Conservative PPC Campaign Manager, Mr Chandila Fernando
Reference Code:
SOBA 5/1/16
Date:
2015-4-28 (creation)
Description:
Mr Chandila Fernando, brother of the candidate, interviewed at the Churches Jubilee hustings. As described by the depositor: He said: “I think this is the 27th Hustings, there are sometimes two or three in a day. As an agent, you have to ensure your candidate is safe, well rested, and gets around the Constituency in the most effective way, but there is a diary plan for every day. “As an agent you are everything from pot washer, to driver to stylist, advisor, and you have to have your eyes and ears to the ground, you act as the interface between the candidate and the association, which ceases to exist. You have to keep the troops out canvassing motivated, you are juggling telephone calls, priorities and being as polite as you possible can even if the circumstances are trying. She is my sister and you do the best you possibly can. “You have to deal with the media too. The report that said Chamali had said that the mental illness sufferers must have compulsory use of wrist band is completely refuted. We envisaged that there would be difficult circumstances but only when you are in a campaign can you understand the challenges, the volume of hustings and frequency has been a challenge. It is tough but that is part of the democracy of this Country and part of the quirks of Cambridge. I admire and am very proud as a brother and agent to support my sister.”
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


Campaign Manager for the Liberal Democrats in South East Cambridgeshire, Kevin Wilkins, and his team
Reference Code:
SOBA 5/1/22
Date:
2015-4-28 (creation)
Description:
Interviewed in their Ely office. As described by the depositor: Kevin told us: “Lots of electoral law is quite archaic, you need ten names to nominate you and lots and lots of forms to fill in. If you get some of those wrong then your candidate isn’t a candidate. Envelopes are written by hand to make it look as personalised as possible, we have sent out 15,000 this week. It gets done at a rate of about 80 an hour. We have grown up knowing that we don’t have the national press shouting for us, so we know we have got to get the message out locally. That means delivering lots of leaflets and knocking on lots of doors. A great disappointment of the coalition is that there hasn’t been a standardisation of letter boxes Act (he joked). Our office opens from 10 am to 10pm and as we get nearer to the election it will go on later than that. “There is a spending limit on the campaign of about £15000 so it clearly matters that you can raise that amount of money, but at least it is £15000 not £150000. “ David Wright, who runs the LD Printing Society said: “I first did this in 1974, and I am a volunteer, I don’t charge for my time. The most recent mistake I made was to print one side of the leaflet upside down. Once a typesetter left the word “not” out so it read “we will make the same mistake as the Labour party.” Loran a party organiser and agent, said that she spent time at her computer organising things: “A lot of our material is going to focus on the need for affordable housing. We work at weekends, we have meetings every Sunday evening.” Sheila the poster putter up with David her husband said: “This is a very exciting election – I am terrified if I am holding the post and my husband is doing the hammering. I think does he love me or not?”
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


Hustings: part four
Reference Code:
SOBA 5/1/29
Date:
2015-5-2 (creation)
Description:
Covers the Cambridge University European Society hustings, and discussion of the King’s College hustings, held on April 30th with discussion on May 6th. As described by the depositor: Anna, the Outreach Officer of the Society told us: “I am German and I can see that the European issues are not being tackled enough in this Election debate. The Conservatives have said they might leave the EU so it should be talked about more. UKIP are not here tonight, they were invited.” Matteo Mirolo, Vice President said: “I am French and Italian. I think we shouldn’t amalgamate everything and create fear about immigration. These people are war refugees, I respect everyone’s opinion so long as there isn’t any amalgamation of the fear and the issues.” Sophie a young woman student in the audience said: “I wanted to see the candidates in the flesh. I am quite interested in their response to the UKIP stuff and the Europe question. Yes their answers will influence me I am quite undecided as to how to vote at the moment.” Guy an older member of the audience said: “In 66 years I have never been to a hustings. I Googled it at the last minute, found a website that listed all the hustings and this was the last one. I am decided on my vote but definitely think we should be in Europe and I won’t be voting UKIP.” Eleni Courea told us:” I took the questions, there were a huge variety of questions from students from nuclear power to the NHS and this government’s record on it. The students were most passionate talking about the Living Wage and the bedroom tax. “Tuition fees was not one of the major focuses of the event. The most heated debate was over the bedroom tax, and we asked Julian why he voted for it and he had to defend it. That was the most divisive issue. People had checked his voting record on the Huppert Check website which showed he had voted with the IDS reforms to Welfare over 90 per cent of the time. “I personally ensured that it was Chaired impartially. Julian stayed around with students to talk to us afterwards. It was a heated hustings. They are crucial events, people can see, hear and talk to their candidates, and they are good for democracy. “
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother
















Interview with Anushka Asthana, Joint Political Editor of the Guardian - Review of the Week
Reference Code:
SOBA 1/19
Date:
2018-03-21 (creation)
Description:
Asthana reviews her week in UK politics. Sones introduces the discussion by talking about Russia, Brexit and the Labour Party. Asthana talks about the Salisbury Nerve Agent Attack by Russian Operatives and Jeremy Corbyn MPs response as he brought up Russian-Conservative donations and Vladimir Putin. Asthana discusses the international response to congratulating Putin's re-election versus their support for Theresa May's speech in Parliament, talking against Putin. Sones and Asthana discuss the common fisheries policy and immigration during the Brexit transition period. The pair discuss the relationship between The Labour Party, Momentum, Blairites and Sure Start Centres.
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


