Glenda Jackson MP
In conversation with Glenda Jackson MP for Hampstead and Highgate.
by Tony Randall
The Labour MP who left school at 16. Worked as a shop girl in boots, Joined the Royal Shakespeare Company and won two Oscars for " Women in love " and " A touch of class " talks openly to Tony Randall
TR: What was your reason for giving up a successful career as an actress to become a full time MP?
GJ: Well anything i could do legally to rid the country of Margaret Thatcher and her Government , I was prepared to do.
TR: You was elected as MP for Hampstead and Highgate in 1992. What would you say to date is your proudest achievements?
GJ: All MPs need the dedicated, unpaid, pavement pounding work of their constituency party members and supporters, both during and between General Elections, so my election, indeed, elections, have much to do with team-work. But in 5 successive elections, the electorate in my constituency saw fit to place their trust in me.
TR: What would be the typical issues raised by your constituents at surgery?
GJ: At the moment, the lack of affordable housing, which is at crisis proportions, exacerbated by the changes to the Housing Benefit: indeed the whole Benefits system.
The Government has sold, what is in fact, erroneous, the idea that all claimants are work-shy, but the majority of claimants are working, albeit in low paid work. That unemployment is constantly rising doesn't get the same emphasis as far as this Government is concerned.
TR: What is a typical day for you like as an MP? ( if there is one )
GJ: You're quite right. There is no " typical day "; other than every day, anything can, and usually does happen.
TR: With the publics perception of MPs at an all time low, what do you think can be done to over turn that?
GJ: We've always, certainly since I first became an MP, been second in the list of nationally despised professions, with journalists holding the top-spot and estate agents number 3 on the hate list.
TR: Some boundary changes will come in on 2015. What are your views on this?
GJ: The boundary changes smack of gerrymandering, but the Boundary Commission will be undertaking the second part of their hearings, so we'll have to see what the final decision will be.
TR: Do you still get time to take an interest in films and movies? And what do you like to do to relax away from politics?
GJ: I only take interest in films now on DVD and TV, I also like to relax by doing some gardening.
What ever political party you may support it's difficult not to like Glenda as a person and an MP. You may disagree with some of her views but here is a person who believes that poitics is all about " Finding the truth " and not playing games or covering up, its straight down the line with Glenda and that's a rare quality for an MP of today.
With Glenda not wanting to seek re-election at the end of the current parliament its fair to say in my mind she will be a big loss to politics and has been a true champion for her constituents.
by Tony Randall
The Labour MP who left school at 16. Worked as a shop girl in boots, Joined the Royal Shakespeare Company and won two Oscars for " Women in love " and " A touch of class " talks openly to Tony Randall
TR: What was your reason for giving up a successful career as an actress to become a full time MP?
GJ: Well anything i could do legally to rid the country of Margaret Thatcher and her Government , I was prepared to do.
TR: You was elected as MP for Hampstead and Highgate in 1992. What would you say to date is your proudest achievements?
GJ: All MPs need the dedicated, unpaid, pavement pounding work of their constituency party members and supporters, both during and between General Elections, so my election, indeed, elections, have much to do with team-work. But in 5 successive elections, the electorate in my constituency saw fit to place their trust in me.
TR: What would be the typical issues raised by your constituents at surgery?
GJ: At the moment, the lack of affordable housing, which is at crisis proportions, exacerbated by the changes to the Housing Benefit: indeed the whole Benefits system.
The Government has sold, what is in fact, erroneous, the idea that all claimants are work-shy, but the majority of claimants are working, albeit in low paid work. That unemployment is constantly rising doesn't get the same emphasis as far as this Government is concerned.
TR: What is a typical day for you like as an MP? ( if there is one )
GJ: You're quite right. There is no " typical day "; other than every day, anything can, and usually does happen.
TR: With the publics perception of MPs at an all time low, what do you think can be done to over turn that?
GJ: We've always, certainly since I first became an MP, been second in the list of nationally despised professions, with journalists holding the top-spot and estate agents number 3 on the hate list.
TR: Some boundary changes will come in on 2015. What are your views on this?
GJ: The boundary changes smack of gerrymandering, but the Boundary Commission will be undertaking the second part of their hearings, so we'll have to see what the final decision will be.
TR: Do you still get time to take an interest in films and movies? And what do you like to do to relax away from politics?
GJ: I only take interest in films now on DVD and TV, I also like to relax by doing some gardening.
What ever political party you may support it's difficult not to like Glenda as a person and an MP. You may disagree with some of her views but here is a person who believes that poitics is all about " Finding the truth " and not playing games or covering up, its straight down the line with Glenda and that's a rare quality for an MP of today.
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