Address to BHCC Women’s Network on IWD16

March 8, 2016 huxley06

We live and work in systems we didn’t create. The rules aren’t ours.

Whether it’s when we look in a mirror and feel disgust. Whether it’s in work where we have to decide on being lovely or tough.

When our bodies and rape are the new global theatres and tactics of war. When our bodies are mutilated in FGM rituals for purity and nobody goes to prison.

When in spite of laws meant to protect us we experience gendered fear. Like when Cllr Penn and I went to West Street at 9pm and were informed by a teenage boy he would rape one of us but not the other.

Some people hearing this will tonight face violence from their partner and get up tomorrow and carry on working and keeping their life together.

For those women I am proud that whilst we had to makecuts, and I acknowledge, they are painful for staff to experience, we protected the services on domestic and sexual violence. These services offer you support and escape if you need it.

Women in politics are still a threat. My by-election was characterised by personal smears designed to break me and make me withdraw. Mid way through I had to ask my partner to take my daughter out for the day because I sat sobbing and vomiting with the humiliation. My labour women activists supported me and I was determined to get through, more resilient but not changed. Not toughened up. Still who I was to start with. My pledge to you is I will fight to hold my hard won ground and make it a better place for the next woman who wants to enter politics.

I am proud that we are a majority female administration and I am proud of that, but we must hold that ground too. For the next generation. So that 5050 politics is not remarkable but normal.

(Speech delivered – 8th March 2016)

The new left and its women’s purity indexes

March 2, 2016March 2, 2016 huxley06

Watching the Labour Party leadership election, and the Democrat Presidential process I am struck by one disturbing factor and it is a factor I will strain every political muscle I have to resist becoming tolerated and “normal”.

For me the western centre left parties have allowed a “burn the witch” purity style examination of our female contenders.These are two examples of purity indexes used by left wing campaigns for an older male candidate (aka “proper socialists”) to discredit moderate left wing female candidates. I saw many more like this over the last year … kind of ‘hashtag fact politics’.

You will see that the indexes are made up of largely privacy and data based policies, global conflict and pseudo-policy positions barely disguised.

Turning to Hillary’s purity index created especially for her… largely the same cherry picking of issues largely related to the balance between privacy and security.. and once again, global conflicts.

Unless we are to become a pacifist party (I acknowledge that some members would like that), and we want experienced candidates …they are likely to have at some stage been involved with decision making around war and interventions.

Unless we are going to say privacy is just always FAR more important than security , they are likely to have delivered measures that compromise our privacy or be willing to.

The nuances are completely lost in these indexes. And, in a debate that becomes just facile and over simplistic

Why do I think this is a gender issue?

Because in both Yvette and Hilary’s case they have considerably more experience than their counterparts.

Yvette Cooper was the first woman ever to serve as Chief Secretary to the Treasury, she served as Minister for Work and Pensions and as Shadow Foreign Secretary and Shadow Home Secretary.

Hilary Clinton’s has achieved huge things for the USA:

Created the Children’s Health Insurance Program. CHIP cut the uninsured rate of American children by half, and today it provides health care to more than 8 million kids.
As secretary of state, Hillary made LGBT rights a focus of U.S. foreign policy. She lobbied for the first-ever U.N. Human Rights Council resolution on human rights and declared that “gay rights are human rights.”

I have snipped from wiki a list of posts she has held:

Capture

And, lets not ignore how blatantly biased these purity indexes are. No mention of the work of Hillary on Black Lives Matter, her position on health care nor, a comparison of positions on gun control. Nothing on the very many achievements of Yvette like Sure Start centres for example.

And, frankly the economy still matters most to the vast majority of us…not privileged enough to be above such mundane things…neither purity index really addresses this which is probably the most important element of being a successful candidate beyond the party.

It’s legitimate to compare candidates but lets do it on issues that matter most to real people. Let’s include actual experience. Actual political achievements that have made a difference to people’s lives.

