Tom Brake
I welcome the European Movement’s decision to open up the Chair’s position to anyone who supports EM’s Rejoin mission. I fully support it. One urgent part of that mission is to influence political parties. That takes more than a contacts list: it means understanding the culture, processes, and pressures on elected representatives.
In the CV for Chair, the EM lists essential criteria. I meet these convincingly.
As Unlock Democracy’s Director, a growing membership organisation, I ensure our Chair is fully briefed for every Council, Management Board and AGM. I put in place a suite of key governance policies such as a risk register, child safeguarding and whistle-blowing.
As an MP (1997-2019) and Minister I was intimately involved in the policy-making process, learning how other parties and Parliamentary procedures work. Outside Parliament I chaired, spoke at and kept the peace at a meeting between Israeli and Palestinian parliamentarians. Exercising sound political judgement, I managed the dialogue to enable them to commit to using economic development to foster improved relations. Now I chair webinars with over 100 people in attendance.
Ahead of the Brexit referendum, as afterwards, I was very active in Parliament opposing Brexit. On the People’s Vote campaign I worked closely with members of 6 other political parties, travelling widely to speak at events hosted by pro EU groups. Presently, I work with members from many parties, particularly with Labour and the campaign for PR (L4ND). I have built relationships and run joint campaigns with other organisations, including Best 4 Britain and Open Britain. I have also built links with ShoutOutUk and MyLifeMySay (youth organisations), and we are developing a project with Operation Black Vote (to improve our diversity). As well as UK political contacts, I developed European contacts such as with Guy Verhofstadt and in MoDem. I keep up to date on EU-related matters through the Where Next for Brexit network and the UK in a Changing Europe think tank. I am now eager to deploy my energy, experience, expertise, skills and contacts for the benefit of the European Movement and the Rejoin campaign.
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