Imagine a
working class woman, educated at the local comprehensive, bright enough to go
on to A levels but then marriage and a family come along; not University. One
of the children is autistic so any hope of a decent job is plucked away as a
full time carers role is the only option. Then picture a car accident that
leaves this working class woman disabled with a mobility problem, but
nonetheless a burning desire to climb into the political arena and change the
narrative. But being outside the ‘political bubble’ it is like being led to a
pitch black, dark alleyway with closed doors leading off and told to navigate
down it with various hazards on route. Whichever way she turns, she can’t work
out the trick to make the doors open because they are controlled by the
political elite, politicians and the right wing media who can unlock the doors
as they have the correct contacts, the passwords and the secret handshakes.
Then enter
Unite the Union and Len McCluskey. With the birth of the new concept of Unite
Community that opens up union membership at 50p pw to people who don’t work in
the traditional unionised workplaces like carers, the disabled, students, the
self employed and retired, the working class woman is opened up to a world of
new education: public speaking courses, community activism, setting up a
community branch, and access to Unite tutors to help her navigate the political
representation route. Unite help out with all the travel costs that previously
held this woman back from participation and education. Unite give the woman
self belief and self confidence that she WILL be able to change the political
narrative and enter the arena, as the courses provide a toolbox of skills she
can use.
That woman
is hungry to change the austerity story. That woman is me.
In 1979 in
Westminster 40% of elected Labour Mps were from a manual or clerical working
class background. In 2010 this had dramatically decreased to 9%. Where I live
in Wales well over two thirds of the 30 assembly members come from a middle
class background of law, PR and heads of public bodies. It is time for change.
While the
Labour Party recognises the under representation of women in Westminster, by
using All Women Shortlists. It certainly does not recognise the woeful under
representation of working class people and disabled people. Watching from the
sidelines while people applaud all women shortlists is frustrating. Most of the
women selected are from middle class backgrounds. This may even be acceptable
if some of the women had working class values. But there is nothing worse than
seeing these women and indeed shadow female ministers, lamenting the
opportunities and the way in which austerity is effecting the working class,
then driving home in their Chelsea tractor to the nanny who has put the kids to
bed as she relaxes with a nice glass of claret and looks forward to dinner
parties at the weekend!
WALK A MILE
IN OUR SHOES. Have your day interrupted by school who want you to turn up ASAP
as your child is having a meltdown. It’s the third time in as many weeks and
your employer is more than annoyed. Fear of losing your job is a daily worry.
My husband and I are self employed and low paid. I have a regular features
column in the Morning Star covering topics on working class austerity and
political representation. We have 4 sons and we are on working tax credits as a
top up to our low pay. Income fluctuates a lot. Now walk round the supermarket
with £40 to feed the family for a week. You get innovative, but there is no
room for treats or fripperies.
There are
working class people living lives the Westminster elite can’t begin to guess
at. Not for a month or 6 months but day in and day out all year round on a Tory
enforced austerity that affects us the most, the people at the bottom. The
Tories have been successful at pitting people against each other; old v young,
working poor v poor, able bodied v disabled, men v women. The politics of a
selfish, ‘every man for himself’ society. And women are bearing the brunt of
austerity the most. But we hate being represented by people who only seem to
empathise but have no idea at all what it is like to live our lives.
With the
help of Unite I am able to lift my personal barrier to political representation
and unravel what is essentially an upper middle class jigsaw to becoming an MP
or in Wales an AM. I have this week been accepted onto the list for an AM seat
in 2016.
But there
needs to be a wholesale cross-party change into how ordinary people can gain
access to political representation; how candidates are selected and indeed
financial barriers removed entirely as this is what makes it so near impossible
to enter politics for working class people of both sexes.
There has
been much said in my paper The Morning Star about opportunities for women in
politics to job-share on a part time basis. Caroline Murphy the leading
businesswoman in construction on the left and campaigner is a huge advocate of
the part time job share MP. Cameron and his party are just about to dismantle
the Access to Political Office fund in May 2015 for disabled people wishing to
enter politics. What was damned hard will be near impossible if this rung of
the ladder is taken from us.
My union mentor
me and are always there at the end of the phone or by email should I need
specific advice. Personally I have made connections via twitter and at the
events I attend with many of the trade union group of MPs like Ian Lavery and
Grahame Morris who are always happy to offer advice. But that help is not
available for women outside of a union environment. There are no courses or
mentoring or explanations of the almost impossible political navigation process
by the Labour Party. Whilst our selection is undertaken as democratically as
possible by CLPS, is this always the right way? For example many disabled
candidates are being overlooked the minute they come through the selection door
as many of the panel see their health as an issue and a barrier to selection.
CLPS are selecting some working class candidates but not enough. However there
are more 1st generation university people who still hold dear
working class values of solidarity and the strong helping the weak.
For the
private school educated Eton boys it’s a smooth stroll to that safe seat in
Parliament. For this woman there is Everest to climb. I will do it with the
help of my union behind me all the way. Working class people in working class
communities deserve to be represented by one of their own. The House of Commons
does not look or even think like the electorate. It’s a democratic deficit to
be addressed and resolved. Now it’s time to stop talking and time to start
acting for the Labour Party. Let Labour MPS
reflect the people who built the party; the bricklayer, the miner, the nurse, the
shop worker, the carer. Political reward waits if the party acts; political
wilderness if it refuses to listen.
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