Interview with Lilian Greenwood MP

My call with Lilian begins at midday, on what felt like the hottest day of the year, as we both sat at our desks struggling to cope with the heat.

Greenwood has been the Labour MP for Nottingham South since 2010, during which she has slowly climbed up the political ladder by campaigning for innumerable local and national issues.

The worst part of her job, she admitted to me early on, was Labour not being in government: “You get into politics because you want to make a difference, you want to change things for the better, and as an opposition, it’s obviously far more difficult. In the eleven years that I’ve been an MP, I’ve seen the government make horrendous decisions across a whole range of issues.”

“It’s just a huge honour and privilege… to represent the views of over seventy-five thousand people”

Lilian has been politically active since university, campaigning about issues which matter to her. When asked about the best parts of her job, she exclaimed: “it’s just a huge honour and privilege to be able to speak up for your local community and to represent the views of over seventy-five thousand people.”

She continues: “I love speaking in the House of Commons and the Chamber, and I love the scrutiny work of holding the government to account… And, of course, no two days are ever the same and that definitely makes for a really interesting job.”

Although no two days may be the same, Lilian revealed how her week will have a certain structure to it and that, on Mondays, she will be in office from 6:30am to 10:00pm. Whilst other days may have less demanding hours, they’re just as hectic, as Lilian partakes in debates, has meetings with constituents and, as Deputy Chief Whip, attends a whip meeting every day.

“Just do it. Don’t be held back by worries about other people who appear to know more than you or seem to be more confident”

It’s clear to me that she enjoys her job thoroughly and would recommend it to others. Her advice to anyone thinking about a career in politics? “Just do it. Don’t be held back by worries about other people who appear to know more than you or seem to be more confident.” There are also, Lilian tells me, other ways to get into politics: “Being political isn’t just about being a counsellor or a Member of Parliament or whatever; you can get political by being involved in the decisions that happen in your local area.”

As the first woman to represent the city of Nottingham in the House of Commons, Lilian knows all about the importance of representation in the political world. She tells me: “it’s really important for people to get into politics whatever their background, race and sexual orientation.”

But what’s Lilian’s advice to anyone who isn’t a straight, white, middle class man looking to get into careers dominated by that demographic? “Surround yourself with people who will support you and help you, because you will get knocked back sometimes. Don’t be put off, don’t think it isn’t for you, because it absolutely is.”

“‘Obviously, it’s the behaviour of men that causes [this issue]’, she continues, ‘and we have to challenge it’”

Discussing the issues that students currently face, and what can be done to overcome them, the particular issue of female student safety in Lenton was raised. Lilian believes that we: “have to work together, whether it is with the Student Union, or the local police [or] community protection officers, to help women feel safer”.

“Obviously, it’s the behaviour of men that causes [this issue]”, she continues, “and we have to challenge it, and make it clear that it’s not acceptable at an earlier stage, through educating young people about what healthy relationships look like and what consent means.”

No conversation in 2021 would be complete without the mention of Covid-19, and this one was no different. On the topic of the pandemic, Lillian told me that she’s part of the “all-party parliamentary group partaking in an inquiry looking for the major impacts the pandemic has had on students”. She informed me how they produced a report that presses the government to do better.

Right now, Lilian is lobbying to get all students double vaccinated as soon as possible. She wants to help students gain protection against the virus, all whilst reducing self-isolation numbers.

Eventually, we get interrupted as a colleague walks into Lilian’s office - such is the life when you work in politics - and we must bid our farewells. But even as my screen goes blank, Lilian’s ambition and passion are tangible. I reflected on her advice: that you do not need to be a member of Parliament to make a difference. I realised, therefore, how important it is for individuals to campaign about issues that matter to them, whether that be within our local communities, or through online platforms.

By Jasmin Lemarie Page Design by Chiara Crompton