I am pleased to tell you about a new Affiliated Organisation we are starting called Operation Social Equality. It is open to all members of the Liberal Democrats but has a specific focus to support members from low-socio economic backgrounds.
Studies tell us that those from low socio-economic backgrounds are amongst the most under-represented in politics and also the least engaged. So three years ago the journey started to look at what can be done to help the Liberal Democrats become more inclusive and to encourage more people from low socio-economic backgrounds to engage with the party.
I heard from many people who shared experiences just like those that I had experienced myself. I heard stories of some who had walked away from the party. Some found doors to be closed or opportunities held just too far away to grab. It was from these conversations that Operation Social Equality was born.
This group has three objectives – to train, mentor and break down barriers. These three aims we believe are an important first step towards the group’s aims. We want to help members to succeed in the party and to achieve their goals. We also want to see the party succeed in reaching voters who have traditionally been out of reach for our party. We hope to bring one of the founding principles of our party “in which no-one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity” to life. Membership of this AO is open to all in the party irrespective of background but who share an interest in the goals of our new organisation.
The next stage is to host our first AGM and this will be this coming Tuesday, January 24th at 7:30pm. You can sign up here.
We are also looking for those who wish to be a part of our founding Exec to please consider doing so and you can apply here.
* Paul McGarry is Scottish Liberal Democrats Housing Spokesperson and Conference Convener. He is one of the founders of Operation Social Equality.
4 Comments
An interesting initiative though I think the difficulty will be that individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds who are willing to engage with political parties are the type of individuals who will also be willing to engage in things that will mean they will be likely to improve their socio-economic standing and no longer by part of that socio-economic group. It is ironic that those who are unwilling to engage with political parties are actually the most representative of that particular socio-economic group.
Is that not what is wanted! In time, to see a cleaner,a simple housewife to climb into a position of an MP?
SO glad you are calling it social equality, not social mobility. The latter is what Nick Clegg and so many others call it, which in practice ends up being a means of getting just some people to step up the social and economic ladder but does nothing about real fairness in society or work place. Everyone should be valued by more than word of mouth for the contribution they can make to our society and all are needed, as the pandemic should have made clear, not just those who aspire to top jobs or large businesses.
@nigel hunter – I’m afraid we can never achieve social equality in the party, let alone in society, if members think it appropriate to refer to someone as a “simple housewife”.