Amy Dwyer - Networks Coordinator

How did you first get involved in politics?

I actually first got involved in politics through the Young Fabians, I was in my final year of university worried about where I would take my politics degree and I happened to come across an advert for a Young Fabian event hosted by Adam Allnut, ‘How to get involved in politics’ and the rest is history. I had been looking for ways to get involved but was put off by the reputation that politics has of being intimidating and a man’s world. It was refreshing to hear from a majority-female panel at this event discussing the ways that young people can get involved. I immediately approached Adam after the event about how I could get involved in the Young Fabians and have loved the welcoming and friendly atmosphere I’ve experienced ever since

What made you join and get involved with the Young Fabians?

Following from that first initial event I attended, it was the opportunities that are offered to new members. Within three months of being a member I was co-chairing two events at Labour conference on women in politics. These kinds of opportunities really make people value being a member of the Young Fabians and the chances to develop yourself as a member. 

I was also really impressed with the number of policy networks and how porous the Young Fabians is as a result, giving members so many ways to get involved. This is partly why I was so keen on taking up the role of Networks Coordinator this year on the exec. 

What are your aims for the year ahead in your position?

I want to ensure that the amazing work that all of our networks do is heard far and wide, from pamphlets to workshops and government consultation responses. I think we need to be pushing more of the ways that we can have input on policy. Also, I want to focus on upskilling members of networks, and ensuring that it is not just the committees that run events but all members. I will be running skills workshops on running events, engaging members and pamphlet writing. 

If you were Prime Minister for one day, what would you do?

Of course this would have to be curriculum reform. I would significantly modernise our national curriculum and make it fit for the 21st century. This is a great opportunity too, to plug the recent YF Education Network pamphlet, ‘Towards a 21st Century Curriculum’ on this exact topic. I won’t spoil it for you too much, but I would encourage you to take a look at it. 

If you had to be stranded on a desert island with a Labour MP, who would it be and why?

I’d have to go with Lisa Nandy. I would definitely want a fellow northerner with me, we know how to brave tough conditions. She is a fantastic communicator and that could help us if we come across any ships passing by. Plus, her experience as shadow foreign secretary would help us because she’d probably know where we are and how to escape. If not, then I think I would get on well with her as she would appreciate that Lancashire is much cooler than Yorkshire. 

Would you rather fight one horse sized duck or ten duck sized horses, and why?

Ten duck-sized horses for sure. I reckon I could definitely get one of them on my side and either vibe with me or help me fight off the others. Plus, they’d be quite cute if they were duck-sized.

Network and Advocacy Group AGMs will be held from January onwards. If you have any questions for Amy, you can email her at [email protected] or find her on Twitter at @AmyDwyer23.

 

Jimmy Sergi - Blog Editor

How did you first get involved in politics?

Ever since I was a young child I have always been fascinated by politics. Watching austerity reverse so much of the work done by the last Labour government drove me to join the Labour Party on my 14th birthday. 

Since then, I have been involved in my local party here on the Wirral, and I have been Chair of Wirral Young Labour for the past two years. 

What made you join and get involved with the Young Fabians?

Virtually as soon as I joined the party, people asked me when I was going to join the Fabian Society. So when lockdown hit, I decided to sign up and get involved. I was lucky to have a thriving local group in the North West Young Fabians, full of supportive people who were ready to help me to find my feet! 

In January of this year, I became Secretary of the North West Young Fabians as we faced the end of restrictions meaning in-person events were a possibility alongside the newly found wonders of online meetings. Being part of this group evidenced to me the importance of our regional groups to support our members, and to promote the decentralisation of the Young Fabians away from London, which has allowed members like myself to access YF events outside of the capital.

Writing for the YF blog over the past year has been a great way of expressing my views in a friendly environment, which is why I was so keen to take up the position of Blog Editor on this year’s Exec. 

What are your aims for the year ahead in your position?

As Blog Editor, I want to increase the profile of the blog, so that our members' views can be spread more widely across the Labour movement, so we can promote young voices in policy discussions. This will involve increasing the output of the blog and inviting more guest contributors who will draw in more readers. If you have any pitches for blog articles, please do get in touch with me at [email protected].

Beyond my role on the Exec, I want to work with our newly founded Under 19s Advocacy Group to ensure that our youngest members like myself are included in everything the YFs do.

If you were Prime Minister for one day, what would you do?

I would reform our voting system to Proportional Representation. While this wouldn’t have an immediate impact on people’s lives, it would ensure that future governments were more representative, and it would be harder to reverse than any other change. Hopefully, in the long term, this would lead to better governments. 

If you had to be stranded on a desert island with a Labour MP, who would it be and why?

Yvette Cooper. As one of the increasingly rare Labour MPs with experience in government, the conversation wouldn’t end. Plus I could try to convince her to be a guest contributor on the YF Blog once we got off the island!

Would you rather fight one horse-sized duck or ten duck-sized horses, and why?

One horse-sized duck. I feel like wings do less damage than hooves. 

If you want to write for the blog, do not hesitate to get in touch with Jimmy by emailing [email protected] or on Twitter at @jimmysergi_.