These were the words of Molly Mae Hague on a podcast appearance this week.
For those who are not aware of Molly Mae, she is a 22-year-old influencer and former love island contestant. She said herself she chose to appear on the reality show as a “business decision” to raise her profile. Clearly it worked, last year she was appointed Creative Director of the clothing brand Pretty Little Thing, with an undisclosed seven figure salary and she celebrated by treating herself to a £37K Cartier bracelet.
She has received some harsh criticism for her comments and even been compared to Mrs Thatcher.
The problem with her statement is that she fails to acknowledge that while we may have the same amount of time in the day, we don’t all have the same privileges and opportunities. While we can all work hard, it won’t benefit us all in the same way. How hard Molly Mae works is debateable, we don’t know. We haven’t lived her life. She may be a grafter, but she needs to be honest and realistic about how she has gotten her riches and fame. It is not all down to hard work, but good fortune and circumstance have played their part.
For most of us, her lifestyle is not attainable, no matter how hard we work. We might have the same amount of time, but they playing field is not level. We don’t have the connections. But also, we have other demands on our 24 hours in the day. We have to care for children or vulnerable relatives. We work hard in jobs such as retail, teaching, nursing etc. which no matter how hard we work we won’t become rich or famous. It’s not why we work, but it doesn’t mean we are not working hard because we haven’t reached her level, it just means the doors are closed.
An example of those that work hard is the garment makers at Pretty Little Thing/boohoo who are paid £3.50 an hour. In Molly Mae’s book, if they work hard, they too could be like her.
In defence of this sentence, she said it is factually correct, we do all have 24 hours in the day. It may be factually correct, but it’s tone deaf.
This week the Government voted not to extend Free School Meals to School Holidays, potentially leaving children hungry. My own MP, Guy Opperman, was one of the 322 MPs who voted against the bill. I feel angrier about this issue than I have felt about anything in politics for a while. I feel the tears coming every time I think about it, this issue is personal. I can’t remember when I started receiving Free School Meals, but I can remember when they stopped and the impact that had.
I think my parents were a bit embarrassed that me and my sister had to receive free lunches at school. They worried the other children would find out and we would be bullied. However, it was very undramatic and discrete. Every child had a swipe card which their parents could top up with their dinner money. In my case the card was topped up daily with an allowance of around £2.00 if I remember correctly by the local authority. There was no reason for anyone to know this was the case and I would collect my lunch in the canteen and pay with my card like everyone else.
I realized the true value of these meals later in my education. When I was in sixth form, I received a bursary because I was one of a small handful of pupils on the free school meals scheme at my school. This gave me some financial independence. However, the major impact it had on my life was that they are the key to why I was able to continue my education at University. Newcastle University has a scheme called the PARTNERS Programme. This programme consisted of a 2-week assessed summer school that then meant I got a reduced offer to addend Newcastle University. The aim was to get students from backgrounds with traditionally low participation in higher education into University. I was eligible to take part in the scheme as a recipient of free school meals, and because of this was able to study at Newcastle University. Free School Meals put a hot dinner in my stomach, which allowed me to concentrate at school and achieve my best but, they offered me so much more, they offered me opportunity.
My free school meals stopped when I was in the process of applying for university. This was because my parent’s income went up slightly over the threshold due to an increase in their benefits payments. The Tories really do give with one hand and take with the other. Obviously, this made me wonder if my offer to take part in the PARTNERS programme was still valid, and if my hope of studying at Newcastle University was over. After lots of anxiety, phone calls and bureaucracy to navigate they confirmed my offer was still valid. Still, the financial impact of loosing out of free lunches was tangible for my parents. The small amount of extra benefits they received did not make up for having to now feed five extra meals a week to two teenagers.
