Young PPCs blog, week 1: Emily Benn, Labour
Every Monday, Catch21 will be getting an update from some of the young people campaigning to become MPs at the General Election. This week, we're kicking off with an article by Emily Benn, the 20 year old Labour candidate for East Worthing and Shoreham in Sussex...
I was selected as Labour’s PPC in East Worthing and Shoreham on September 12th 2007 - a day I will never forget! The past two and a half years have been a bit of a roller coaster, politically and personally. I was 17 when I was selected, and had a year left at school taking my A Levels, and in October 2008 I started at Oxford University, where I’m studying History and Politics.
There are occasions over
the past 28 months that really stick out in my memory. Firstly, it was a real
honour to lay a wreath at three Remembrance Day Services on behalf of the
Labour Party. At services in Shoreham, Worthing and Southwick I was privileged
enough to meet and talk to some of our ex-servicemen and women, along with
members of the St John Ambulance. It is a very important day, and I am proud to
have played a part in services to remember those who paid the ultimate
sacrifice for our freedom.
I have very much enjoyed going into schools and sixth forms in the constituency, and outside, to talk to students about their thoughts and experiences. I’m lucky to have had the chance to speak to school councils, sixth formers and at school prizegivings (a daunting experience, considering I was the same age as some of the prizewinners!). Education is one of my biggest political priorities, and I am passionate about creating a society where young people are able to fulfil their potential - too often talent is wasted, and opportunities are missed. I hope that, as Labour has proposed, every young person will be guaranteed an apprenticeship, training or a place to study at school or college up to 18.
There are many pressures involved in being a PPC - not least the balancing act we all have to play between our campaign and the rest of our lives. While my position cannot be a full time job, and is completely unpaid, it is my passion - and I spend as much time as possible on it, while still fulfilling my obligations at University, including trying to write nearly two essays a week, which is tough! There are things in Oxford I have had to miss out on, and many friends I haven’t been able to see, but it’s a sacrifice I am more than happy to make to fulfil my responsibility to the Labour Party and my Constituency. It is also a financial sacrifice, as lots of the cost of travel and the campaign are borne personally by me and a few members of my constituency party, who are investing a great deal. We are constantly trying to raise money to be able to run an effective campaign, which isn’t easy. During term time, the commute is three and a half hours each way, and as I’m in the constituency around twice a week that’s quite a lot of time taken up on coaches and trains!
In the next few months I am going to try to visit all of the schools and colleges in the constituency, as it would be great to talk to fellow first-time voters about their views of the political process. I’d also like to visit all the Sure Start children’s centres in East Worthing and Shoreham. I’m very proud of the success of the Sure Start programme, which, since its inception, has provided childcare, healthcare, early education and family support nationwide to more than two million children and their families. It’s vital that all PPCs get out into their local communities to talk to constituents, to listen and learn from their experiences, and visiting Sure Start centres is one great way to do that. I am also hoping to get some more leaflets printed, and continue to campaign on the doorstep across the constituency.
On a separate note, I lost someone very, very special and close to me earlier this month, and at moments like that you forget politics, and focus on the people you love. In her memory I have donated to the Alzheimer’s Society - and I would urge any of you who can to do so as well: www.alzheimers.org.uk. It’s a heartbreaking disease, and I know that the Alzheimer’s Society, and its hundreds of volunteers, does fantastic work in supporting research to combat the disease. I strongly support the Government’s new National Dementia Strategy, and hope that it serves to ease the burden on sufferers, families and carers across the country.
Anyway, the campaign is only getting more intense as the election looms closer. It’s going to be tough, but I am really looking forward to the next few months!
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Reply #1 on : Thu February 04, 2010, 17:32:00