Why do I think this is a gender issue?

Because, in spite of the fact she lost, people are still attempting to bully Liz Kendall out of the party. They will fail. Because she is pretty tough.

What I learned from the Calais Jungle

February 1, 2016February 2, 2016 huxley06

I think the main thing is how inhumane the conditions are. The portaloos that are there are unusable. A sight which once seen cannot be unseen. The mud, uneven ground and difficulty with water not to mention the proximity of people might cause illness. Efforts to help from both Medcins Sans Frontiers and Gynacologists is helping. There are first aiders are helping as well. And even, though I am a bit sceptical there are homeopaths there with supplies. However, ultimately, pregnant women and babies must be vulnerable.

Trusted information and advice on immigration and asylum in the UK and France is needed. Not everybody is set on the UK as a destination and they often don’t actually know much about the UK. A lot of people wanted to reconnect with relatives in the North of England which was why they were so keen. But the rumours, lack of knowledge of the volunteers on the ground, and the agenda of some of the volunteers means that impartial, reliable advice is missing.

Aid distribution being totally dependent on pop up volunteering, organisations that have little scrutiny is creating some frustration and suspicion, though for us it was very nice to be there and friendly. We were looked after. It was a bit odd that men seemed to be in charge in spite of the fact that most volunteers seemed to be women though in the project we went to. I would like to see more experienced volunteer managers I think. And, well rested volunteers who don’t feel they have to live under similar conditions because I think they are burning out. One volunteer had taken the initiative to have some injections before going out. Having seen the conditions I agree that is probably ideal. Tetanus, Hep ABC, flu jabs and so on. Measles was clearly a concern too. An official charity could be renting group accommodation and ensuring people take rest days.

In terms of the relationships between police and the camp..I don’t really think there is much that can be done. Pre emotive arrests cause tension if people are near the port and people see these as unfair, reports that shoes are removed are seen as cruel. But the reality is people are risking themselves and the safety of others daily by trying to get across. A 15 year old boy was killed last week who had the right to asylum. This type of tragedy makes the need for action more pressing. Children alone on camp are estimated by volunteers to be the hundreds and are being absorbed and cared for by other families. But this isn’t necessarily safe. Boredom, despair, frustration is leading to some violence in family groups which is why the women’s area is so vital as a safe space. Drugs are beginning to be a problem as well.

Another risk on camp is fires breaking out. People are cooking under tarpaulins and trying to keep warm. There are now fire equipment points and elders trained in fire fighting. Volunteers told us that the fire brigade wouldn’t come when there was a fire on camp.

Tensions with the local community who are in despair are rising and lone male volunteers walking around can be a target from nationalist violence.

We were treated well by the residents though and experienced nothing but friendliness. Some bemusement maybe at worst. Residents do appreciate the sense of shared responsibility from British volunteers I think.

The new facility that is next door to camp and looks much better and more healthy and safe is not trusted or wanted because –

Hand prints are needed to access and exit and people feel wary of being identified and trapped in France if their family is in the UK
Reportedly the dormitory accommodation isn’t in family groups and must be vacated during the day
Reportedly people can’t cook for themselves and communal cooking and eating is one of the nicer parts of an otherwise dreary existence (in the jungle quite well organised restaurants make familiar food and bread)
Nationalities are split up and one the things that helps people feel safe in the jungle is living with other people from the same area and language, it’s a small sense of security that in such bleak desperate situation makes people feel better

I think if the UK was practically and officially involved and if some of the good things about the set up in the jungle were replicated in the new camp, people would be less fearful. Obviously, my impressions are gleaned from volunteers working there. As I have already pointed out, people depend on rumour and they have various agendas so this report is flawed in that it doesn’t encompass any rebuttals from those who have organised different elements.