My family will have gotten off lightly compared to some others who rely on Free School Meals nowadays. It is seven years since I received Free School meals, and since then the Tories have cut services even further and Universal Credit has come into effect leaving families even worse off, even relying on foodbanks and charity. I feel anger for these families who struggle to feed their children, who must make tough choices of how to spend the little money they have, all during a global pandemic. This is all happening at the same time MPs have voted to give themselves a £3000 pay rise, and enjoy lunches paid for by the taxpayer. The level of injustice is sickening. I fear for what another four years under this government means when they are this blatant about their cruelty and hatred of the poor. The MPs that voted against providing children with free meals are not only leaving them hungry but also without hope. Collectively, their policies over the last 10 years have served to push the poor down, leave them without hope and aspiration of escaping poverty, their only goal is to survive a cruel system. The fact that now charities and foodbanks are having to support families only shows how gravely this government have failed. It does not have to be like this though. We don’t have to live in a country where the rich get richer, by being awarded government contracts by their tory mates, while people starve. Please use your votes wisely in future elections, please think of these children as you cast your ballot. In the meantime all we can do it’s to hold our elected representives to account and support one another.
Last year I attended the Labour Party’s National Conference in Liverpool for the first time. I was my CLPs Youth Delegate, a fairly new member and I had no idea what to expect. I was nervous and I honestly had no need to be. It was a fantastic expereince and I am so glad I went. I learned so much, made valuable connections, and I cannot wait to go to Conference in Brighton this years as my CLPs lead delegate. Here are my top tips from my conference expereince last year.
You Wont be Bored
My parents are not political. They vote Labour in each election but that’s as far as it goes. They aren’t interested in debating issues or campaigning. So to them my desire to go to conference was bizarre, they repeatedly asked me why I wanted to go and warned me that I would be bored. However, I wasn’t bored, I was in my element. I loved the debate, the attention to detail in examining policy, witnessing how the largest policy making forum in the party functioned, and hearing speeches from important figures in the party as well as ordinary members. Yes, the days are long, and yes I appreciate this kind of thing isn’t exciting to everyone, but if you’ve put yourself forward as a delegate, you must be the kind of person who wont be bored.
Go to Fringe Events
When conferences closes, is when the fun begins. Last year I purchased a wristband for The World Transformed, the fringe festival that is aimed at growing the left and runs alongside conference every year. There is music, art and politics and it has become huge, many come for just this and never enter the conference hall. I got see extra debates and speeches I wouldn’t have seen in the main conference. Obviously, I missed the daytime events as I was at conference to vote as a delegate, but it was worth it just for the evenings. If this isn’t your cup of tea, there is plenty happening, Regional offices will hold meet ups and the host cities really embrace the conference being there so there will be something you’ll enjoy.
Accommodation isn’t that important
This was the thing I worried about most pre-conference last year, and I needn’t have. I stayed with two other delegates from my CLP. They were both women over 60, who I didn’t know very well. I was very worried it would feel like a long time, be uncomfortable etc. However, we got on like a house on fire, and I can honestly say I would count both women as my friends now, I have since met with both separately and together for coffee or lunch. We stayed in a flat booked through Air B&B which was not exactly The Ritz. Due to a mix up with the booking, I had to sleep on an air mattress on the floor, we had no central heating or hot water and it was above a noisy nightclub. Despite all this, it wasn’t that bad, I survived and ultimately, its somewhere to sleep, you won’t be there very long. Your CLP will likely reimburse your accommodation expenses so its important to keep costs down. This year I am staying in Hove with local members for free.
Be Prepared to Speak
My biggest regret from last year is that I didn’t speak in the debates. One of my fellow delegates spoke at the women’s conference as she was fantastic. I was itching to get up during the discussion on Universal Credit as I had just stopped claiming it and had a lot to say on the issue. A lot of what will be discussed it predictable so you could even go to conference with something in mind you would like to speak on, but you can also just get up spur of the moment too. It would have been a fantastic expereince to have spoken on such a stage, and it may be a goal for this year.
Take Notes
As a delegate you will be asked to report back to your CLP. You don’t need to take detailed notes, there isn’t an exam, but there is so much going on you might want to jot things down. Once youre back its very hard to remember everything that’s happened. Also make sure you have enough room in your back to bring back paperwork and leaflets with you. This are good to refer to when youre home and I had A LOT. You will also pick up a lot of freebies, I got everything from free periods tote bags, to Jezza stickers and stress balls with union logos on.
