“I’m developing my plan to get myself on the green benches of Parliament.”

Christine Wallace, Peer Circles Cohort 7

I had the pleasure of taking part in an Elect Her Peer Circles Cohort earlier this year, not as someone who was looking to see if running for election was for her, but as someone who had already made the decision to run for office. I attended as someone who is developing my plan to find myself on the green benches of Parliament. 

I am aware that luck and circumstance has a lot to do with whether one ends up elected as an MP but I am also a strong believer that good organisation and planning will increase your odds. It is with that in mind I signed up to Elect Her. I wanted to learn how to perfect my skills and attributes for what I know will be a long but worthwhile journey regardless of the outcome. 

Elect Her provide you with a clear blueprint on the personal development needed to run for office. More than that, they match you with inspiring women from all political backgrounds and ideologies, something that is hard to come by when starting out in politics as you often stay within your association or party to network.

The world of politics is a strange one and being able to find a group of likeminded and supportive women who also understood the oddities of running for office and shared the passion to do so is a blessing. The Peer Circle programme enabled this. 

Contrary to the perception left by online and media coverage, supporters and members of different parties can and often do get on well. All-Party Groups in Parliament exist for a reason. Most people get involved in politics because they wish to make a positive impact and believe in democracy.

Each political party fundamentally believes in the betterment of society even if they disagree on the methodology. This principle was exemplified in Elect Her, my group had a women from every major UK party and never did we try to tear the other down. We had a level of trust with each other that allowed us to discuss worries and insecurities without judgement.

I truly believe that we would be genuinely pleased to see each other in elected office, even if we were to sit on opposite sides of the Chamber. Not only are the peer circles an opportunity for personal development, it is also a glimpse into what Parliament would look like, with a coalition of different women from across the political spectrum, working together.