‘There’s a better way to do politics and it starts with listening’

I’m Damien Egan. I’m from Kingswood and I’m running to become the Labour Party candidate for the newly formed constituency of Bristol North East.

Growing up, my family life could be quite precarious. We moved around north east Bristol a lot, and on occasion faced homelessness; forced to bounce around temporary accommodation across the area.

This is the place that made me. It’s where I began a lifetime of Labour Party activism and won my first election.

Whilst work drew me to London, my family has always remained here and my heart never left. I know the challenges that our part of Bristol faces, but recognise the opportunities too.

I would be immensely proud to live here with my husband, representing the communities I know and love.

Currently, as the directly elected mayor of Lewisham, I represent over 300,000 people. It’s a demanding role, in one of London’s most complex boroughs.

It’s taught me that there’s a better way to do politics; working with people to make real, lasting change at the grassroots.

Doing politics differently isn’t just a slogan for me; it’s what I’ve done in local government for 17 years – listening to people and putting community first; building strong teams that deliver on local people’s priorities.

I won my mayoral election in 2022 on a message of “making real change happen” and set out to do just that from day one; turning our schools around, building new council homes and creating award winning parks.

We have been recognised as a top-tier council for our work on climate action and we became the first Borough of Sanctuary for refugees.

Our new jobs and skills service has helped over 500 people into work in less than a year – with a focus on supporting disabled people and refugees. Our Youth Offending Service has won awards for their child and family-friendly interventions to cut reoffending.

Lewisham’s Mayor moves to Bristol and cuts his working hours while he tries to get selected to stand for a Bristol constituencyhttps://t.co/aFl9FJHAiI

— LewishamWatch (@LewishamWatch) June 18, 2023

My approach has been welcomed. People can see the difference that it is making. We were re-elected last year with an increased vote despite facing strong challenges from the Greens, Tories and Lib Dems. In my time as mayor, Labour has won every council seat, not once – but twice.

I don’t want to be an MP who’s there simply to make up the numbers. The experiences I had growing up and gained through my work drive my determination to see the next Labour government bring in the changes people desperately need to see.

Ours should be a country where people can get on and not just get by, living the most fulfilling lives that we can.

I’m not afraid to change things or to challenge the status-quo. Under my leadership in Lewisham, we’ve reset how we do housing and our relationship with developers; redrawing our definitions of social housing, stricter on space standards, pushing for quality over quantity and demanding the homes that are built will stand the test of time.

I’ve also had to make tough decisions like taking action on our climate agenda with a rapid expansion of school streets and emissions based car parking charges. Not initially universally popular, they are a success today.

As mayor, I’ve devolved decision-making so the council is more collaborative, handing over responsibility to local residents for how local developer levies (NCIL) are spent – funding 149 grassroots community projects. Our emphasis has shifted to supporting small and local independent businesses – winning national awards for our work.

Insourcing services is close to my heart. I’ve held many jobs on temporary contracts and I know what insecurity feels like.

Private companies shouldn’t be making profits from public services that councils could deliver themselves. 1000 jobs are coming in-house in Lewisham; housing services, cleaners, maintenance teams, recruitment services – even our bailiffs!

The next government will face major global challenges; the world of work is changing before our eyes, the climate crisis is an existential threat to our planet, and the post-war consensus we’ve taken for granted is under serious pressure. Politicians need the courage to speak truth to power.

The new constituency of Bristol North East encompasses parts of Bristol and South Glos – image: Boundary Commission

Bristol North East’s first MP – as a priority – must nurture positive relationships with its councillors and our metro mayor to fix some of Bristol’s long-term problems.

Addressing inadequate transport, better access to health services and raising school results are only the beginning.

We must be unapologetically ambitious for prosperity, securing investment that creates good jobs, whilst ensuring that our area, city and region’s growth is both sustainable and genuinely transformative for everybody who lives here.

I’ve been around politics long enough to know that politicians aren’t always the experts – but we can make change happen.

There’s a better way to do politics – and it starts with listening, to become the active, people-focused MP this community deserves and needs.

If, like me, you believe it’s time things are done differently, I hope that I can earn your vote.

Damien Egan is standing to be Labour’s prospective parliamentary candidate for the Bristol North East constituency. Other people vying for the candidacy include Rob Logan, Marvin Rees and Kaz Self. For more information about Damien, visit www.damienegan.com

Main photo: Damien Egan

Read next:

• The things you see in Kingswood
• Marvin Rees officially applies to become MP candidate for Bristol North East
• Bristol a step closer to getting a fifth MP

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