Network
Conference is a huge gathering of Labour Party members. The biggest you will ever attend. Make the most of this. Introduce yourself to people from neighbouring CLPs, make as many connections as possible. You never know where it will lead. I went to an event where I met other youth officers, and this was one of the most valuable things I did at conference. I made connections with people who were facing similar struggles in rural CLPs when trying to engage young people, and we were able to exchange experiences and ideas. I am still in touch with several people I met at this workshop and I returned to my CLP with renewed enthusiasm and ideas of how to engage young members.
Comfort is Key
The days at conference are long, so do what you have to stay comfortable. You wont be able to concentrate and get the most out of conference if you’re not comfortable. This means make sure you have plenty food and water to get you through the day. Dress suitably, layers so you can take off or add, you don’t want to be too hot or cold, and of course wear loose clothing. You are sitting for long periods, tight jeans were a definite no for me, but whatever you’ll be most comfortable in is what you should chose. Also if you need to take time out, you should. It can be draining, it’s ok to miss a fringe event one evening or dip out of debates for a while. There are long periods of just speeches so you won’t miss a vote if you take a walk at a strategic time.
Who’s coming to conference in Brighton? See you there!
Production photo of Wonderland performed at Nottingham Playhouse
Wonderland set in a Nottinghamshire mining village during
the 1984-85 miners’ strike, is being performed at Northern Stage 27th
Feb-9th March. The play was co-produced by the Nottingham Playhouse
and written by Beth Steele, who was inspired by her father, a Nottinghamshire
miner, to capture the reality of the life of a miner, especially during the
strike. Steele’s family connection and they play’s roots in Nottingham are
clear throughout the show as an authentic depiction of the lives of ordinary
miners during this period.
I saw Wonderland on its opening night in Newcastle. As I
walked up the stairs to Northern Stage, I was greeted by traditional mining
songs performed by Sing United, a local community singing group. This was a
lovely touch and really helped in connecting the play with the mining heritage
in the local area. Northern stage felt like a perfect venue for this
performance. Despite the setting of Nottingham, the North East is a place where
this story of the miners’ strike will resonate with the audience. Additionally,
the theatre, with its rustic wooden panelling and dark interiors added to the sensation
of being transported to a coal mine. The staging and set design were fantastic,
and they were able to create the feel of an enormous working mine on stage,
while effortlessly shifting to the contrasting offices of politicians in
Westminster. It was fantastic to see how every element of this performance had
been carefully considered, and this attention to detail really paid off.
Wonderland follows the lives of several ordinary miners in the Welbeck Colliery, leading up to and during the miners’ strike. The miner’s conversations down the pit give the audience a sense of the tough reality of being a coal miner, as they discussed their first time going underground at age 14, the unbearable heat of the coal face and the constant danger of the job. The conversations felt authentic and demonstrated the comradery these men would have had. This however was sharply contrast with discussions between chairman of the National Coal Board, Ian MacGregor and Secretary of State for Energy, Peter Walker in an office in Westminster. The way in which Wonderland flipped between the two locations, often with both in the same scene on stage at the same time, highlighted the ruthless politics of the time, and its effect on the lives of ordinary people. For example, there were scenes of the men standing on the picket line discussing the tensions that the strike was creating within their own families, the pressure from hungry families to go back to work, and even a scene in which a miner cries over having to kill a dog he could no longer afford to look after. Then the audience are transported to a conversation between tory politicians discussing how they can prevent those striking and their families accessing welfare. This was excellent at showing the us vs them attitudes of the time, as well as creating relatable characters in the miners, contrasting them with the out of touch politicians. Something else that was not brushed over, was the police brutality towards those striking, with a scene at Orgreave included. The police and the government’s treatment of the miners is something that has not been forgotten, especially by those in mining communities. So, although at times it was hard to watch, it is vital that this story is told, and that the injustice is not forgotten.