Tips for volunteers. Hook up in advance with projects. Wear warm, waterproof clothing and hiking boots ideally. Keep yor hair covered not because of religion but to put off univited guests. People with small children will understand this. Be prepared not to we all day! Some volunteers use shepees. Baby wipes and hand sanitisers are a good call. If bringing activities, consider what will fit in a back pack, knitting and Pom poms worked well…but felt and simple sewing or gluing would work for a mix of ages. Be friendly, say hello and look after yourself. No point in turning up knackered and cold if you are helping. There are many tired volunteers there already. Use local businesses, give a good impression to residents.

In the Calais Jungle -Part two

February 1, 2016February 1, 2016 huxley06

in the afternoon of the second day, Jane and I went to help at the “Auberge” a kind of less formal aid distribution warehouse. The other aid distribution is via Care 4 Calais. We had seen Care 4 Calais on site the previous day. All young female volunteers with high vis jackets identifying them. We noticed that they appeared tired and stressed out. The supervisors were quite young and the atmosphere was a little tense between them.

Both distribution centres are working in isolation from each other and appear to feel their ethos is best. It’s difficult because as someone a bit older you can’t help but admire these young people for just getting on with aid work but the organisations seem quite inexperienced and their volunteers (as with most on site) are pretty much living a similar lifestyle to the refugees. The fact they are doing so voluntarily is clearly different psychologically from those at the site who feel they have no choices. But I couldn’t help feeling that their youth, living conditions (in vans, mobile homes) and working every day wasn’t very healthy in terms of bringing some energy and perspective. However, if they weren’t doing it nobody else would be providing anything.

The “Auberge” had a kind of well organised “Occupy” type atmosphere with a huge mix of people but core activists were kind of New Age feeling and one of the volunteers that had just arrived said she recognised volunteers from festivals etc. Others were more like Jane and I. Professionals who had come to offer a day or two at a time. There were many people from London too.Two jolly men from London were self-confessed masters of blanket sorting. we worked on shoes with a woman called Jeanne who actually lives in London.

We found many notes and letters which we passed to volunteers to take to the Women’s tent.

The greatest requirement was larger men’s walking boots and water resistant (leather covered) trainers. We sorted lots of wellies but these aren’t considered so useful by people living in the jungle because they can’t walk easily in them on the very uneven ground.

Refugees and migrants in the camp feel that aid is being held back and getting to them too slowly which causes some tensions. Food that is unfamiliar is being wasted as they don’t have the understanding or taste for it. Rice is by far the most popular and meat. Meat really needs sourcing locally and this would aid the local economy reducing tension.

Torches that are self charging are quite useful too.

The women’s project said they could do with a printer for making tickets and some sturdy sewing machines. Too modern and when they break nobody can repair them. Jane and I will try to source some for our contact Kate to bring back when she returns to France on Thursday.

Volunteering is needed. The Auberge project needs people willing to sort items all day long. You arrive and volunteers in Orange jackets book you in and give you a high vis. You get food and drinks and its friendly. Most volunteers stay at the youth hostel and there is a volunteer taxi at 8am out and 5.00 returning to the hostel. Core volunteers sleep in vans next to the warehouse. I am far too old for that type of thing and was glad of the basic but friendly and comfortable Hotel de la Plage.

Residents we spoke to were friendly. We felt a lot of sympathy for the people of Calais who feel that their economy and security is not good due the image of the jungle. the policing operation was huge and visible. I felt sorry for the police on endless point duty. Occasionally tension flares, people within the camp get frustrated and angry and throw missiles at the police who retaliate reportedly with tear gas. I can see both sides really. The police have to keep the port and lorry drivers safe. And they are doing that.

I can only imagine the feelings of lorry drivers who must feel constant anxiety.

In addition, different groups at the camp who volunteer have very different agendas. There is a section who are No Borders campaigners who lead protests and we told they were involved in the action of storming the ferry and that I felt was a mistake. It leads to increased fear for residents here and the UK and affects the workers trying to get lorries back and forth. This I feel takes Further back the cause of getting some effective joint action to empty the camps and get people safe by both British and French governments.

