/embed/#?secret=fovfhm87TD" width="600" height="338" title="“The Trade Union Bill Isn’t Perfect, But Reform Is Needed” — Bow Tie Talks" data-secret="fovfhm87TD" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script> /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); //# sourceURL=http://52.19.228.105/wp-includes/js/wp-embed.min.js </script>I’ve done nothing but write political pieces recently and to those readers who enjoy my theological articles, I apologise. I restart my Master’s degree tomorrow so I hope to get back into the swing of things soon: my theological musings will return soon enough. But for now, another political rant from your favourite Lib Dem. I have a horrible feeling that I’m getting a reputation for being wholly illiberal amongst many of my peers within the Liberal Democrats; firstly I speak out against aspects of the European Union and now I appear to be siding with the Conservatives on their proposed Trade Union Bill. I’ve been watching BBC Parliament coverage of the debate since I got home from work this afternoon, mainly to see if Jeremy Corbyn did or said anything in his new and well deserved role as leader of the Labour Party. And he did! He wore a tie. As the debate has gone on I’ve constantly found myself nodding my head at almost everything the Conservative MPs have said, and shaking my head at the Labour and SNP benches. Perhaps I’m in the wrong party after all? I posted a discussion thread to a Lib Dem Facebook group a few weeks ago asking the question as to the Liberal (note big ‘L’, not small ‘l’) stance on Trade Unions. The response I got was overwhelmingly unanimous on the view that Trade Unions were a fantastic thing and to suggest otherwise would be a Liberal (there it is again) heresy. And I agree. This country needs Trade Unions to protect the rights of millions of workers across the country, and as a party we should do everything to ensure that these unions continue to do the job they were created to do. Let me be absolutely clear: I support only the following two aspects of the Trade Union bill. The proposals to make it obligatory for people on the picket line to disclose their details to police is an absolute infringement on civil liberties and ultimately is an attack on a worker’s right to strike. As a Liberal Democrat, I oppose this notion and if I were sat in the Commona debating the bill, I would request amendments be made before voting in favour. I’m not a member of a Trade Union despite the fact I work in education, and have done for the last two/three years. Firstly, I absolutely hate the fact that the Trade Unions donate money to the Labour Party; I will not join a union because I do not support the Labour Party. Secondly, I do not want to be part of an organisation that can hold the country’s public services to ransom in the event that something doesn’t quite go in their favour. The right to strike is a key part of a liberal society and I don’t think anyone would disagree with me. The Conservatives’ new bill does not want to make strike action illegal or make it so that workers’ rights […]