Contributor Biographies

14 May 2018

 

 

Name: Seb Dance
Position and constituency: Member of the European Parliament for London
Why did you decide to become an MEP: I have always loved the concept of European unity. Working with people from different political backgrounds and cultures for the common good of all Europeans is exhilarating.
Best thing about working in the EU Parliament: Working amongst so many different nationalities and cultures. I learn something new almost every day about my colleagues from across all the member states. It forces you to change the way you look at the world.
Worst thing: Moving between two cities for three and a half days a month. It’s mad. That and the fact that in both Strasbourg and Brussels the stairs are nowhere near the lifts. It’s not conducive to staying healthy!
Ideal outcome from Brexit: I hope it doesn't happen. I hope that people realise what a mistake this whole process is. The Brexit that was promised to people in 2016 simply is not deliverable. Britain needs to find its place in the world and I know that being outside of the EU is not going to help us. It will only make things worse. If it happens, it’s all about limiting the damage.

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Name: David Campbell Bannerman MEP
Position and constituency: Member of the European Parliament for the East of England and Conservative MEPs Joint-Spokesman for International Trade.
Why did you decide to become an MEP: I wanted to campaign to leave the European Union and to argue the case for doing so based on direct, close up knowledge and experience.
Best thing about working in the EU Parliament: The opportunity to argue your case every day and to do so in an interesting international environment. I love Europe but not the EU.
Worst thing: Seeing your county being given away piece by piece in salami slices without most people being aware of it, while being told it isn’t happening - very dangerous.
Ideal outcome from Brexit: A new relationship with the EU that fully restores British self government, but which retains warm and friendly trading and political relations with the EU.

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Name: Catherine Bearder
Position and constituency: MEP for South East England
Why did you decide to become an MEP: In 1997 I first stood for Westminster to test experience. But I realised that the issues I was interested in needed international cooperation so when the party called for candidates for the New European lists for 1999 I put my name forward. Finally getting elected in 2009.
Best thing about working in the EU Parliament Working with and learning from other cultures, languages and traditions has been a great experience. Cooperative working, careful building coalitions to achieve the best for all is not easy, and doesn’t always work, but it’s very rewarding.
Worst thing: The constant travel and regular time changes.
Ideal outcome from Brexit: There are no benefits from Brexit that I can see. We will be diminished as a nation, will lose influence on the world stage and the cost of living will increase. The future prospects of the next generation have been snatched away by nationalistic ideologies and sold on lies and deception. Brexit is madness, it can and must be stopped.

 

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Name: Martina Anderston
Position and constituency: MEP for the North of Ireland
Why did you decide to become an MEP? In 2012, I was co-opted on to Bairbre de Brún’s seat in the European Parliament and fought to retain the seat in the 2014 election and I topped the poll for the north. I am an MEP who represents all the people no matter their political persuasion. In the wake of Brexit, I am the only MEP from my constituency standing up of the people of the north of Ireland who voted to remain.
The best thing about working in the EU Parliament: Representing the people, their interests, and their freedoms in order to help create a Europe of equals. 
Worst thing: Traveling circus to Strasbourg. Two EU Parliaments is a waste of Public money and wasted time traveling when I should be working.
Ideal outcome from Brexit: Special designated status for the North of Ireland to remain within the EU. There must not be any diminution of citizen’s rights for the people in the north of Ireland, as is committed to by the British Government and the EU and there must not be a hardening of the border partition Ireland.  All sides have committed to upholding the Good Friday Agreement in all of its parts – nothing less will do. 