In the Calais Jungle – Part One

January 31, 2016February 1, 2016 huxley06

I went with my friend Jane from the ward I represent in Brighton called Hanover and Elm Grove to meet the School Bus project leader and founder Kate McAllister who is also a Hanover resident. a teacher by profession Kate has set up an educational project and I took £700 that local Labour Party activists had raised for the project.

You can find out more about this project at www.schoolbusproject.org

The camp which is estimated to house about 2000-3000 migrants, some refugees, who have travelled to this point alone and with children is set up by regions. We mostly spent time talking to Sudenese men who have created a convalescent tent which has about 20 camp beds and a refreshment station for people who have been ill, just arrived or been arrested and released locally. We shared extremely sweet tea and cakes with them. They were of mixed education with some having pretty good English and had attended a second level of education. Others were more vulnerable and found languages hard but all were friendly and welcoming.

We returned to the school area and taught children who were mostly Iraqui Kurds. They were bright, curious, jolly and the atmosphere in school despite the basic surroundings was just like any school really. I taught an older girl to knit which she picked up really fast. She was about 9yo and her English was good, she was very bright indeed and a lively, warm personality.

We sat and did language lessons with older boys up to 17 years old and their focus and concentration was excellent they were highly motivated. Kate mixed songs into the activities like the ABC song and Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes and the little ones enjoyed singing whilst they made Pom poms.

The next day we visited the women’s section, set up by a woman who is an ethnic traveller and has set up a safe space for women. Her caravan which she lives in doubles as a room for gynaecologist without frontiers sessions. Medcins sans frontiers are on site with some cabins and I think might be ensuring vaccinations are given out as the children were being asked by volunteers if they had their measles vaccines.

The Immigration Bill: An Organised Criminals’ Charter

January 28, 2016January 28, 2016 huxley06

My speech on the Brighton and Hove City Council debate on the Immigration Bill:

Madam Mayor, whilst we want a safe and fair immigration system, and proper controls which ensure that UK citizens get fair access to work and housing this bill is not offering that safety or fairness as it stands.

The Immigration Bill in fact opens up the following risks:

Increased working through the “black market economy” which reduces tax returns to the state
Making it more difficult for people whose surname which is foreign sounding or citizens who have not got a copy of their passport to find accommodation, structural barriers to housing which are in my view likely to cause discrimination and hardship

12 month prison sentences for people being exploited via the black market due to their illegal status in the UK would undermine the valuable work of Parliament and the police service in freeing workers from trafficking and modern slavery. Driving victims and witnesses further from justice and giving a free pass to those organised criminals who will benefit from their fear. Whilst failing to actually address the issue of illegal immigration.

My fears for our city is the risk that criminals will be further from justice.

I fear that structural barriers for BAME residents will increase, making fairness and sharing in the success of the city further away from those communities not nearer.

I fear that this bill will not keep our citizens safe and will not increase jobs available to citizens but merely fuel the black market economy which harms us all.

This bill will eat away at justice for victims, and to eat away at fairness for people who have every right to be here and work here.

Yes we do need to prevent illegal immigration, but…

This bill as it stands does not, in my view, protect us. It will sweep criminality under the carpet and give it a place to hide.

The Green Group are right to point out inconsistencies and conflicts within legislation. And we share those concerns and their concerns for impacts on our budgets.

But ultimately this bill is an organised criminal’s charter: Enabling them to keep people in unsafe housing, unsafe working conditions and to thorough exploit them knowing that our system will penalise those that speak up.

And when we find bodies in house fires, overcrowded, unsafe and unfit for habitation. When we find bodies on the mud flats of the East coast. When we find women systematically raped for the profit of a criminal, and nobody will speak. Then, we will uncover the true cost of this bill which amounts to turning a blind eye in practice.

