5 minute read
Interview with Caroline Ansell
INTERVIEW WITH ANSELL Lily O'Brien, Kiri Marshall
Caroline Ansell has been the Member of Parliament for Eastbourne since the 2019 general election. When she recently visited Eastbourne College, we took advantage of the opportunity to ask some questions.
Advertisement
What made you want to become an MP?
Life very often gate-crashes all your plans and one of my sons had a shock diagnosis of a lifethreatening brain tumour. In that moment, everything I had visualised for the future all stopped, so I stepped back from work. I’ m pleased to say it was a happy ending and he ’ s fit and strong today but it gave me this sense of wanting to give something back. I got involved in a maternity services campaign. I really enjoyed it and was asked to get involved in other projects. I thought I’d go back to school the following September. Then it was the next September, then the next. I got more involved in our community and it took me all the way to Parliament. So the whole political life was born out of a crisis and wasn ’t planned. I thought I’d be an educator but in many ways there are huge similarities because it’ s all about creating those opportunities for the next generation.
Rishi Sunak called me ‘relentless'
As a backbencher, what influence do you have on government policy and how do you ensure your constituents’ voices are heard?
There is a range of different mechanisms in Parliament where backbenchers can pose questions. I raised a young girl's rare genetic condition in PMQs under the full gaze of the media, picked up by the then Prime Minister who brokered a really important meeting. But behind the camera there ’ s a whole world of opportunities because, being a government MP, you almost always go through the voting lobby. I know when that bell rings I have eight minutes to get there and if I get there first I can see every minister coming. I’ m like a shark, I find and pursue them. Lots of good work is done behind the scenes like advocating for individuals. I grounded a plane once - a man in Eastbourne was at risk of being deported but I tracked the immigration minister down and stopped the whole process. Poor Rishi Sunak called me ‘ relentless ’ ; I said, ‘Thank you!’
Is it difficult being a woman in politics and working in Westminster, and what advice would you give to any girls thinking of a career in politics?
Absolutely do it! I believe there are many girls and women out there who would enter political life if they didn ’t look at a toxic social media world. A few years ago, I experienced a credible death threat; the man went to prison. It was really chilling, not just for me but my children and my team –‘I know where you live, I’ ve got a knife, I’ m coming for you' . We recently lost Sir David Ames in that terror attack and too often team members are also being targeted or hurt. There ’ s something about the culture which is really difficult, particularly for women, but for men also. We need to get better at disagreeing and looking beyond the presenting facts, that two second scroll, that big headline because if you unpick it a little it's really different. So I would really recommend it for girls and women – democracy needs you.
Linking to this, given that 97% of young women are victims of sexual harassment and violence, what should be done to reduce this and encourage victims to go to the police?
The police recognise this is a real issue and I went out with them at night, with one of their patrols. Essentially, it's around creating safer streets at night, ensuring young women are getting home safely and trying to change some of the behaviours and cultures in clubs and bars. In terms of working government, there has been new legislation. The latest piece is specifically around changing the culture, about what’ s acceptable, what’ s respectful, what does consent look like. All of these really important societal changes.
Moving on to the big issues of the day, how do you feel about the market reaction to the Chancellor’s (Kwasi Kwarteng) recent budget announcements?
I think we ’ ve seen how how far reaching the perception is because it rocked the economy and that was around how the budget was received not the actual changes. Some really important measures got lost in the media headlines only relating to a couple of points. Other elements, I less warmly welcomed. We ’ re currently being recorded – if we weren ’t, I might be a bit more frank about it! What I’ m concerned to see now is that benefits are kept in line with inflation so that’ s something I will be quizzing the Chancellor on.
The war in Ukraine has been going on for ten months now with thousands killed, cities destroyed and Putin holding the West to ransom over gas supplies. Is it time to push for peace?
Force must be met with resistance and push back. Putin is not interested in peace talks. He is on a mission to re-establish what he sees as the former glory of Russia. I long for peace, it’ s devastating to see the loss. We ’ ve worked closely with some of the families
in Eastbourne to help with visas and settlement. The bravery and sacrifice of the Ukrainian people for their homeland is really something quite incredible.
Turning to your other interests: as a former teacher, do you think politics and understanding how laws are made in this country should be compulsory part of the National Curriculum?
100% I do! We had a bi-election yesterday and one of the hardest things is persuading people to vote for anyone. I like to think maybe people are just busy and trust the elected leaders of the day but there is a level of real disenfranchisement. Australia actually mandate it and charge people for not voting, but I would hate to go there really.
Finally, do you have any ambitions for the top job?
Wow! I feel like I’ ve got the top job! I’ ve set my ambition to do my very best for my hometown and of course winning the next election. You get your five year shot and then you have to prove yourself all over again. And actually, looking at the Prime Minister, can you think of a more difficult job in the country right now?
