Interview with Emma Lewell-Buck, the Labour MP for South Shields
Reference Code:
SOBA 1/62
Date:
2019-01-09 (creation)
Description:
The Charlie Cookson Foundation is run by parents Sarah and Chris Cookson, who lost a child, and helps to support children with life threatening conditions. [https://charliecookson.org.uk] Their child was found to have a heart condition and requires a transplant. On January 9th Lewell-Buck, Shadow Minister for Children and Families, asked Theresa May to help save their child. Theresa May declared that she would encourage people to make organ donations.
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


Interview with Baroness Susan Kramer: Brexit and Food Standards
Reference Code:
SOBA 1/68/2
Date:
2019-03-06 (creation)
Description:
Baroness Kramer is the Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Treasury and the Economy and has expressed concerns about the standards of food production in the UK falling when the UK leaves the EU. The Soil Association published a report expressing its fears over chlorine washed chicken, hormones, antibiotics, food colourings, pesticides and animal welfare. A former DEFRA Minister, George Eustace has also written of his concerns over food standards. Kramer sets out what she thinks the important issues are on food standards and why her party are against a no-deal Brexit.
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


Interview with Danielle Rowley, Labour MP for Midlothian and Paul Sweeney, Labour MP for Glasgow North East and shadow Scotland Minister: Giving 16 Year Olds the Vote
Reference Code:
SOBA 2/1
Date:
2019-05-13 (creation)
Description:
Sones speaks to Rowley and Sweeney after a Parliamentary debate on giving 16 year olds the vote, Rowley says that she was disappointed by the Conservative response when the debate had been positive. She goes onto the say that arguments against extending the voting franchise are very similar to the arguments made against giving women the vote. The Conservative minister used the phrase 'no taxation without representation' and argued that giving 16 year olds the vote, would mean you would have to tax them. Rowley disagrees with this line of argument because unemployed people are allowed to vote. Sweeney does not believe that the Conservative argument is illogical, by engaging young people, letting them vote and making it part of the school curriculum, they are much more likely to vote later in life. Sones mentions that in Scotland, 16 year olds are allowed to vote - Rowley thinks the success in Scotland is proof that it would be a positive step. Sweeney challenges the idea that the Conservative Party do not want votes for 16 year olds because of the fear that they will vote a certain way, by speaking about Ruth Davidson's (leader of the Scottish Conservative Party 2011 - 2019) support for the change. Both agree that this is about the rights young people have. Sones moves the conversation onto Theresa May offering to work with Jeremy Corbyn on the Brexit Agreement, both agree that May has done this too late on. Rowley discusses her experience at 17 coming to visit Parliament and her group being better behaved than the sitting MPs at the time.
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


Interview with Suella Braverman, Conservative MP for Fareham
Reference Code:
SOBA 2/12
Date:
2019-07-17 (creation)
Description:
Sones asks about Proxy Voting and how it will help, Braverman thinks that it is a huge improvement to guarantee that Braverman's constituents are represented accordingly in Parliament. Braverman does not agree that those on maternity leave should get extra funds to operate as an MP and disagrees with Harriet Harman, the Mother of the House. Braverman brought up a local constituency issue during Prime Minister's Questions regarding a pedestrian crossing and parking near a local primary school. Sones moves onto ask about the Conservative Leadership Election, Braverman is backing Alexander 'Boris' Johnson. Braverman talks about Jeremy Hunt but is supporting Johnson because the country requires someone who acts and does not simply talk. She also supports Johnson because he has 'boldly committed to Brexit' in 2016 and his resignation over the Chequers proposals. Braverman thinks Johnson is the one to win an election and beat Jeremy Corbyn. Sones asks Braverman on the odds of a 'no-deal' Brexit under Johnson, she believes Johnson is bound to October 31st as 'Brexit Day'.
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


Interview with Lucy Allen, Conservative MP, on Brexit and Health
Reference Code:
SOBA 2/22
Date:
2019-10-24 (creation)
Description:
Allen asked the Prime Minister about her local hospital in Telford and the possibility about closure, Allen wants the Prime Minister's pledge for the NHS to be more than words. Sones and Allen speak about Johnson's focus on the NHS and levelling up the NHS across the country, particularly in places like Telford. Allen thinks that without a General Election, Parliament will continue to delay Brexit. Sones asks about abuse that Allen has faced, Allen speaks about how 'nasty' the 2017 General Election was in Telford.
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


Interview as part of Professor Catherine Barnard's @2903cb podcast with Boni Sones
Reference Code:
SOBA 2/7/2
Date:
2019-05-27 (creation)
Description:
Sones begins by asking about the European Election, the 'Remain' Parties, the Brexit Party and UKIP. Barnard discusses Labour's 'constructive ambiguity' and for the Conservatives, the Prime Minister's turmoil and leadership contest. Barnard speaks about the process of a 'No-Deal Brexit' and the consequences of it. They discuss European and British leadership in the European Parliament and elections for various positions within Europe. Sones and Barnard discuss the World Trade Organisation and how the Brexiteers fail to understand the implications.
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother





List of all podcasts in book
Reference Code:
SOBA 3/3/4
Date:
2019-3-18 (creation)
Description:
As included in the book prior, not including those in the afterword, but with dates for each given
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother



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