Williams was interested in politics from a young age. While at the University of Bristol he was President of the SDP/Liberal society, and an active member of the local SDP branch. He has also served on Avon County Council and Bristol City Council, elected as Councillor for the Liberal Democrats' then-stronghold of Cabot ward in 1993 aged 26. He was leader of the Avon Liberal Democrat group from 1995 to 1997. Williams had been the Liberal Democrat candidate for the safe Labour seat of Bristol South in 1997, before being selected to stand for Bristol West at the 2001 general election. Williams won Bristol West in 2005, making him the first Liberal MP ever for that constituency and the first to be elected in the city of Bristol since 1935. He was also the first openly gay Liberal Democrat MP.
Government career
In October 2013, Williams was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary at Department for Communities and Local Government. As Minister for Communities, his responsibilities include community cohesion, race relations, localism and community rights, housing standards, building regulations and neighborhood planning. As the Liberal Democrat minister in DCLG he had oversight of all areas of department policy such as housing, local economic development and planning. In March 2014, Williams published the Government's proposals following the housing standards review, which recommended a rationalisation of government, local authority and industry housing standards into a national set. As a result, for the first time there will be a national space standard for the interior of housing. As Minister for Communities, Williams also announced new funding for promotion of the Cornish language and gave recognition to the people of Cornwall as a national minority on the same basis as the other Celtic people of the British Isles. In 2017, it emerged that Williams had responded to 2014 concerns from the All-Party Parliamentary Fire Safety and Rescue Group about the fire safety of Britain's tower blocks, especially the absence of sprinklers in many of these, by saying, "I have neither seen nor heard anything that would suggest that consideration of these specific potential changes is urgent and I am not willing to disrupt the work of this department by asking that these matters are brought forward." The correspondence was leaked to the BBC after the Grenfell Tower fire.
Parliamentary career
Williams served as Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health between July 2010 and October 2013. During this time the group published reports on the plain packaging of cigarettes, smoking in cars and the illicit trade in tobacco. Between 2010 and 2013 he served as the Liberal Democrats' Treasury spokesman in Parliament and to the media. In addition, he has previously served as a member of the House of Commons Political and Constitutional Reform Select Committee and has spoken in favour of replacing the House of Lords with an elected Senate.
Smoking ban in public places
After his election on 5 May 2005, Charles Kennedy appointed Williams as Liberal Democrat public health spokesperson, shadowing Minister for Public HealthCaroline Flint. In this role he served on the standing committee which scrutinised the Health Bill. One aspect of this Bill was the introduction of a ban on smoking in public places. Williams strongly supported a ban on smoking in all public places, rather than the alternative proposal to exempt private clubs and pubs which do not serve food from the ban. He won an award from World Health Organization for his advocacy of a full ban.
Higher Education and tuition fees
In the 2006 Liberal Democrat leadership election Williams was the agent of Chris Huhne. Following the election, newly elected leader Sir Menzies Campbell moved Williams to the Further and Higher Education portfolio, shadowing Labour Minister Bill Rammell. After the reorganisation of government departments by new Prime Minister Gordon Brown in July 2007 Lib Dem Leader Sir Menzies Campbell reshuffled his team and Williams became Lib Dem spokesperson on Schools. Since his election, Williams has served on two House of Commons select committees — the Education and Skills Select Committee and the Public Accounts Committee. He stepped down as a member of the Public Accounts Committee at the beginning of 2006 following his appointment as Further and Higher Education spokesperson in order to focus more exclusively on his portfolio. He transferred to the new Children, Schools and Families Select Committee in November 2007. Following the election ofNick Clegg as leader, whom Williams supported against Chris Huhne, Williams became the spokesperson for Innovation, Universities and Skills. In 2008, Williams wrote an alternative policy proposal that would allow top-up fees as part of his role as spokesperson for universities, but the proposal was rejected by the party's Federal Policy Committee. In December 2010, Williams was one of the Liberal Democrat MPs who abstained on the coalition government's proposals to increase tuition fees.
Reducing the voting age
On 29 November 2005, Williams introduced a Ten Minute Rule bill to the House of Commons to reduce the voting age to 16. The motion was supported by a majority of Labour members and Liberal Democrats, but opposed by the Conservatives. It was defeated by 136-128 votes. In January 2013 Williams introduced a backbench committee motion to reduce the voting age. The motion was passed.
Homophobic bullying and gay marriage
In June 2006, Williams launched a campaign against homophobic bullying, after organising the Education and Skills Select Committee's first ever enquiry into the issue of bullying in schools. His petition read: We, the undersigned, call for the following to support and protect the victims of homophobic bullying:
Homophobic taunts and name calling in schools should be challenged immediately by staff.
All schools' anti-bullying policies should be required to include measures specifically to deal with homophobic bullying.
At least one teacher in every school should undergo training which includes how to tackle homophobic bullying.
In February 2013 Williams spoke in the second reading debate on the introduction of same sex marriage. He then served as the Lib Dem representative on the public bill committee, introducing amendments to allow opposite sex couples to have civil partnerships and for recognition to be given to humanist marriages.
Election results
Avon and Bristol Councils
Williams was first elected to Avon County Council in May 1993, representing Cabot ward. Avon was abolished in March 1996. In May 1995, Williams had been elected to the City ward of Cabot and he continued in office when the unitary authority was created. He stood down from the council in May 1999.
General elections
Williams has contested six general elections - 1997, 2001, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2017. In 1997, he stood against Labour Minister Dawn Primarolo in Bristol South, coming third with 13.4% of the vote. In 2001, he stood for the first time in Bristol West, polling 28.89% of the vote and coming in second place. In 2005, this increased to 38.3%, winning the seat from Labour. In the 2010 election, Williams held the seat with an increased majority of 11,366, winning 48% of the vote. In the 2015 election Williams lost his seat, coming third to Labour and the Green party. In the 2017 election Williams again stood in the Bristol West constituency, coming fourth.
