Labour Councillor and voters
Reference Code:
SOBA 5/1/38
Date:
2015-5-7 (creation)
Description:
Interviews with Kevin Blencowe, Labour Councillor, and assorted voters. As described by the depositor: Alison again with friend Juliet: On the night of the count at 6pm we returned to find our St Matthew’s voter Alison Litherland with a friend, Juliet, in front of the telly waiting for the close of polls. Both had already voted. Alison said: ”Because I have spent time living around political people I realise the enormous amount of work that goes into running an election and all of it behind the scenes. Workers have to deliver leaflets and knock on doors and they suddenly come out and do an awful lot of work. They gather the lists of names and tick them off, they give a huge amount of time it is impressive.” Juliet said: “I read all the literature that came through my door, it was just a whim. I had left it all sitting there and then a couple of days ago I thought I would just read through it all. It took me about half an hour and about 20 leaflets in all. I was probably going to Vote Green but I read them all. It could have influenced me if there was something in there that had really grabbed me. I thought long and hard because it is a marginal here, and then I thought “No” because Labour and Lib Dem are ultimately the same and I won’t get the things I want like end of austerity and end of Trident.” Kevin Blinco, Labour supporter. Labour Party HQ, Alex Wood Hall, Norfolk Street We found Labour activist and councillor Kevin Blinco at 9 pm at night in the Alex Wood Hall in Norfolk Street still working and getting his “knocker up” list to go out and encourage other Labour supporters to vote. Kevin said: “The people we have identified as probable Labour voters and they haven’t voted - we try and dig them out, we either phone them or knock on the door and say you have another hour to vote. It was a very good start to the day, lots of people queuing up to vote and I think that the good weather helped. I am always hopeful.” Ann, another party worker had given Kevin the “knocker upper” list. She said: “We have been very busy, we are working away like mad, we are still phoning some of the area, but in others where there are elderly people living it is not appropriate. Kevin is taking the last batch of the knock ups. I won’t celebrate until I get the result, we are hoping for a good result!” Students: Rob, India, Eleanor and Raff: We then at 9.20 pm captured the very last Hustings of the campaign at the famous Cambridge Union Society where the Footlights team were engaging students in political satire and spoke to four students. These four first time voters, who had all cast their vote, collectively concluded: “Every student and everyone our age should be out there and voting.”
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


City Council’s Electoral Services Manager and a Presiding Officer
Reference Code:
SOBA 5/1/4
Date:
2015-4-22 (creation)
Description:
As described by the depositor: At a training night for Presiding Officers on April 22nd we secured interviews with Vicky and a long serving Presiding Officer, Robert Osborn, who looks after East Chesterton. Robert also delivers poll cards. Polling booths open at 7 am and close at 10 pm. Robert told us that the Polling agents from the parties are allowed to witness the sealing of the ballot boxes before they are put in the booths. At the end of the day the papers are taken back to the Guildhall where the count is taking place.
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


Acting Returning Officer and CEO of the City Council
Reference Code:
SOBA 5/1/9
Date:
2015-5-7 (creation)
Description:
As described by the depositor: On the night of the count we interviewed Antoinette Jackson, the Acting Returning Officer and CEO of the City Council just before the vote was declared in the early hours of the next morning May 8th:“The first ballot box was back at about 10.15 pm and the last one about 11.15 pm. I am responsible for the safe conduct of the count. I have to make sure that we are counting accurately and that the secrecy of the ballot is maintained and that the journalists are acting appropriately and not revealing things they shouldn’t be. It feels like one team working to make sure it is a successful count no matter what their role is.”
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


City Council staff and local journalist
Reference Code:
SOBA 5/2/23
Date:
2015-5-5 (creation)
Description:
Includes interviews with Vicky Breading, City Council’ Electoral Services Manager; Ashley Perry, City Council’s Marketing and Press Officer; and Chris Elliott of local paper the Cambridge Evening News .
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


Anglia Ruskin hustings, and interview with Liberal Democrat Campaign Manager
Reference Code:
SOBA 5/2/17
Date:
2015-4-28 (creation)
Description:
Student hustings at Anglia Ruskin University, including interviews with interviews with students; and an interview Kevin Wilkins Campaign Manager for the Liberal Democrats in South East Cambridgeshire, held in their Ely office.
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother

















