Power, Politics & Possibilities – A Conversation with Lena Swedlow from Compass
In 2014 Lena was 16 and voting for the first time in the Referendum. We met her a few years on when she was an intern with Commonweal. Now she is Campaigns Co-ordinator with Compass. Really pleased that we caught up with her for a wide-ranging conversation about the current political landscape in Scotland and the wider UK, including the deeper causes behind the shifting trends we’re seeing—from growing voter disengagement to the challenges facing progressive movements.
Whether you’re interested in politics, grassroots change, or the future of the UK’s political system, this thoughtful and energising discussion offers fresh insights and hope for what comes next.
Key themes:
- 03:21 The Class of 2014
- 08:46 What is Compass?
- 11:03 Labour’s Dilemma
- 14:55 How does Democracy deal with Liars?
- 16:53 Why are people voting for ReformUK?
- 21:34 Impacts of Inequality
- 23:24 Racism in the UK
- 26:27 Is Scotland aiming high enough?
- 30:57 Is Holyrood pushing the boundaries enough?
- 34:00 Labour’s response to Palestine Action
- 37:41 PR versus FPTP
- 48:00 Still optimistic?
Interested to find out more?
- Check out Compass website
- Have a look at Stuart Donald’s paper: How Proportional Representation Tames the Populist Right
- Watch our episode from the Electoral Reform Society Conference A Scottish Spring. Or listen to the audio version.
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