NOM Immigration Bill

Sometimes I feel like throwing my hands up in the air…

January 26, 2016January 27, 2016 huxley06

Standing as a Labour councillor, was a decision I made when in 2010 onwards I saw policies that would undo what for me were the key and most important achievements of Labour. Achievements like:

Ending rough sleeping

Ending the use of B&B Accommodation for homeless families

Radically reducing child poverty

These achievements unravelled in such a short time. I felt it’s my turn to stand as people had stood for Labour for me when I thought things couldn’t get better growing up. My turn to lift my colours and say, I want to be part of fighting back against policies which make people so much poorer and cause homelessness by ripping up all the preventative work keeping people from B&B accommodation and the street.

Fighting back means different things to different people. For a Labour and Cooperative councillor, during cuts to public services that Thatcher wouldn’t have dreamt of, it means this-

It means however much we feel like it, we don’t throw our hands up in the air. That we focus on creating growth that is fair, enable communities to flourish, focusing hard on the evidence and expertise we have to squeeze every shred of benefit to alleviate poverty, to reduce rough sleeping crisis and to show people who doubt it, that under labour business does better because jobs is what We fundamentally want: Decent jobs, decent homes.

The impacts of Welfare Reform on improving life chances of children in our city who happen to be born in poverty is ever more challenging.

Quantity and quality of housing is a crisis.

Rough sleeping whilst not rising so far this year, according to charities in the city, is too high.

So we are collecting recommendations that will enable us to rapidly make the best decisions to mitigate the human and economic cost of austerity.

The report that my committee considered on Welfare Reform Impacts is here

In this report you can see stark issues for households in this table there are also practical recommendations around joining services up, considering our communications to those affected and, developing our Money Works model.

The work of the Fairness Commission will also provide solid recommendations which will help guide our Labour administration through whilst ourcouncil finances are slashed by £68m over the next four years. We can then ensure we have have done every possible thing to set a legal budget, bring investment to the city, build new homes and, support those who feel alone in getting out of a crisis that they aren’t alone.

Find out m ore about our Fairness Commission here.

There is always something worth doing that makes a difference.

Our loan to the East Sussex credit union will extend their ability to help more with affordabLe credit.

If we throw our hands up in the air, how will people who voted for us,who depend on us feel? They need to be able to count on us.

Will I get a discount on my council tax?

January 19, 2016January 19, 2016 huxley06

One of the roles of the new committee I chair – Neighbourhoods, Communities and Equalities committee is to champion civic behaviour: volunteering, participation in city and neighbourhood life and to work on a new vision of a relationship between city resident and public services.

For too long, we have had a culture where a vision of good, efficient public services especially councils are like corporations. A kind of “You pays your money, you takes your choice” approach. Staff and leaders have had a mantra of “customer service” and the prevailing winds have been one where the relationship between local democracy in particular has rested on “I pay my taxes and…” Neither the public nor the public sector have challenged this and it’s normal now for people to start breaking down how money is spent against council tax, in a “what my money pays for” way. This is perfectly legitimate but I want to argue for a better way of thinking about how your money is just one part of the contribution you make to all sorts of good things for your city.

Nationally, we in Labour, are yet to provide a clear vision of what a cooperative council and government should look like to more effectively challenge the window dressing that was the failed and discredited Big Society policy. (Which was very much a Conservative policy of stand on your own two feet and get on with it whilst government policies deepen poverty and inequalities.) I am pleased though to be part of a local government Labour cohort pioneering this modern cooperative approach and passionate about it.

Locally, the responsibility for solving problems rests with “The Council”. It is seen as remote, in spite of being super local. And yet, at the same time residents really want to be involved and hate having policies “sprung” on them. They want to influence where crossings are put, what happens in their park, and to help with issues like rough sleeping. We need to change our role from the problem solver, to the leadership role where we allow space for more collaborative problem solving. How we do this? One example is our Innovation Challenge. Starting to create space for other people’s ideas to grow.

