I genuinely didn’t think “normal” people could be politicians – now I am one…

As Ed Miliband has said, we are facing a crisis in our politics. Record numbers of people feel disengaged and alienated. Before I was elected in the Rotherham by-election last year, I felt like that too. It seemed politicians talked at you, rather than listened to you. Issues that they squabbled over didn’t appear to have any relevance to my daily life and, most significantly, there were very few politicians that I could relate to on a personal level. When I was selected, and then elected, it was like a surreal dream, I genuinely didn’t think “normal” people could be politicians.

Now that I am “one of them”, I can report back that Parliament is actually full of normal people who care passionately about representing their constituents and making changes that will have a positive impact on peoples’ lives.  What we need to address is why people don’t believe that’s true, and why people don’t think their voice is heard.

Last month I spent the afternoon in Newman School in Rotherham with the Key Stage 4 students.  All of them had moderate to severe physical or mental disabilities.  All of them were actively engaged with local and national politics and challenged me on a wide range of issues – Question Time would have been easier. They wanted to know my views on High Speed 2, what the Government cuts meant to Rotherham, what I was doing about making public transport accessible and what I thought about David Cameron. Equally importantly, they wanted to tell me their thoughts on these issues, and they wanted to know that I had heard them.  It was a hugely stimulating, thought provoking and inspiring experience.  I would love to say that every young person I meet is equally engaged with current issues, but, sadly, that is far from the case.  So many young people are completely switched off from politics, with most not seeing any point in voting.

We really need to challenge this.  I want people to know that their voice is important.  To know their opinions count and they will be listened to.  I want people to be empowered to campaign for change and to work together to find solutions to problems, whether at local or national level.  Politics seem to have drifted away from our day to day reality to be something we only read about, or watch on TV, not something we can engage with or influence.  Nothing is further from the truth, but we need to create a new politics where peoples’ views are taken seriously and used to influence policy.  This is something that I care passionately about and so I am delighted that Angela Eagle and a team of like minded Labour MPs have started the People’s Politics Inquiry.

The Inquiry wants to investigate why people are so disengaged with politics and what we can do to change that.  We want to understand what we are doing wrong so we can start doing it right.  Please give us your views, suggestions and constructive criticisms as it is only with your support that we can start turning politics around and make it work for everyone.

Go to Your Britain and tell us what you think.

Sarah Champion is the Labour MP for Rotherham