As the play closed, with the miners going back to work, feeling defeated, the actors lined up at the front of the stage and recalled facts about the legacy of the pit closures. The sombre mood of the end of the story met with startling statistics about the deaths that came as a result of strike was a fitting end to this show. The statistic I will take away from this performance was that the UK has 5 of the poorest towns in Northern Europe. All of these were former mining communities. This is a startling reminder that the injustice of the strike and the UKs power imbalance are not over. We still need to fight for fairness. It is not over until we have justice for Orgreave and other instances of police brutality and wrongful arrests and it’s not over while we have austerity causing people to live in poverty in Britain.
Thank you to Verbal Remedy for the press tickets and the opportunity to write this review.
I am quite a big fan of podcasts. I listen to an episode or two of a Podcast almost everyday, I probably listen to podcasts more than I listen to music. I usually listen to one while I’m getting dressed in the morning, I listen to them while I am driving and I also sometimes listen before I go to sleep. I find them a really interesting way to learn, to get involved in discussions on important issues, as well as a way to enjoy comedy or storytelling. All of the podcasts I listen to are available for free and I use the apple podcasts app. I listen to a wide variety of Podcasts and friends often as for recommendations, so I thought I would write a list of some Podcasts I have enjoyed.
This is my latest discovery in the world of podcasts. Presented by Ann Friedman, going through it is a series of short interviews with women about a moment in their lives when they had to decide whether to quit or keep going. The guests are pretty high profile, from Rebecca Traister to Hillary Clinton, and the decisions they face vary from relationships to their careers. The episodes are short, at around 20 minutes, so its easy to fit into your day. My favourite episodes are the ones with Glennon Doyle and Ellen Pao.
Esther Perel’s where should we begin, follows one off, hour long couples counselling sessions with the Belgian therapist. Although the couples and their scenarios are anonymised, the sessions are still intimate, following themes such as infidelity, secrets and sexuality. There is a diverse range of couples, from different age groups, cultures and heterosexual and same sex-couples. Each episode is fascinating, and its a unique way to expereince the work of a world renowned therapist.
Presented by Iqra Choudhry and Alicia Anane, this podcast looks at the world trough and intersectional feminist lens. The perspectives of the presenters who are a British Pakistani woman and a British Ghanaian woman, on the issues faced by people of colour in the UK is valuable to be able to listen to and learn from. An episode I particularly enjoyed was one which looked at racism in the LGBT+ community.
This is a podcast I laugh out loud at every time I listen to it. In off menu, comedians James Acaster and Ed Gamble ask celebrity guests about their dream meal. Set in the dream restaurant, Acaster plays the role of the genie waiter, who can get guests their any starter, main, side, dessert and drink they request. This format gives guests the opportunity to share stories about their meals from around the globe, as well as offering a unique insight into their personality, through their personal likes and dislikes. Many of the guests are their friends from the stand up circuit, so of course it is hilarious and a perfect for long car journeys. That being said, this did lead to an embarrassing moment. I was listening on the way to work one morning, chucking along as I do, when I was stopped by a set of traffic lights on a busy road. Still enjoying the podcast, I looked over to the car next to me, which just happened to be my boss, who had seen me laughing away to myself!
Serial is probably the most famous podcast of all time, and I must admit to being a big fan of it, especially the 3rd season. However, I am a much bigger fan of S-Town, a podcast by the same producers as Serial. The Podcast tells the story episode by episode of John B. McLemore, who emailed the producers of serial asking them to investigate a murder he claimed had happened in his hometown in Alabama. In s-town, we here about the investigation that presenter Brian Reed builds with McLemore, through emails, phone calls and meetings over 3 years as he investigates the case. I cant really say much more without spoiling it, but its an amazing and true story.
My dad Wrote a Porno is another Podcast that is one of the most well known and listened to, and with good reason, its hilarious. Each episode features Jamie Morton reading a chapter of the erotic novel, Belinda Blinked, which his father self-published, to his two friends, James Cooper and Alice Levine. The novel itself is so bad its good, but the comments made by the three presenters as they read it are side-splitting. The podcast has quite the following, with short “footnotes” episodes featuring celebrity listeners such as Emma Thompson, Michael Sheen and Elijah Wood. Everyone who I have recommended this to has loved it.
