as the first openly gay Liberal Democrat MP. His victory was credited to the party's opposition to tuition fees and the Iraq War. Member of Parliament After his election on 5 May 2005, then Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy appointed Williams as the party's public health spokesperson, shadowing the public health minister Caroline Flint. In this role he served on the committee that scrutinised a health bill that introduced a ban on smoking in public places. Williams supported a ban on smoking in all public places, rather than an 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. 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 June 2006, Williams launched a campaign against homophobic bullying, after organising the education and skills select committee's first enquiry into bullying in schools. In the 2006 Liberal Democrat leadership election Williams was the agent of Chris Huhne. Following the election, newly elected leader Menzies Campbell moved Williams to the further and higher education portfolio, shadowing minister Bill Rammell. After the reorganisation of government departments by new prime minister Gordon Brown in July 2007, Campbell reshuffled his team and Williams became the party's spokesperson on schools. Following the election of Nick Clegg as leader, whom Williams supported against Chris Huhne, Williams became the party's spokesperson for innovation, universities and skills. In 2008, Williams wrote a 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. He later said that he had led several attempts to remove or moderate the party's policy to abolish tuition fees. Williams held his seat in the 2010 general election with 48.0% of the vote. Williams served as chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health between July 2010 and October 2013. Between 2010 and 2013 he served as the Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson. In January 2013 Williams introduced a backbench committee motion to reduce the voting age. The motion was passed. In October 2013, Williams was appointed Parliamentary