politicians

A number of statistics and fundamental issues have stuck with me on this trip, screaming to be heard through the copious notes, meetings with staff and personal stories. Like, for instance, the appalling reality that 2 million children die each year in India, due to hunger or mainly preventable diseases. How can it be that this is tolerated in a country of a bourgeoning, affluent middle class, and where the right to life has been enshrined in national law?

Read full post

After two receptions, eight fringes and three Sunday mornings at Euston, the conference halls have emptied and the secure zones have been dismantled. There’s just time for a quick look back over Party Conference season before minds turn permanently to the stormy clouds of tomorrow’s Spending Review.

Read full post

Election day, Juba. And it’s quiet. Driving around town earlier, I saw a few polling stations with queues outside – but only of a dozen or so people, rather than the huge queues and exuberant atmosphere that I’ve seen on polling days in other African countries.

Read full post

The most exciting elections we’ve had for a long time are upon us as Gordon Brown has announced the election date.

Now the election has been called local political candidates will be out in force knocking on doors trying to convince you to vote for them. Face to face, you have a unique opportunity to put the child poverty issue firmly on their agenda. All you have to do is take up our doorstep challenge and ask them the following question:

“If elected, what would you do to end child poverty here in the UK and across the world.”

It’s as simple as that.

Find out what else you can do ahead of the election.

The G8 (Group of 8 richest countries) is holding its annual meeting meeting in Italy and campaigners and policy wonks are arriving to try to make sure that something good comes out of it instead of being a massive waste of money. The portents are not good.

Read full post

The more and more I consider the customers, the volunteers and the experiences I’ve had at Save the Children, the more I think I’m lucky I haven’t been asked to pay to be there.

Is that someone in the retail department I hear shouting “just sign here and it can all be arranged”.

Because our political buddies in the Palaces of Westminster have acted as if representing us is an inconvenience for which they should be subsidised.

And any representative walks on a tightrope when they disrespect those who put them in power.

Volunteering at Save Children is a pleasure not an inconvenience.

It is an honour to represent this organisation.

And if I ever really do let the shop down, I shall do what a few more ladies and gents in the Westminster could have tried this week.

Apologise, step down from the till and let someone else take the honour.

Read full post