I think Call your Girlfriend was the first podcast I listened to, and the one that sparked my love of podcasts. It came from a recommendation from a friend. The podcast is presented by Ann Friedman and Aminatou Sow, and describes itself as “the podcast for long-distance besties everywhere”. This is because the episodes generally feature a phone call between the two host who live in different states. They discuss topics from the Kardashians to international politics trough a feminist framework. The Call your Girlfriend team have also developed Shine Theory, which they practice. This is about supporting people, and defaulting to collaboration not competition, as when one of us shines, we all shine. This something that has become incredibly popular amongst young feminists. Having listened to every episode of this since it started in 2014, I truly feel part of the discussions has on Call your Girlfriend. Part of this may be down to the way that when Aminatou Sow was diagnosed with cancer and underwent treatment, including a hysterectomy, they continued to record.
My Favourite Murder is a very unique hybrid of true crime and comedy in a podcast. In each episode, host Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, share a story about murder or a survivor story and discuss it. Although the combination of discussing murder with comedy may seem morbid, the hosts are always compassionate and sensitive to the stories and the victims of the crimes. The are also very aware of the way they discuss issues in true crime such as mental illness, sex work and race, and are careful in the language they use. I like that this podcast looks at crimes that are usually less well known, for example, they say they will never discuss Ted Bundy.
Presented by Jon Ronson, this podcast follows a year long investigation into the effects of one idea on wider society. The idea is this podcast starts with is tech guru Fabian Thylmann, who was the first person to create a website allowing free access to pornography, making him incredibly rich. Although there are many obvious effects of this easy access to explicit material online which is pretty normal now, Ronson uncovers a lot of less obvious ones. The podcast is fascinating, as is the spin off, The Last Days of August, which follows the aftermath of the suicide of porn actress August Ames.
A few others I occasionally dip into, but wouldn’t describe myself as a regular listener of:
Jeremy Kyle at 2017 British Maters at Close House Golf Club
Jeremy Kyle hit the headlines earlier this week when his TV show was cancelled after 15 years. The cancellation was after a guest took his own life, days after he reportedly failed his infamous lie detector test. I can honestly say I will not miss Mr Kyle or his show, however it is disapointing that it took this level of tradegy for a show which exploits those most vulnerable in society to be cancelled.
The Jeremey Kyle show describes itself as being based on confrontation, and as a programme in which guests attempt to resolve issues often related to family, romantic and sexual relationships, or drugs and alcohol, infront of a live studio audience. Kyle positions himself in the role of presenter of the show as well as somewhat of a referee and advisor to his guests. The majority of the guests on the show are in desperate situations, they are unsually uneducated and not well off, facing the social issues that come with this. Jeremey Kyle has made a living for 15 years from parading these people and their problems on national television in the name of entertainment. To me, this can only be described as cruel, unfair and exploitative. Instead of proper support, indivudials are appearing on the show, in the hope that the presenter can solve their issues. Kyle dishes out advise, administers DNA paternaty tests and guests even face lie detector tests. It is as though he has self-styled himself as a celebrity social worker, in spite of the fact that his qualifcations to perform this role are unclear. Although he often referes guests to additional counsellors for aftercare, none of this can be seen as proper support in what are complex situations. Additionally creating a light, daytime entertainment show out of the problems of those who are incredibly vulnerable is not only inappropriate, its exploitation. He publically humiliates guests, delivery life changing news, such as the child you have been raising is boilogically yours on a public stage. It is outrageous that this has been allowed to continue for so long.
I will admit, I do not watch this show, so have very little expereince of it other than seeing it in passing. However, I have had the pleasure of meeting the man himself a couple of times. He was a good friend of a former employer of mine, when I worked in a bar/restaurant. I have to say, he had very poor manners and was as repulsive in real life as he appears to be on the television. I have heard it said that how someone treats bar/waiting staff is a very good indicator of character, and in this case I believe his rudeness says a lot, as well as the inappropriate comment he made to my very young female former-collegue. I assure you, that brash attitude in not just an act for the cameras.
