Political career Susan Kramer, Baroness Kramer

1 political career

1.1 candidacies
1.2 member of parliament

1.2.1 voting record , positions


1.3 local issues
1.4 after 2010

political career
early candidacies

she contested dulwich , west norwood in 1997, coming third behind labour incumbent tessa jowell , conservative candidate roger w. gough.

in 1999, kramer on liberal democrat party list london constituency @ european parliament elections, though not elected. following year, stood liberal democrat candidate in election mayor of london against ken livingstone, , other candidates. finished fourth 11.9% of vote. in march 2003, again sought party s nomination mayor of london, beaten in three-way race candidacy simon hughes.

member of parliament

in september 2003, kramer selected prospective parliamentary candidate constituency of richmond park in south west london, following decision of sitting liberal democrat mp, jenny tonge, stand down @ next election. kramer elected mp constituency @ may 2005 general election. kramer appointed liberal democrat shadow international development secretary new party leader, sir menzies campbell, in march 2006. succeeded ed davey shadow trade & industry secretary 9 months later. in 2007 became party s shadow transport secretary. when nick clegg appointed liberal democrat leader, kramer received demotion shadow minister cabinet office. later regained transport post in subsequent reshuffle. in january 2009, resigned party s front bench defend seat renewed conservative campaign regain richmond. kramer 1 of contributors orange book (2004).

kramer involved in breach of electoral rules when son made 4 monthly donations of £332 between december 2008 , march 2009 campaign while not on electoral register. liberal democrat spokeswoman said press jonathan kramer unaware name had fallen off register, , money paid once error pointed out.

voting record , positions

kramer @ reusable bag launch @ kew gardens station

kramer rebelled against liberal democrat policy in terms of voting. has voted against introduction of national id cards, against renewal of trident defence system, , elected house of lords.

kramer took keen interest in london transport, in particular regarding high-speed rail , thameslink programme. despite initial enthusiasm opening of high speed 1, became more mixed on issue, citing in 2007 during debate number of labour mps significant numbers of business customers in south-west london have been happy make easy journey train waterloo, jump in cab go gatwick or heathrow. unfortunate, passenger business largely lost, journey st pancras more hour longer current journey waterloo. kramer s district of richmond park situated in area served south west trains provides service waterloo station rather newly opened st pancras international station replaced former london terminus eurostar; later argued possible use of both stations.

in addition, echoed discontent management of thameslink programme, meant improve cross-thames rail travel, claiming failed meet set targets , cash flow has been poorly managed. consistently supported crossrail , member of crossrail bill committee. kramer voiced opposition expansion of heathrow airport , submitted day motion gained support 54 mps, 38 own party , 16 labour party. maiden speech, opposed airport s expansion. opposition 1 of key goals member of parliament.

on civil rights, kramer voted amendments equality act 2006 ban discrimination based on sexual orientation , gender reassignment. along other liberal democrat mps, voted allow gurkhas permanent settlement rights in united kingdom, overriding previous legislation denied such rights.

local issues

in january 2009, kramer stepped down liberal democrat front bench focus on local issues impacting constituency. principal cause stated coordinate opposition further development of heathrow airport, incoming aircraft routinely overfly constituency on landing approach airport.

after 2010

in 2010, kramer faced challenge conservative zac goldsmith, defending notional majority of 3,649 (7.2%). goldsmith emerging victorious 4,091 votes. in november 2010, lost election become president of liberal democrats tim farron 47% of votes farron s 53%.

later in month, announced made life peer, , created baroness kramer, of richmond park in london borough of richmond upon thames on 22 december 2010. in october 2013, kramer appointed minister of state @ department transport. held until may 2015 general election.

following 2015 election appointed liberal democrat treasury spokesperson under tim farron.