Fabian Women

Following the astounding success of the first two years of the Fabian Women’s Network mentoring scheme, we are now recruiting our third cohort of aspiring women. If you are a woman looking to develop a career in politics or public life then this could be the scheme for you.

Taking part will enable you to develop your political skills and increase the impact and influence you can have on political and public life through mentoring from one of a number of highly influential women along with bespoke training.

The scheme launched in 2011 on International Women’s Day and since then has gone from strength to strength. Two cohorts of women have now completed the scheme and have, over ten months, received mentoring as well as taking part in organised training and networking activities. The scheme includes time spent in Parliament in London, a trip to the European Parliament, and a residential weekend where mentees will take part in training in the core skills required to be effective in public or parliamentary life.
The programme has already delivered some incredible results for participants and the Fabian Women’s Network. Suzy Stride has been selected as the parliamentary candidate for Harlow, Amina Ali was shortlisted as the parliamentary candidate for Middlesbrough and a number of women have gone on to become school governors and trustees on the boards of charities.

The Fabian Society is now inviting applications from Fabian women. Applicants must be able to demonstrate a clear interest in politics and a commitment to their own development. The deadline for applications to be a participant or mentor is 02 April 2013. The scheme will run from May 2013 to late February 2014. Click here to find out more and for details of how to apply. For queries please contact Christine Megson at christine.megson2@ntlworld.com.

Please note applications for this second cohort have now closed.

Please keep in touch, attend our events and look out for next year’s advert!

Following the astounding success of the first year of the the Fabian Women’s Network mentoring scheme to develop women’s political skills and increase the impact and influence of women in political and public debate, the second year of the scheme is being launched.

The scheme, launched in 2011 on International Women’s Day, was piloted last year. Over ten months, 22 women took part and received mentoring as well as organised training and networking activities. The scheme included time spent in Parliament in London [http://www.fabianwomen.co.uk/2011/09/fabians-women's-network-mentoring-scheme-in-parliament], a trip to Brussels [http://www.fabianwomen.co.uk/2011/11/fabian-women-mentoring-scheme-in-brussels] and a weekend in Barnsley, where mentees received training in the core skills required to be effective in public or parliamentary life.

During the mentoring period, mentee Suzy Stride was selected as the Parliamentary candidate for Harlow, and Seema Malhotra, Director of the Fabian Women’s Network, was elected as Member of Parliament for Feltham and Heston [http://www.fabianwomen.co.uk/2011/12/two-fabian-women-win-parliamentary-selection].

Organisers of the scheme, which is open to any woman member of the Fabian Society, are now inviting applications from women of all ages and levels of experience in politics or public life. The deadline for applications to be a participant or mentor is April 22nd. This next round will run from May 2012 to early March 2013.

Click here to find out more and for details of how to apply. For queries please contact Christine Megson at christine.megson2@ntlworld.com or Seema Malhotra at seema@seemamalhotra.com. See below for quotes from participants of the first year of the scheme.

Quotes from last year’s participants of the mentoring scheme:

“I found it extremely useful. I now know what the next steps must be in my political and professional life. The scheme, and the inspirational people I have met through it, reinforced my confidence that I can help change the world.”
Ivana Bartoletti, Editor of Fabiana magazine, Information professional.

“The programme offers a unique insight into national policy making and support from leading female politicians.”
Rebecca Veazey Acting Head of Policy, Women’s Resource Centre.

“The Fabian Women’s Network mentoring scheme has been an excellent experience which I would thoroughly recommend. I was lucky enough to be appointed two inspiring mentors who provided support and advice throughout the year. In addition, the training opportunities provided by scheme were fantastic, particularly the residential training weekend which provided a great opportunity to chat with and learn from MPs in a relaxed and supportive atmosphere.”
Vicki Butler, manager at a national charity

“The FWN mentor scheme is an excellent way for young women at the start of their political careers to receive structured advise, support and encouragement as they seek to develop their skills. The unexpected bonus for me was the strong network and friendships we would all make with the other mentees. Coupled with advice from MPs and more experienced Fabian women, this support network no doubt prove invaluable in the years ahead.”
Claire Leigh, Head of the Budget Strengthening Initiative at the Overseas Development Institute

“The Fabian Women’s Mentoring Scheme has equipped me with the skills and self-belief to actively pursue a political future. It was much more than the (valued) one-to-one with my excellent mentor; the whole programme and the camaraderie of the participants made it a truly unique and special experience.”
Eleanor Shember-Critchley

“The scheme was an amazing experience. The days away in Parliament and the residential were both incredibly helpful and informative and its been a fantastic way to meet lots of amazingly gifted women in the Labour Party – we need to see more women in leadership and in Parliament and the LWN mentoring scheme is a great support to see this happen.”
Suzy Stride, Parliamentary Candidate for Harlow

“The scheme provides all-round support and information for someone thinking of entering or advancing in political life and taking a leading role. Excellently organised, the training sessions and away-days provide grounding in skills and knowledge, and the 1:1s a chance for in-depth personal guidance. Throughout the scheme, peers and experts generously pass on their expertise and wisdom. As with many schemes of this kind, what you put in, you get out.”
Dr Laura Nelson, writer, campaigner, communications strategy professional.

Seema Malhotra is Labour’s winning Labour candidate for Feltham and Heston.

Labour polled 12,639 votes, and there was an 8.6% swing to Labour.

Seema said this is “a victory for Labour which shows the progress we are making under Ed Miliband’s leadership.”

She added: “[This is] a vote of confidence in the way Labour is changing; listening harder, winning back the trust of the people we seek to serve.

“This is also a wake up call for David Cameron. This result shows how this Tory-led government is is totally out of touch with families, with business and out of touch with our pensioners too.”

Ed Miliband said the result was a “verdict on this Government’s failing economic plan”.

He said: “This is not just a swing from the Tories to Labour. It is a swing away from Tory ideas to Labour ideas. Labour ideas that put young people back to work. Labour ideas that gets growth going in the economy. Labour ideas that even in tough times, there can be hope.”

Fabian Women’s Network member Seema Malhotra has been selected as the Labour & Co-operative candidate for the Feltham & Heston by-election.

Seema grew up in Feltham, and went to school in Heston. She is co-founder and Director of the Fabian Women’s Network and a former National Chair of the Fabian Society, as well as a former adviser to Harriet Harman during her stint as leader of the opposition last year. She is a graduate of LWN’s parliamentary training, and will make an outstanding MP if she is elected.

Help Seema to win – join the campaign.

Labour Women’s Network and the Fabian Women’s Network are joining forces for a women’s campaign day on Sunday, 11 December from 11am – we’ll be meeting up at the campaign centre at Feltham Labour Hall, Manor Place TW14 9BT so please come and join us if you can.

You can contact Ivana Bartoletti, Editor of Fabiana and member of FWN Committee on ivanabartoletti@hotmail.co.uk or 07931959521, to let us know that you’ll be there.

You can also help the campaign at any time by coming along to the campaign centre at Feltham Labour Hall, Manor Place TW14 9BT. Email with your contact details today to felthamandheston@labour.org.uk or call the volunteer hotline on 07872 417252. You can also follow Seema on Twitter at @SeemaMalhotra1.

Harlow CLP have selected Suzy Stride – member of the Fabian Women’s Network’s mentoring scheme – as their candidate for the next general election. Suzy works for a grassroots charity tackling social exclusion and worklessness in East London, diverting hundreds of young people away from crime and into education and work. She also works as an advisor to Baroness Jan Royall, Labour’s leader in the House of Lords, on the policy review, ‘What Makes Politics Count for Young People’.

“I’m not asking people to love the EU. I’m asking people to understand what it can do,” said Linda McAvan MEP, when she spoke to the group of Fabian Women who visited the European Parliament on 9 November.

The extent of the work of the EU was one of the main messages that came through clearly in the presentations throughout the day. And what was striking was that many of the achievements are due to hardworking Labour MEPs, such as Linda McAvan and Arlene McCarthy – another MEP who spoke to us.

For example, Labour MEPs have campaigned for and influenced policies on food safety, food labeling, bank rules and climate change. “The EU is not all about flags and anthems – it’s about working rights, consumer rights and the environment,” said Linda.

Another key message was that we will always need deal with Europe, whether we are part of the EU or not. “If we haven’t got a place on the table, like Norway, we need to lobby other countries’ MEPs to represent because we still have to trade.”

As well as the themes about the importance and relevance of the EU, we heard from speakers about the structures – the Commission, the Parliament and the Council of Ministers – and an outline of how legislation passes between them. We also appreciated that a crucial skill that MEPs need to have is negotiating, as many decisions are based on consensus-seeking of MEPs in different parties.

The group on the trip, which was made up of women on the Fabian Women’s Network’s mentoring scheme and others, was full of praise for the excellent organisation of the day and the diverse and informative range of speakers. One delegate summed it up perfectly. “I learned more today than on my politics course.”

Laura Nelson, Fabian Women’s Network Mentee

‘Should women reject or embrace Blue Labour?’ was the title of an event promoted by FWN which was held on Monday 27 September at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool.

BL is, according to the academic and peer Maurice Glasman, a relational politics in which people resist domination and the power of capitalist society, which has reduced individuals to commodities.

Many have voiced their concerns about BL, but its impact on women has been the most neglected aspect of all. FWN has been engaging with BL for a long time, with a view to identifying its faultlines in relation to women’s roles and power in today’s world.

The meeting was an excellent opportunity to discuss where and how women fit in BL. Helen Goodman MP voiced her concerns, arguing BL uses a male-dominated vocabulary and it is built by a male clique.

Marc Stears (Oxford, IPPR) argued BL is about revolutionising the way power is distributed, and argued true equality can be built through grass roots movements and not only through state led initiatives. Rowenna Davis (Guardian journalist and author of ‘Tangled up in Blue’) explained how exploring BL changed her perspective on its ideas and the society it envisages.

Ivana Bartoletti, Editor of Fabiana, acknowledged the positive challenges BL presents to the feminist movements but warned against too quickly dismissing the role of the state, while affirming the need for reform.

Chaired by Seema Malhotra, FWN Director, the meeting made it clear that further debate is needed. FWN welcomes the challenge to reinterpret the role of the state and will develop this further in the next issue of Fabiana magazine, which had its official launch at the Labour Party Conference. FWN is proud to have this new space to call for in depth discussion, enabling it to fully contribute to the debate and to advocate for a feminist perspective as a beacon for progress, modernity and a better future for all.

Participants write about a packed day that included talks by leading MPs, debates in the Houses and committee rooms, and a tour. The highlight, it seems, was the practical ‘Dragons’ Den’-style Private Members’ Bill session.

Malcolm Wicks on Private Members’ Bills, by Vicki Butler
As a mentee on the Fabian Women’s Network mentoring scheme, I was lucky enough to take part in a Parliamentary day on 13 September. The day provided a fascinating insight to the inner workings of Parliament, with a number of Labour MPs and former Ministers sharing their experiences with us throughout the day.

For me, the highlight was Malcolm Wicks MP’s session on Private Members’ Bills, which are bills introduced by MPs and Lords who aren’t government ministers.

By talking through the passage of his own successful Private Members’ Bill, the Carers Act 1995, mentees received a detailed breakdown of what is needed for a Private Members’ Bill to pass.

And it’s not easy. First of all MPs need to win a ballot to table a Private Members’ Bill, and even if an MP is one of the 20 to be chosen, they’re only in with a shot of getting their bill passed if it falls within the top eight due to way parliamentary time is allocated.

Lucky enough to be allocated a high position in the ballot results, Wicks talked through the battle he faced for parliamentary time for the Carers Bill, and highlighted how just one or two unsupportive MPs can ‘kill’ a bill on its first or second reading.

He also focused on how important it is to cross party support for a Private Members’ Bill if it is to have any chance of becoming law, adding that for this reason it is often more effective if a Bill focuses on a non-political issue.

It was inspiring to hear the effort Wicks went to in order to push through his important bill, which was one of the first pieces of legislation to recognise the needs of carers rather than just the needs of those cared for.

The fact that such a Bill was passed through the Private Members’ Bill process highlights how important this parliamentary function is, particularly given that many other historic pieces of legislation were Private Members’ Bills, such as those ending capital punishment (1965) and legalising abortion (1967).

It is a pity then that it remains incredibly difficult for a Private Members’ Bill to become law, given that it only takes a couple of MPs to block a bill, and that they are only granted parliamentary time on Friday mornings, when many MPs return to their constituencies. As many have already suggested, it’s high time that the process is reformed, ensuring that backbenchers have a great influence on law making.

Presenting a Private Members’ Bill, by Sarah Hutchinson
This portion of the day was one of the most rewarding parts. It punctuated the day, starting with us deciding in our groups first thing which of our ideas was going to be selected. In my group, my idea of requiring utility companies to resurface the full width of the road when they carry out repair works, coupled with an incentive to encourage them to undertake work at the same time as other companies was selected. We had half an hour in our groups of four to prepare a presentation – quite a challenge given that I knew most about the topic and I knew really rather little! We tried to incorporate Malcolm Wicks’s tips – keeping the proposal small and practical, and highlighting the benefits it would bring. We’d barely finished preparing when I was called on to begin the session. I fluffed my speech a little, but the rest of my group compensated fully! Then Hilary began to grill us on the practicalities and relevance of the idea, and I was surprised and pleased to find that I could answer his questions, to a level that apparently satisfied him!

The benefits of going first then paid off, as we were able to concentrate on the great ideas being proposed by the other groups – allowing community radio to accept advertising, giving local authorities the power to veto betting shop applications, and appointing an independent guardian to young people rescued from trafficking. The exercise was challenging and nerve-racking, but it was a thrill to find out that we were all capable of doing it. Getting to hear the passion with which the rest of the group spoke about the issues that mattered to them was also a real privilege.

Fabian Women marched on 26 March alongside Harriet Harman, Fiona Mactaggart, Yvette Cooper and other MPs and shadow ministers, protesting against the coalition’s cuts which disproportionately affect women.

Hundreds of women in the ‘women’s bloc’ set off towards Embankment to join the march of thousands, in a peaceful yet stalwart demonstration of our belief that the coalition’s cuts are neither just nor inevitable. The atmosphere of the march was exuberant and positive. The march confirmed that people are willing to speak up, join in and not accept what’s not wanted.

Read Young Fabian’s blog.
Read Left Foot Forward blog.
Read blog post by Delilah.