The problems are I have with The Jeremy Kyle show are of course not isolated to this show. It was born in a time when this style of television was popular, with shows like Trisha and Jerry Springer occupying our screens. Additionally, we live in an age of reality television dominating TV and where it is genuinely possible and pretty easy to get your 15 minutes of fame. Many young people have unrealistic dreams of fame and fortune and will sell their souls to production companies to achieve it. However, this age of celebrity is causing enormous damage. We have seen this in the recent suicides of two contestants of Love Island, a show which despite this, is set to return to our screens very shortly. Young people are unprepared and catapulted to fame, with little expectations of the reality of this or the skills to cope with it. They are opened up to a world of online abuse and trolling, as well as huge media interest in intimate details of their lives because they have now become public figures. Production companies must have a duty of care to those who appear on their shows, and they cannot be fulfilling this currently.
The cancellation of The Jeremy Kyle Show, the ongoing Ofcom investigation into this incident, as well as the commons committee investigation into reality television are reassuring signs of things to come. Reality television will be under the microscope like never before, with questions being asked about how these tragedies have been allowed to happen. I genuinely hope we can learn from these incidents, and that the exploitation of vulnerable people on these shows can stop.
In Liverpool on the first day of conference with 2 of my fellow delegates
I have recently been selected by my CLP as a delegate to this years conference in Brighton. I went to my first conference last year as youth delegate. The CLP has another young person who will be our youth delegate this year, and I have taken on an informal mentor role with him, having experienced the nerves of my first conference so recently. This has lead me to reflect on my experiences from last year, looking ahead with excitement to what conference may hold this year.
When I was selected as a delegate I was excited as I realised it would be such an exciting opportunity to learn so much more about politics and the party. However, this was mixed with nerves. I didn’t know what to expect at all. I was fairly new to the party, so the other delegates, who I would be spending a lot of time with, were almost strangers to me. I had anxieties about accommodation, travelling, what if it was really boring and I’d hate it? This are feelings I can see in our new young delegate and are completely natural. This is something I would love to be able to say to all young people lucky enough to be attending conference for the first time.
Once I got there, all of these anxieties faded away. I suddenly bonded with these people I had been thrust into sharing accommodation and lots of time with. I still socially spend time with them, despite 40+ year age differences. I knew it would be a learning expereince but I couldn’t have anticipated how much so! I was amazed by the way that the party operates on this level, the biggest policy making platform. It was fascinated to see how the motions that we submit at CLP level go to compositing meetings and are then debated. It was inspiring to see the speeches made by not only MPs and other notable politicians but also those made by ordinary members. I am a bit of a nerd for politics and seeing the formalities play out before me was absolutely fascinating. I also learned so much about myself during this conference. I didn’t get the opportunity to get up and speak, however, I wanted to, and this is something I would never have expected from myself. Additionally, I was able to grasp the rules and formalities pretty quickly, to the point where I clarified a few things for our lead delegate. I had expected to be lost, confused and bored. Far from it!
An opportunity that was made available to me at conference was a training session for youth officers. This was a very useful session, which amongst other things, looked at what makes a good leader, as well as ways to engage young members and how to run successful campaigns. It was an interesting opportunity to think about what we are already doing well in Hexham, as well as generating ideas on how we can improve our engagement with young members. While all this information was helpful, what was the most beneficial aspect of it was that I was able to network with other Youth Officers from around the country. We were able to compare what was happening in our CLPs and share ideas. Something I found interesting was that the issues preventing engagement in Hexham were similar in other rural constituencies, however the numbers of young people we have attending branch and Young Labour Network meetings was comparable to more urban constituencies, so very heartening to hear we are doing well on this!
I returned to my CLP with renewed enthusiasm as well as plenty of stories and memories. I cant wait to attend conference again this year as an experienced delegate.