Harriet Harman MP #IWD2018
Reference Code:
SOBA 1/11
Date:
2018-03-06 (creation)
Description:
The Mother of the House Harriet Harman MP delivered her 2018 International Women's Day speech to a specially convened House of Commons Works of Art Committee Audience in Westminster. Harman is introduced by Alison McGovern MP. Harman begins by thanking McGovern and paying tribute to other female MPs, as well as Helen Pankhurst. Harman discusses the relationship between men and women as she was growing up as a woman. Harman talks about feeling out of place and seeing the ranks of men in grey suits on the green benches, feeling that she did not belong, especially in a maternity dress. She talks about receiving letters women angry at her abandoning her children and Harman worried about the impact she was having. Harman was told to understand the important parts of the political agenda - not domestic violence and women, but economics and foreign policy. Harman notes that there was a lot of support from men and women, she knew she had to stick with it and be persistent. Harman talks about creating protocol for having one woman on each shortlist for Labour candidates, there was uproar but only men got selected. Harman says that they then resorted to all women shortlists - recording is interrupted by a bell - Neil Kinnock was a strong supporter of this idea of having all women shortlists. Harman discusses a change in Conservative female MPs and a change in male MPs, the idea of a man supporting a woman's agenda was unthinkable when Harman joined the House. Women are now in the forefront although still outnumbered. Harman ends with a statement about fighting inequality, all discrimination and inequality is wrong and unfair.
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


Interview with Rachel Reeves MP and Seema Kennedy MP, entitled 'JoCoxLoneliness Campaign'
Reference Code:
SOBA 1/1
Date:
2017-11-15 (creation)
Description:
The Jo Cox Loneliness Campaign was championed by Reeves and Kennedy in memory of the late Jo Cox MP who was murdered in June 2016 after being shot in her Batley and Spen constituency. Reeves and Kennedy co-chair the Jo Cox Loneliness Commission at time of recording and were hoping that the hashtag #happytochat would encourage others to show kindness as part of the @JoCoxLoneliness campaign. The interview: Reeves focuses on how loneliness can affect people's mental and physical health and the commission's upcoming manifesto. Both discuss Cox's upbringing and life, as well as her career as an MP. Sones, Kennedy and Reeves talk about the impact of loneliness whilst working as an MP, the importance of talking to people about motherhood and mental wellbeing. The link between loneliness and physical wellbeing is discussed and how MPs are working cross-party. Examples of local projects in various constituencies is discussed, the role and presence of male loneliness r.e. Army veterans. Sones asks about the impact of Cox's death, Reeves speaks about how proud they are to take forward Cox's work although it has not been easy.
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


Interview with Fiona Onasanya MP - #SlingTheMesh PMQ
Reference Code:
SOBA 1/17
Date:
2018-03-21 (creation)
Description:
Onasanya speaks about her PMQ to Prime Minister Theresa May calling upon her to support and join the #SlingTheMesh campaign to prevent further Mesh implants which can damage women's health. Onasanya discusses how mesh implants are used and the dangers associated with them. Sones asks about spending cuts and Onasanya agrees that it is a huge issue in her constituency. Sones and Onasanya discuss migrant workers and the need ensure a smooth Brexit transition.
Collection:
Women’s Parliamentary Radio publications and podcasts, conducted by Boni Sones with contributions by Jackie Ashley, Deborah McGurran and Linda Fairbrother


Interview with Jo Swinson MP on #Equal Power: Northern Ireland abortion reforms, women in the boardroom, women and rape, local election results and MPs and maternity and paternity leave
Reference Code:
SOBA 1/29
Date:
2018-06-01 (creation)
Description:
Sones and Swinson discuss Northern Ireland and abortion reforms, Swinson cannot believe Northern Ireland is this far behind, especially in light of the Republic of Ireland voting to make abortion legal. The pair discuss devolution and how it impacts decisions of this kind, Swinson argues that this is a human rights issue and that devolution should not allow for human rights breaches. Sones asks about women in the boardroom and the recent government report. They discuss Swinson's book, 'Equal Power' and what advice Swinson has for women, focusing on looking at your strengths and recognising that we still live in a prejudice world. However, it is very important to listen to people and learn from those who have succeed. Swinson notes how important equality is for men and boys as improving the world as a whole. Sones asks about the recent local elections and the Liberal Democrats being the remain party. Swinson talks about how flexible being an MP whilst pregnant is, and paternal leave after birth or adoption.
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 Two
Reference Code:
SOBA 1/22
Date:
2018-04-09 (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. In part two, we hear from Jo Swinson, Sharon Hodgson, Ruth George, Lucy Powell, Maria Miller, Tessa Jowell, Catherine McKinnell, Dame Caroline Spelman, Maggie Throup and Theresa May. 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