By Kay Lauer

I am Kay Lauer

& I stood as an independent in the 2024 General Election!

I did this because after years of political awareness and participation, I felt (and still feel) we aren’t delivering meaningful improvement to the lives of women and wider society.

I felt traditional parties concentrate power in the hands of a few - mainly men.

I campaigned, spoke to voters on the constituency streets, posted leaflets through doors and spent that night at the count. It was hard work, but fun.

I received 182 votes, more than some party candidates!

I didn’t expect to win but saw it as a practice for future elections.

I set up on high streets in the constituency with news stories surrounding my policies.

I engaged voters by discussing the issues.

With this knowledge, I am more confident to run again and bring other independents along with me. I thought that to run again, I would want to build a league of independents committed to women’s rights, improving democracy and civil and human rights.

To support building this, I am taking a journalism course.

For me standing is about three interlinked areas that I believe need reform…

Women’s rights – safety, employment and treatment in society.
Can you think of others? I see “Women’s rights” as both literal, and also as a metaphor for other disadvantaged groups, such as those suffering from poverty.
Improved Democracy – a better spread of power and resources. Currently, the only way to make a difference is a vote once every 4-5 years. I belive we need more transparency of government and participation in what they do, a fairer spread of resources and better regulation of companies/organisations when they interact with individuals.
Some exemptions in the Freedom of Information Act 2000 allow the government to withhold certain policy-making information, especially when disclosure would harm effective decision-making, but these are subject to a public interest test.
Human & civil rights - I use the term “human rights” loosely based on the wording of the UN Declaration of human rights (1948), which currently has 193 signatories. Human rights apply to all people; examples are the right to life, freedom from torture and freedom of opinion.
Yet the system is complex and often inefficient, failing to deliver these rights. Civil rights are those that the government grants citizens. In the UK, public funding for healthcare and schools are established civil rights, although, I believe, access to them and quality (as with the courts), has been eroded in recent years.

**Consider standing as an independent alongside others…**

If you also believe in a politics of improving women’s rights, democracy and human & civil rights, consider standing as an independent alongside others.

My vision is a league of independents in a 60:40 women to men ratio, initially. If four independent candidates were elected in the 2024 on issues of the Middle East, independents can get elected on women, democracy and human and civil rights.

If you are unable to stand, there are plenty of ways to get involved. You could support an independent candidate, the league or develop your own activism.

Phoning into a radio station or writing letters to a newspaper are ways to develop your voice. Sign up to emails from groups that support these areas and parliamentary committees. Most importantly, think of your own experiences and what hasn’t worked for you.

Politics is for all of us not just the few at the top!