Female MPs #Vote100 Documentary Part One
Reference Code:
SOBA 1/21
Date:
2018-04-06 (creation)
Description:
This recording selects soundbites from interviews Parliamentary Radio conducted with women MPs of all political parties about the issues they championed in 2018. We hear from Dame Caroline Spelman, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Harriet Harman, Melanie Onn, Fiona Onasanya, Alison McGovern, Maria Caulfield, Angela Eagle, Sharon Hodgson, Seema Malhotra, Theresa May, Vicky Ford, Helen Whately, Jo Swinson and Lisa Cameron. This recording is a summary of the previous recordings with headlines from each female MP.
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


Interview with Clare King, Labour candidate for West Chesterton, Cambridge
Reference Code:
SOBA 1/25
Date:
2018-05-10 (creation)
Description:
Clare King was selected on an All-Women shortlist to be the Labour Candidate for West Chesterton in May 2018. She lost by 111 votes, but three of her female colleagues did win their seats elsewhere. This was not the first time that the Cambridge Labour Party has used all women shortlists for the selection of candidates to fight ward seats but it was the first time the rules had been applied to strictly. King was also in charge of the procedure committee, the Cambridge PLP General Secretary, and press officer for her party. She ensured objections to candidates on all women shortlists were dealt with properly and that enough women came forward. King previously held a seat for the Liberal Democrats but changed party after they went into the coalition government with the Conservatives in 2010. King discusses how she feels the election was lost because of postal votes and strategy in comparison with the Labour Party. King discusses the demographics of Cambridge and how to make voters feel welcome. Sones asks about all women's shortlists, Stone's role as Procedures Secretary was overseeing the all women's shortlist. Stone's role was to ensure the process was fair and to redress the imbalance. In Cambridge, if a councillor stands down, the Labour Party decided that the person to take over would be chosen from an all women shortlist.
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


Remembering Baroness Tessa Jowell MP
Reference Code:
SOBA 1/26
Date:
2015-05 (creation)
Description:
This is a recording of a documentary made in May 2015 by Parliamentary Radio in which Jowell and her Labour Cabinet colleagues talk about their achievements in government for Labour. Jowell is interviewed by journalist Jackie Ashley and reflects on women in Parliament and #SureStart and #Olympics2012. Jowell passed away on 12 May 2018 after a heroic struggle with a brain tumour during which she fought for better treatment for cancer patients. The Government said that they would double brain cancer research funding to 40 million pounds a year. Jowell talks about the working hours in Parliament as MPs. Jowell talks about her experience with Prime Minister Tony Blair. Sones and Jowell discuss working in Parliament and the work-life balance and carrying on working on the Olympics even after she was not in The Cabinet. Sones asks about whether the amount of female MPs in 1997 had changed the environment in Parliament, Jowell thinks it has and this is evidenced by changes around the working hours, simple changes such as to the amount of toilets and changes to the Smoking Room as female MPs occupied the room every Tuesday.
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


Interview with Rupa Huq Women and Brexit
Reference Code:
SOBA 1/41
Date:
2018-09-04 (creation)
Description:
Huq, Labour MP for Ealing Central and Acton held a debate in Parliament's Westminster Hall to discuss the impact of 'Brexiting' the EU on women and their families. Huq believes that Brexit would affect women, particularly those in low paid caring jobs, who would also have to bear the brunt of any resulting economic downturn when many were already in insecure and low paid jobs. Conservative Minister Victoria Atkins responded to her concerns saying that the government would be conducting a gender audit of any legislative changes post Brexit. She said the UK was leading the World on its policies on gender pay gap audits. Huq hoped that Labour would reject Theresa May's Chequers Deal.
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


Interview with Jessica Elgot, Political Correspondent, TheGuardian.Com Newspaper
Reference Code:
SOBA 1/61
Date:
2018-12-20 (creation)
Description:
Elgot discusses the last PMQs of the December 20th session and the 'Stupid Woman Gate' remark said to have been made by Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


International Women's Day 2019
Reference Code:
SOBA 1/68/3
Date:
2019-03-07 (creation)
Description:
Guest interviewer, Jackie Ashely, picks up some 'scoops' on #IWD2019 in the latest of podcasts from Parliament. Heidi Allen MP and Ann Coffey MP on why women voters should be attracted to their new Independent Group. Crossing the floor of the House has always been a difficult thing for an MP to do, and they have received much criticism for doing so. A new political group was created when eight Labour MPs and three Conservative MPs crossed the floor of the House to sit together. They all support Remain in the Brexit debates and are in favour of a Second Referendum or People's Vote. Seven out of eleven are women, Jackie Ashley was keen to talk to them about finding a 'nicer way' of doing politics. Neither Allen nor Coffey said they would be standing down to re-fight their respective seats but that they did want to stand again for the same constituencies. Allen states that she had two-thousand-five-hundred positive emails and only forty-one negative ones. Allen says that government changes to welfare and Universal Credit was a factor for her leaving the Conservatives. Both ended by saying that they had no idea what rosette they would be wearing at the next election.
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


Interview with Helen Goodman, Labour MP for Bishop Auckland on a No-deal Brexit and Commons Procedures
Reference Code:
SOBA 2/14
Date:
2019-09-04 (creation)
Description:
Sones interviews Goodman after Alexander 'Boris' Johnson's first Prime Minister Questions, Goodman thinks Johnson finds it more difficult than he lets on and was not a good performer at the Foreign Office. Jeremy Corbyn challenged Johnson on his 'do or die' attitude to leaving the European Union. Sones asks about Parliament taking control of the timetable for Brexit discussions and Jacob Rees-Mogg's act of 'sprawling' on the House of Commons' benches. Goodman speaks about Nicholas Soames and Kenneth Clarke being expelled from the Conservative Party for defying the Whip, she believes that this symbolises the lack of compromise that the Brexit debate has represented. Sones raises Caroline Lucas MP's suggestion that the United Kingdom should have a written constitution, Goodman agrees in principle but thinks Brexit needs sorting first.
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother