Whilst the election isn’t officially over until Thursday 21st, yesterday (Monday 18th) was the last day to send ballot papers back for them to arrive in time to be counted- so essentially the election is over!

Thank you to all the members, branches, MPs, and MEPs who have voted and supported me during this election.

I’m not sure when the results will be out, but I imagine it will be next week at the earliest. I will post the full results on here as soon as I get them!

Thanks!

Thank you to the members, branches, MEPs and MPs who have already pledged their support.

If you’ve not already voted you still have chance. Ballot papers need to be in by 21st May- every vote counts!

Today you should have received your ballot paper for the Co-operative Party NEC elections.

There are 9 people standing for the One-Member-One-Vote Male position, including myself.

Please note- you need to number candidates, don’t use a ‘x’ to vote.

I’ve now published my manifesto for the Co-operative Party NEC elections. 

A link to the manifesto can be found on the right side of each page.

If you’d like to to receive paper copies please let me know.

I’ve been nominated to stand for the One-Member-One-Vote (OMOV) position on the Co-operative Party National Executive Committee. Visit the pages on this site to find out more information.

As featured on Labour List:

Last week Gordon Brown, in announcing a manifesto policy compelling all young people to complete 50 hours of ‘community service’ before the age of 19, stated:

“We can achieve a step change in the participation of young people in community service. It is my ambition to create a Britain in which there is a clear expectation that all young people will undertake some service to their community, and where community service will become a normal part of growing up”.

It is excellent to see that a commitment to increase volunteering will make it into the manifesto, particularly as alongside it is the development of an accreditation scheme – ensuring the work of young people is properly recognised.

However, the inclusion of the compulsory element does little to bring around a ‘step change in participation’. If anything, it damages it.

Making ‘volunteering’ compulsory (oxymoronic I know!) changes the whole ethos and spirit behind voluntary community involvement. Many young people currently volunteer in their community. They choose to give up their time to help others and usually this is greatly appreciated. It is seen that they are volunteering because they want to and as such it is valued. As soon as you bring in compulsory community service much of that value and appreciation associated with volunteering will vanish. Young people will no longer be helping because they want to, they’ll only be doing it because they have to – at least that’s what the arguments will be.

If we really want to achieve a ‘step change’ in volunteering, and create a society where ‘community service will become a normal part of growing up’ then we should be trying to inspire young people into community involvement.

We need a strong and well-recognised accreditation system for volunteering. We want young people to be able to have something to show for their work. But we also need to make volunteering easier. Compulsory community service fails to go to the heart of the issue. It fails to address and tackle the barriers to volunteering.

We need a manifesto commitment that goes across government departments. We need to ensure that the whole system is geared up to encouraging and recognising volunteering. We need to ensure schools are actively promoting community involvement and providing the opportunities for young people to get involved. The same can be said for the youth service as well. We need business to get on board and start to give due weight and credit to the voluntary work young people do when it comes to applying for jobs.

Further, why are we only targeting young people? We not only need more young people to get involved in their local communities but we need all people to get involved. We need a scheme that encourages people over 19 to get involved in their communities as well. Volunteering is an excellent way to develop peoples’ skills and is hugely beneficial.

Whilst it is positive to see a manifesto commitment on volunteering, the compulsory element needs to be removed.

Don’t force, inspire!

Hello and welcome to my site.

I hope to add articles and other news from time to time.