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Name: Hermann Kelly          
Position: Director of Communications, EFDD Group. 8 years doing Comms for Nigel Farage and Eurosceptic MEPs.
Why did you decide to work for an MEP: I grew up in Derry during the Troubles and have a strong belief in national democratic self-determination, not only for Ireland but for other peoples as well. Allied with an interest in history, politics, culture and the English language I became a teacher, then journalist and now Director of Comms for the Eurosceptic group with Nigel Farage. (What a privilege to participate in the making of history!) I am looking forward to Great Britain leaving the EU, I want to see Ireland do the same soon. The British people will be our greatest allies against the EU.
Best thing about working in the EU Parliament: Interacting with intelligent, well-educated people from all over the world.
Worst thing: Having contact with slimy unprincipled politicos whose only ambition is to increase their power and their pay packet. Bureaucracy.
Ideal outcome from Brexit: Brexit Britain thrives as a national democracy and global trading nation, becoming a beacon of prosperity and hope. And to be like this new exemplar of freedom, other European countries quickly follow suit.  Brexit becomes a catalyst for the regeneration of a Europe of nations.

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Name: Emily Iona Stewart
Position (and constituency, if applicable): Senior Policy Advisor to Seb Dance, Labour MEP (and dep Euro Parliament Labour Leader) for London
Why did you decide to become [or work for] an MEP: I became interested in European Politics after working in the trade union movement and studying employment law. It made me realise how much of the legislation that protects ordinary people in their work places from unfair dismissal, discrimination and abuse, is formed at a European level. I wanted to be in at the ground floor of that. Working for Seb has been such a treat, because he is young and fiercely idealistic about the EU, which helps keep us going when times seem a bit bleak.
Best thing about working in the EU Parliament: That every day is surprising and each day I learn something new. It's also really challenged me to look at problems through much less partisan eyes, and learn to take others' ideas and positions into account.
Worst thing:  The dreadful canteen food that costs a fortune and reminds me of primary school dinners pre-Jamie Oliver reforms.
Ideal outcome from Brexit: The ideal outcome is that we give people a chance to vote on the terms of the deal, and eventually decide not to leave at all. I don't believe there is a form of brexit that won't leave us poorer or more isolated. Oh, and that I won't be kicked out of Belgium.

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Name: Alyn Smith
Position and constituency: Member of the European Parliament for Scotland.
Why did you decide to become an MEP: The European Parliament encourages co-operation and consensus amongst the MEPs instead of tribalistic division along party lines - we focus on solutions, not soundbites. It's great to be a part of something that's always trying to make the world a better and fairer place, whether it's going up against Facebook to protect your data privacy or strengthening workers' rights. Scotland should be part of a vibrant, strong and productive union where our voice is heard and we're treated as equals.
Best thing about working in the EU Parliament: Being able to represent Scotland on the world stage
Worst thing: Being away from my home.
Ideal outcome from Brexit: There is no good Brexit outcome, simply a 'least bad' one. But finally people are talking about the EU, questioning the Eurosceptic narrative, and thinking about what they'd want from a new and improved family of nations. That's great groundwork for the future. 

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Name: Wajid Khan
Position and constituency: North West Labour MEP; Foreign Affairs Committee; Subcommittee on Human Rights; Delegation for relations with the Arab Peninsula; Socialists and Democrats Special Envoy to the EU for Muslim Communities
Why did you decide to become an MEP: I studied European politics, and that was certainly an inspiration for me. But also working in Higher Education, lecturing on community cohesion and community leadership, gave me a real passion for working in the collaborative environment which the EU fosters. It is an environment which brings together representatives of diverse communities to tackle economic, social and diplomatic challenges, together. 
Best thing about working in the EU Parliament: When our efforts effect real change. When I know that a piece of legislation is going to improve working conditions for people right across the EU, for example, changing more lives than a single government could achieve alone, it is incredibly fulfilling - and humbling to be a part of. 
Worst thing: Being away from my family! I have two children under five, and being away from them in Brussels can be heartbreaking.
Ideal outcome from Brexit: The EU provides a safety net for working conditions, for environmental standards, for so many things that could be vulnerable if there are no breaks put on a government that wants to erode them. So I hope to see some safeguards put in place to make sure that all of that work isn't undone. And, obviously, we need a customs arrangement that protects exporting businesses, especially smaller businesses, from being hit by new tariffs.