Stranger’s: Parliamentary Assistant

Sophie Stowers | Issue 2 | Magazine

From the Archive

Life as an MP's aide is a dream job - but not when it means dealing with everyday sexism. Parliament's workplace culture needs to change, says Sophie Stowers

What would be your first priority on entering Downing Street? To tackle the climate emergency in the short time we have left. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has told us we have just 11 years to take meaningful action. That means acting without delay. I would start straight away on massive investment into a Green New Deal, transforming our economy and building security at every level. Who would be your chancellor? Caroline Lucas, one of the earliest proponents for a Green New Deal. She knows the changes we need to see in our economy. For too long, our politicians have worshipped GDP and lost sight of things that actually build quality of life – a safe environment, a strong community, time away from work, a secure home, job and family life. What would your other major appointments be? We’d shake up central government rather than putting people into roles geared to the wrong priorities. At our conference, we made plans to abolish the racist Home Office, shut down det...

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