http://www.evanharris.org.uk/articlearchive.php Recent Press Articles from Dr Evan Harris MP en-GB Dr Evan Harris MP http://www.evanharris.org.uk/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2008 Dr Evan Harris MP 2008-10-12T17:31+01:00 United Kingdom http://www.evanharris.org.uk/articles/000017/does_gm_have_a_big_part_to_play_in_securing_the_future_of_food_supplies.html IN 2004 the largest scientific experiment of its kind anywhere in the world took place in UK fields when scientists conducted the farm-scale evaluations (FSEs) of GM crops. 2008-06-19T00:00+01:00 http://www.evanharris.org.uk/articles/000016/ageism_conspires_against_ming.html Following the announcement of Ming Campbell's resignation, the Lib Dems will be electing - under one member one vote - a new leader. I had the privilege of working with Ming on speech writing as well as on my science brief. He was a real gentleman and thoroughly good but tough bloke. I ran up against on a couple of policy issues and he was always very decisive and also pretty uncompromising. 2007-10-22T11:25+01:00 http://www.evanharris.org.uk/articles/000015/ten_steps_to_zero_carbon_britain.html Man-made climate change poses an increasing risk to people and businesses across the globe. There will be disastrous consequences if we don't act now. So this week, the Liberal Democrat Conference backed proposals to act now. 2007-09-19T00:00+01:00 http://www.evanharris.org.uk/articles/000014/kidneys_in_parliament.html The Dutch hoax kidney transplant TV game show which attracted much media attention recently certainly brought into the public eye the issues facing those waiting for a kidney transplant. Whether it did much good outside of Holland, or even in Holland, is hard to say. We in Britain are rather more low-key on how we do things but that should not mean we are reticent about raising the profile of kidney disease or the plight of patients. 2007-07-06T00:00+01:00 http://www.evanharris.org.uk/articles/000012/jews_need_a_secular_europe_not_a_sectarian_one.html The late comedienne and avowed secularist Linda Smith, used to say, "I'm not religious - I get on with everyone!" Clearly, being religious should not prevent anyone getting along with her fellow human beings. But when it comes to the state and politics, not being religious really is the best bet. Not only does it avoid an auction of requests for favouritism or special favours from individual religious organisations, but a secular liberal democracy is the best guarantee for everyone of freedom of religious belief and freedom to manifest that religious belief in ways that do not restrict rights of others. 2007-03-21T13:48+00:00 http://www.evanharris.org.uk/articles/000011/religion_and_politics.html Religion is big in the news at the moments and the political approach we take is very important. I am an honorary associate of the National Secular Society which means that I am keen to see religion kept separate from the state and from public functions. So for example I do not think that state funded schools or hospitals should be run exclusively for certain religions or that religious organisations should have preferential treatment compared to non-religious ones. 2006-10-25T11:07+01:00 http://www.evanharris.org.uk/articles/000008/ming_the_merciful.html One of the unique things about the Liberal Democrat conference is that the Party leader, even at the peak of his popularity, never has an easy time. In fact, no Lib Dem leader probably enjoys his conference. Having said that at least the experience is "character-building". 2006-10-16T11:21+01:00 http://www.evanharris.org.uk/articles/000010/the_party_conference_season.html The party conference season is upon us and both Lib Dem and Labour conferences have been interesting - within reason of course! - although for rather different reasons. 2006-09-27T11:47+01:00 http://www.evanharris.org.uk/articles/000006/are_we_making_a_hash_of_drugs_classification.html Are we making a hash of drug classification? Should the activities of the UK security services be monitored? Two reports I have been working on over the past months hit the headlines this week. 2006-08-02T00:00+01:00 http://www.evanharris.org.uk/articles/000007/health_policy_and_nhs_practice.html It has been a busy and important last few weeks for health services locally and health policy nationally. 2006-07-04T00:00+01:00 http://www.evanharris.org.uk/articles/000005/watching_tony_blair_on_behalf_of_aids_victims.html Last week, I added my 'eyes' to join 5180 pairs already watching Tony Blair to make sure he keeps his promise, made with other world leaders at the G8 summit last July, to ensure there is AIDS treatment for all those across the world who need it by 2010. 2006-06-06T16:05+01:00 http://www.evanharris.org.uk/articles/000004/the_politics_of_housing_need.html Affordable housing is sadly not a high enough priority for national politicians and even at local council level excuses are always found for not providing more. In my own constituency, Oxford West and Abingdon, there have been several very good examples of the way that even with the best intentions it is desperately difficult to provide social housing for rent. 2005-12-07T12:47+00:00 http://www.evanharris.org.uk/articles/000003/the_complete_oxfordshire_nhs_adjournment_debate.html This is the complete debate from the 16th November from the Hansard source. 2005-11-17T18:00+00:00 http://www.evanharris.org.uk/articles/000001/nhs_cash_crisis.html Not education, education, education but health, health, health or rather cuts, cuts, cuts is the political legacy of the Tony Blair's Government in Oxfordshire. 2005-11-17T00:00+00:00 http://www.evanharris.org.uk/articles/000002/speech__delivered_by_dr_harris_to_fa_delegates_at_the_football_for_all_homophobia_summit.html "Joint Action Needed" 2005-11-03T00:00+00:00