LGBT Candidates in UK Elections: How much has changed?

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Recent research shows that the UK parliament has more openly LGBT members than any other legislature in the world.  This seminar will bring together the author of that research - Professor Andrew Reynolds of the University of North Carolina - and four of the UK's most prominent LGBT politicians.  It will explore how the barriers faced by LGBT candidates and politicians have changed in the UK over recent years, why the UK appears to stand out so far among liberal democracies in the presence of openly LGBT politicians, and whether any problems remain.

Panel Speakers: 

• Andrew Reynolds, Professor of Political Science, University of North Carolina, and author of The Children of Harvey Milk: How LGBTQ Politicians Changed the World (Oxford University Press, forthcoming, 1 April 2017)

• Angela Eagle, Labour MP for Wallasey since 1992 and former Shadow First Secretary of State

• Joanna Cherry QC, SNP MP for Edinburgh South West since 2015 and Shadow SNP Westminster Group Leader (Justice and Home Affairs)

• Baroness (Liz) Barker, Liberal Democrat peer and spokesperson on the Voluntary Sector

• Rt Hon Nick Herbert, Conservative MP for Arundel and South Downs, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global LGBT Rights, and former Minister of State in the Home Office and Ministry of JusticE

• Chair: Dr Jennifer Hudson of the Constitution Unit.