What we don’t want is to leave communities alone to stand on their own two feet… or a sink or swim attitude for neighbourhoods. We don’t want to deepen inequalities. We don’t want to replace paid professionals with volunteers as a strategy for managing the cuts.

What we do want is to change the relationship between the council and people in the city to one where your council tax payment isn’t the only thing we value about you. Where your role as a good neighbour, responsible dog owner, foster parent, school governor, someone who moves to let buggies and wheelchairs on and off the bus. You shouldn’t have to stand on your own two feet. We should stand as a city together.

We will value and champion people who are experts by experience of issues. Whether that is mental health issues or homelessness and, redress the balance of decision making so that experts by experience are part of providing and commissioning services alongside not instead of professionals.

We will support volunteering, not just because its good for the city but because loneliness and isolation is a killer. We will support volunteering because it because it makes people more healthy, happier and safer.

We will support a sharing economy. I am a huge fan of Freecycle and my ward notice board on Facebook is a fabulous example of how when people share, communities get stronger. Friendships are made. I am watching the development of the new Brighton and Hove Timebank with interest and pondering what the role of the council is in this.

Often though when I express support for these things, people say (some very seriously, and some are kidding) “Will I get a discount on my council tax?” Or from the other end of the political spectrum, “so…you want to replace paid staff with volunteers?”

Well no. Because council tax funds the things we value being provided at city level, distributed according to need and in my view that should always remain. Council tax is imperfect, but it is communal funds for our place and people. I believe that the proportion of funding going to councils from central taxation should be higher and fairer. Unfortunately, I am not in government but that doesn’t mean abandoning the project of better civic relationships and re-balancing local power.

To put this into context, globally Western economies and markets are fighting out the relationships between states and citizens with two possible future scenarios. One is a transactional future where you get what put in from the state. It becomes like a bank account with direct debits for using roads, parks, social care.

The other future is one that I am fighting for. A collaborative future of participation in the state, a future of sharing resources, time and maintaining a principle of redistribution to create fairness.

The digital age and behaviours could become the ultimate consumerism. We will have the technology to provide that. We also have the technology to collaborate. We are at a point of choosing the dominant social vision.

I choose community spirit.

Hamilton Lodge SchoolBrighton Picture by Jim Holden — Cllr Emma Daniel – Hanover & Elm Grove, Brighton & Hove City Council (Labour)

My voluntary sector surgery – what I learned

September 15, 2015September 15, 2015 huxley06

Today I held my monthly day long surgery with the voluntary sector, where voluntary and community groups can come and meet with me and share their ideas, concerns, and find out where the council administration is with our agenda for a more cooperative and coproductive (ie more equal partnership in designing and delivering services with active citizens) relationship with the sector.

We recognise that only by working more effectively with the very many groups and active individuals in our city can we possibly the challenges of a much reduced council budget (and other public sector partners in the city have the same challenge). Even though I know the sector pretty well I learned a lot today and I thought it would be helpful to put out some general bullet points and links to stuff that residents might be interested in.

Mothers Uncovered works on peer support model doing creative activities with mothers who are struggling to adapt to a new role, especially those who might be showing signs of post natal depression and is run by mothers who have been there. One of the volunteer facilitators told me:

“Without Mothers Uncovered, I would have been taking medication, using counselling sessions and possibly cost the public authorities a lot of money. Mothers Uncovered helped me help myself with minimal interventions. Now I love to volunteer with them. I want to do more. But public bodies and professionals sometimes seem to see us as competition rather than another option. Or an art group or something. We give people back control, self esteem and enduring friendships.”

You can find out more about Mothers Uncovered at http://www.mothersuncovered.com – they currently have a petition with 500 signatures asking for peer to peer support to be recognised and valued by public authorities.

