Making the Impossible Possible: A Masterclass with Wes Streeting

Danielle will be studying at the University of Bristol this September. She has a deep interest in political Philosophy and revisionist History which inspire her commitment to social justice, decolonising the national curriculum and racial equity.  She’s particularly passionate about working to break down systemic barriers and advocates for widening opportunities and representation for underrepresented groups in articles she’s written. The Patchwork programme continues to challenge and broaden her perspectives.

Like many of my fellow Patchworkers, I’m committed to building a better and fairer future through working in Westminster. However, like many, at times I’ve felt that my lived experience disqualifies me from advocating for change in Parliament. Yet, it was our recent Masterclass with the Minister for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting that reaffirmed to me that whoever you are and wherever you come from has no bearing on what you can achieve.

A seat at the table

During the Masterclass, Wes Streeting spoke openly about the financial instability of his childhood, growing up in a single parent household and on a council estate in Stepney. He spoke about how whilst his early years were perhaps atypical of others in the political class it was his background and experience as eulogised in his book ‘One Boy, Two Bills and a Fry Up’ that uniquely positioned him as the Minister for Health and Social Care. Because if you haven’t lived through something it’s difficult to understand the challenges that others are facing. As a young woman of colour and a second-generation migrant born in the North of England, I’ve often felt that my background disqualifies me from a seat at the cabinet table but what we learnt from Mr Streeting challenged me to think differently about the value of my lived experience and how it can be used to advocate for change. He taught me to consider that, in fact, wider representation in Parliament can deliver a better Britain for us all.

Keeping your feet on the ground

Throughout the Masterclass I felt a genuine commitment from Wes Streeting to not only his cabinet post but his constituents in Ilford North. He shared that a conversation with one of his constituents shed light on the need for a revised approach to men’s health which led to the development of England’s first Men’s Health Strategy. Mr Streeting talked about the value of door knocking and how in 2015 his team knocked on more doors than any other candidate in that election cycle. He talked about the importance of first listening to others even when their views differ from your own. Hearing his sustained commitment to his constituency whilst serving as a Cabinet Minister was incredibly impactful and I began to reflect on the times where I’ve been disillusioned by representative politics particularly as I watch the growing strength of far-right populism and exit based ‘empowerment’ both of which are symptomatic of distrust in our representatives. Listening to Wes Streeting and learning about his continued commitment to the grassroots is demonstrative of why engagement is evermore important.

Your Why?

At the end of the Masterclass Mr Streeting was interested in learning about what drove each of us are individuals. It became clear that for him politics must always be rooted in value, and he shared how his journey to frontline politics began in charity and advocacy work in which he championed access and opportunity to disadvantaged groups. This resonated with me as I reflected on how throughout my life I’ve been fortunate enough to see politics rooted in value through watching my father using his experience of migrating to the UK as a student to found a charity that advocates for and supports migrants. Together, listening to Wes Streeting and the stories of my fellow Patchworkers I felt grateful to be surrounded by individuals who are motivated by altruism.

Though at times we may feel that our lived experiences disqualify us; or that our voices go unheard and that those who work in politics aren’t motivated by a concern for the well-being of others, our Masterclass with Wes Streeting taught us to bring your lived experience to the table; to listen to others and to remain rooted in values. His story is one of climbing to the mountain top and clearing the path for others to come behind him. It is this vision for a better, fairer future that I will champion through my aspiration to work in the public sector.