I have spoken at two debates about Europe this  month, one hosted by the Havering Fabian Society and one by the London School of Economics, Labour and Cooperative society. I think these debates are healthy and many more of them should be organised.  I am a pro-european, but think we should have discussions about how we can reform Europe to make it work better for ordinary hard working Londoners.  I addressed the Redbridge Young Labour AGM about the importance of young people and Europe and the Romford Labour party and the Enfield Labour womens forum about the importance of the European elections.

I have been invited to a MEP candidate hustings being held by The National Alliance of Women’s Organisations (NAWO) in March.  The hustings will be attended by a diverse range of young women (16-25 years old) from across the United Kingdom.  The young women will be part of a project funded by the Directorate General for Communications of the European Parliament that will be facilitated by NAWO.  Through working to create a manifesto of demands that reflect their needs and aspirations, in addition to direct contact with MEP candidates and increased engagement with the work of European Parliament the young women will be encouraged to use their vote in the upcoming elections of May 2014.

I will be heading back to the European Parliament next month, to continue my capacity building sessions with the European Women’s Lobby, European mentoring project where I shall be receiving training on communication skills.  I will also have a catch up with me mentor, Mojca Kleva MEP since she had her baby and find out more about how she is juggling motherhood and politics.  I will finalise arrangements for her to come and help me campaign here in London and for me to return the favour in her country, Slovenia.  I will be a guest speaker at an event the European Women’s lobby is organising at the European parliament on the 18th February, hosted by Claude Moraes MEP called ‘My MEP is just like me, Gender Equality and Diversity in European Political Life’.

I attended the ‘Help set the agenda for Labour’s plan for London’s Health’ meeting this month and contributed to developing practical proposals for health policy in London in the run up to the elections in May and the General Election in 2015.

I look forward to speaking at an event organised by the Enfield Women’s Forum on the 28th of January, it is so important for women to get their voices heard in political and public life.

Feel get in touch if you would like me to join or speak at one of your events and/or campaign sessions. The picture below is me with Will Martindale, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Battersea, Mary Honeyball MEP for London and Tessa Jowell MP for Dulwich and West Norwood.