I learned about Age UK’s research in the city called “As Time Goes By: Thoughts on Well Being In Later Years” – one of the quotes that really speaks to me about the Brighton and Hove that I love was this one:

“My neighbours have got keys…but I know every day that unless they see my bedroom window open, they are in here like a shot. So I am not worried about being alone”. (p19)

You can find out more about this in videos on this page at the University of Brighton:

And read the report here

An initiative linking to this work is a collaboration between many people in the city, is one called Know My Neighbour. This is where we all take a step to meet our neighbours and make ourselves available to them in an emergency and to say hello. Next year it is planned by the group to have a week long Know My Neighbour event. I think this is such an excellent idea and chimes with the ethos of street parties, clean ups and Play Streets. I am looking forward to seeing how we as a council can publicise and participate in this amazing idea. Particularly important to older and disabled people maybe, but also remember that loneliness is worse for your health than smoking. (Or so I am told). So not only is it lovely and help people feel less isolated in an emergency or generally. It is good for our health as a city.

Age UK also suggested that we consider what makes a good neighbourhood for Older People as a question. This is a brilliant question with lots more that follow on? Is it different from what makes a good neighbourhood for other age groups or communities?

What do you think are the hallmarks of a successful neighbourhood? One that works for you?

I also learned about care coaches – an innovative approach by Age Uk to create workers based in GP surgeries who can help people navigate the services in health and social care, and their choices (which some people find daunting) to have fair access to what is available. Perhaps in the new integrated health and social care world, where we are person centred and moving away from silo working they have designed a new job description? Lots of brilliant sparks in this conversation about making Better Care transformations more than ideals and into three dimensional changes.

In addition, when we are planning more neighbourhood based approaches, perhaps GP surgeries are a place we need to transform using these new roles to create a neighbourhood access point for joined up services? Maybe not! But brilliant that the sector is thinking about “the how” in meeting the challenges of a new joined up health and social care system which is more social and preventative than hospital and emergency focused. Yes, there are financial drivers…but actually some of this is necessary because it’s an improvement for people and how we live now, and how long we live now.

I also learned, that most of the financial inclusion work that is being done as a way of mitigating the welfare reforms throughout most providers is being done via digital inclusion. That the two things just aren’t separate anymore. This is really interesting and in my view positive and right.

Lastly, I wanted to shine a spot light on a fantastic project run by One Church where they have worked with Small Batch and Taylor Street to develop a Barrista apprenticeship scheme (accredited by Cite College). Apprentices are trained on Mondays and then work Tuesday – Friday putting their learning into practice. Given the level of coffee sophistication in Brighton and Hove, this is a genius plan. We need more of these creative approaches and we need to play our part in supporting them.

What a great, challenging, inspiring day.

Emma x

Fight back club

September 6, 2015 huxley06

Last week I went to the brilliant Stella Creasy MP’s Fightback Club. A training session that groups Labour activists to consider their priorities for national or local policy or for the party itself. The groups then work up campaign plans. Who has the power to change the policy or practice? How do you influence them? What evidence and information do you have to explain why changing that policy or practice is of benefit to them?

Stella bases her training on her successes in campaigning from opposition to make important changes and influencing companies such as Wonga and high street banks.

The lesson from Fightback Club is that everyone has the power to start addressing the issues that they think should be changed. The training gives people the tools to turn outrage or enthusiasm into action. That we don’t need to wait for permission, or for someone else to step up. That if you care about it, you turn that concern into action.

This training mirrors the transformational effect that the digital age is having on power structures, whether within political parties, or whether between citizen and state. Increasingly, the skills, information and ability to act depends on networks (generally those networks exist both online and offline) and less on institutional power. Increasingly, public bodies need to enable those networks to solve issues or make changes rather than leading the change. This is a huge cultural shift for us as individuals, communities and those of us working in politics and democratic bodies.

One of the main reasons I am supporting Stella for Deputy is that she understands this era, and the shifts in power balances. Like me, she is willing to embrace them. Fightback club is a really practical stepping stone to how we achieve this within the party and our communities.

CllrEmmaBlogs

Labour in Hanover & Elm Grove