How can we engage with politics and make an impact on policy? Our Politics Expert shares her advice...

Navjyot Lehl is Fashion Roundtable's Political Expert. As a graduate of LSE, she has worked at the Houses of Parliament for Glenda Jackson MP and front bencher Seema Malhotra MP. Currently, Nav works at the leading think-tank UK In A Changing Europe, looking at Brexit and UK-EU relations. Navjyot's work for Fashion Roundtable focuses on Brexit, UK-EU relations and policy including workers' rights, democracy and the gender pay gap on the global stage.

Navjyot will speaking at our The Power of Influence event on 25 January, alongside Clare Press, Baroness Lola Young, Anne-Marie Curtis Tamara Cincik. For more information and to book your ticket please visit here.

Has Brexit impacted how we feel about our own power to influence politics? Are people experiencing helplessness or a newfound desire to get involved with politics and use their voice?

I think in the wake of the Brexit referendum more people were engaged in politics than they had been before. The turnout among young people aged 18 to 24 in the EU referendum was almost double the level that had been expected. 2016 also saw the proliferation of new political initiatives and campaign groups all aimed at changing the political map and giving Parliament the shake up that they felt it needed.

Do you see social media as an important tool in political activism?

For Remainers, the EU referendum outcome was seen as both a devastating shock and betrayal so thousands found solace in using platforms to get their voices heard— whether it be via social media such as Madeleine Kay aka EU Supergirl, new organisations such as BrexitCentral or even newspapers such as the New European which provides Brexit news for the 48%.

In one way or another, whatever your political persuasion and view on the EU, Brexit certainly impacted the way voters looked at democracy, power and political identity. For the first time in a long time, people were interested in the European Union, what it meant to be a member state and how our Parliament worked. For Leavers, it was a chance to show people that the country had an opportunity to address the inequalities that were felt on both a local, regional and national level. In Westminster, we saw an unprecedented amount of willpower from MPs who wanted to work together and collaborate across the political divides to ensure their influence did not leave Britain hanging on a cliff edge. 

What is your advice to individuals who want to engage with politics and activism? How can they get started?

There are many ways you can get involved to have your voice heard and be part of the political movement. Contacting your MP, signing up to a political party, standing for a position in your local constituency and being active on social media are just a few ways to get started. If there is a specific issue you are interested in you can even attend the parliamentary committees which take place when the house is sitting. You can see first-hand how MPs across the political spectrum, scrutinise legislation, come up with solutions and observe how parliamentary process takes hold.

Do you have any book recommendations, podcast or documentary recommendations to learn more about this area?

Books

·       All out war and Fallout – Tim Shipman

·       Brexit: why Britain voted to leave the EU – Matthew Goodwin

·       Brexit and British Politics – Anand Menon and Geoff Evans

·       Brexit: what the hell happens now?  - Ian Dunt

Podcasts

·       Times Red Box – Matt Chorley

·       Chopper’s Brexit podcast – The Telegraph

·       Brexit Breakdown – The UK in a Changing Europe

·       Political Thinking – Nick Robinson

·       The New European

·       Talking Politics – Professor David Runciman

Documentaries

·       Spotlight on the troubles (fascinating to learn and ties in with how volatile the NI border is)

·       Panorama – Britain’s Brexit crisis – iplayer

·       Storyville: Brexit: behind closed doors – BBC 4