In May 2018, Tommy Robinson founder and former leader of the
English Defence League began a ten-month prison sentence for contempt of court.
He was guilty of posting a Facebook live video of defendants entering the court,
despite a court order preventing reporting on the trial whilst it was still
underway. This guilty verdict also activated a three-month suspended sentence.
Robinson has become infamous for his highly controversial
politics, including extreme racist ideology and far-right ideas. For example, he
often condemns the entire religion of Islam, confusing faith with terrorism.
The sentencing of Robinson to prison caused an alarming response from the far-right which must be taken seriously, with some sources reporting up to 15,000 protesters taking to the streets of London on 9th June. This demonstration showed that the alt-right are dangerously well organised, with swathes of supporters ready to protest the arrest of their poster-boy and spread their racist beliefs publicly.
This protest has been labelled as a “class uprising” by
many. For example, Lee Hurst on Twitter said “I guess today’s march in London
in support of Tommy Robinson will spark a flurry of tweets from middle class
lefties slating working class people attending. Because it’s the middle classes
job to speak for the working class and the working classes should know their
place.” This tweet highlights that many of the people who turned up to march
were middle-aged white men, who were probably working class. It is suggesting
that the level of organisation is something that those taking part should be
proud of, and even feel empowered by. They are protesting the prison sentence
of Robinson, but it can be seen as a protest against the middle classes, and
against the left.
However, despite that it may be true that there were working
class people there, they were not there because they are working class. They
were protesting because they are racist. They choose to support a man like
Tommy Robinson and his far-right ideology because they are racist, no other
reason. Labelling this demonstration as a class uprising is incredibly
problematic. It is suggesting that the only reason that these people may be
protesting is working class anger. It perpetuates the ideas that =working class
people are mistreated in this country, not as a result of government policy and
austerity, but because of immigration. There are constant cuts to public
services and welfare, and the easy scapegoats for this is immigrants. There is
a suggestion that all working class people are uneducated enough to fall for
this blatant lie, and believe their mistreatment is due to migrants, and not a
government that doesn’t care. Therefore,
it is time for the working class to rise up against this. However, this is a
serious insult to the intelligence of so many working class people who see past
this rhetoric.
Furthermore, this idea creates a political divide between
the classes. Those that follow Tommy Robinson are working class folk, taking
back what is theirs. Those that are offended by his ideas are middle class
snowflakes. However, this is simplistic and far from reality. When we talk about working class here, it is
clear that we are only talking about a certain type of working class people,
the white working class. Not only is this sweeping statement excluding a huge
amount of working class people who may be themselves immigrants or descended
from immigrants, it discounts all of the fantastic work that working class
people do. Working class people campaign for refugees, they volunteer at services
for asylum seekers, they build integrated communities. Not all working class
people are racist. Not all racists are working class.
Those involved in the #Freetommy movement will come from a variety of backgrounds. Yes some of them will be working class, but some will not be. However, they one thing they all have in common is that they are racist. #Freetommy is not a working class uprising, it is a dangerous demonstration on the power and organisation on the far-right.
Originally published on Verbal Remedy on 25th June 2018
This time last year, wrapped up in the intense bubble of a student election. I had decided to run for president of Newcastle University Students Union (NUSU), however my election campaign was far from easy. It was plagued with sexism and online abuse.
My journey to becoming a Student’s Union presidential candidate started exactly one year before my campaign. I logged in to vote in the elections and noticed my only options for president were 4 white men, guaranteeing yet another year with a white male president. I was disappointed to see this and started to reflect on when I had last seen a woman on the ballot. I couldn’t recall and that’s when I decided that next year I would run and make sure there would be at least one. It was a good job I did decide to run since when the candidates list was released, I was unsurprised to find my two opponents were both white men.
I felt I would make a strong candidate for president. I had plenty of expereince within the students’ union. I had been a Part-time Officer for 2 years, I had established and became president of a society (The Working Class Students Network) as well as being actively involved for years as an academic rep and in other activities. My campaign manifesto revolved around drawing attention to the lack of diversity in sabbatical officers’ team. It detailed policies of how I would address this trough a long term programme designed to empower students from all backgrounds to be leaders. I also aimed to tackle other issues I had become aware of from my years of expereince within the union, such as healing links with the local community and creating better opportunities for students to improve their employability . My manifesto was well informed and researched. At this point I was feeling excited to get started on campaigning. I had thought it would be a tiring week and I would get some tough questions as well as maybe some sexism. However, I didn’t anticipate the reality.
The reality hit me during the second candidates’ debate which was organised by the courier (NUSU’s student media) and was livestreamed online. During this debate our policies were cross-examined by the moderator, we were asked difficult questions and generally given a fairly tough time. Some of my opponents’ policies often fell short during debate and questioning, including plans to install expensive sports television subscriptions in the bar and running a night bus to prevent students being sexually assaulted, even though this was un-costed and didn’t take into account that most sexual assaults are committed by someone you already know. In contrast however, it seemed to me my policies stood up to the scrutiny fairly well. While there were questions I was taken off guard by, and didn’t have well thought through answers to, generally my experience allowed me to give informed answers. Despite this however, I still felt belittled. This may have been because I was the only woman on the stage, with four very confident men, including the other candidates, the current president and the moderator. While this was a factor, I think the fact I was interrupted by the moderator shouting at me, as well as not being listened to was also to blame. For example, we had a question asking if sexual violence happens in Newcastle. My first opponent answered very well explaining of course it does, he has never seen it but has had friends experience it and tell him about it. I went next, explaining yes it does, I’ve experienced it myself. My final opponent however, answered no, it doesn’t happen, Newcastle is a safe city. This humiliated me, after I had shared such a personal detail in a public forum like this, to then be told that it doesn’t happen. I must be a liar!
The debate was on the Friday before polling opened, however it lingered with me all weekend. Once Monday came and election week started I had to put it to one side, put on a happy face and start campaigning. I did many of the usual things the other candidates also did, I held a launch party, I had a strong social media campaign, I made a video, I put banners and posters up and leafleted around campus. However, when I posted in Facebook groups to drum up support, I was called horrific misogynistic names. This came as surprise to me, since they were all groups I had been a member of for years, and were generally left-wing political groups. My sponsored posts also received abuse. I was described as “careerist” and “opportunistic” for trying to gain votes, despite my opponents also doing the same, that is how you win an election after all! I received in depth questions online about my policies, constantly having to prove myself, something which my male opponents didn’t have to do. For example, both myself and a male opponent had policies about supporting working class students. His care for these students was taken at face value, where as I had to justify mine, explaining I was president of the Working Class Students Network, and had experience campaigning on this issue. I also had almost all of my banners and posters destroyed or stolen by the end of the week. There was of course an opportunity to report all of these things, and I did report them to NUSU, however to little avail. I told my opponent about my experiences at the end of the week, and he didn’t believe me, saying he hadn’t received any abuse, while also brushing off that there could possibly be any sexist undertones.
Once polling closed, I was exhausted. Despite having plenty
of expereince to build on and being the only candidate who attended every
debate and hustings, I felt like I had an uphill battle. As election results
were announced, and I sat in the audience knowing the inevitable, I would not
win. I was correct, and it broke my heart. I had put myself through this
expereince for nothing.
I entered into the race to prove a point, to draw attention
to the fact women don’t run in these elections. While I feel I did draw
attention to this, I mostly proved something to myself. That there is
underlying sexism within the system that prevents women from running. I hope to
see in future years greater diversity within those running, but also those
elected as sabbatical officers. However, if this is to happen, NUSU need to
take control of this issue, take complaints seriously and do more to empower students
from under-represented groups to run in their elections. Upon reflection, I am
glad I entered into the election, I gained a lot from it, I learned how to run
a campaign, I became more resilient and confident. I also don’t wish to seem
bitter that I did not win, that’s a part of democracy. However, I will always feel
I would have had an easier time if I was a man.
Holly Waddell 