Holborn & St Pancras Byelection

I'm running as an independent in the Holborn and St Pancras byelection.

I'm a resident of the constituency.  I'm a former British diplomat who resigned over the Iraq War.  I'm an adviser on diplomacy and political strategy to leaders of over forty democratic countries and political movements.  I've written three books about political change.  Before the last election, I was the Green Party's spokesperson for foreign affairs.  You can read more about me here.

I'm running for parliament because I believe that the system - not the MP - must be changed.   The country is in crisis.  The wheels are coming off.  Climate change is out of control.  War, AI - humanity's very survival is at stake.  No government will make the necessary changes.

A new MP in Camden - whoever it is - will not because they cannot make any difference to the things most people really care about:

• Injustice, inequality and poverty: more and more wealth is concentrated in the hands of a very few, while for everyone else it has remained static - for over two decades!  In a rich country, kids go without food, clothing or a home.  Governments have failed to change this disgusting reality - because they won't change the underlying economic system that causes it. A wealth tax will drive the wealthy to hide their money or move overseas.  The only way to reverse this grotesque inequality is to change who owns businesses and companies - not the state, but the people who work there. 
• We have no power: Many people feel they have no say in the things that matter to them - and they're right.   In Britain today, it's only the decisions of one man - the PM - that count. We need true democracy - where the people make the decisions about what matters to them.  This has been my life's purpose for many years - all over the world, and now in Camden.
• An angry, divided society - we all feel that society is fracturing: assaults on nurses, teachers or bus drivers; attacks on synagogues and mosques; vigilante mobs in balaclavas roam the streets.  Politics is dividing us not uniting us.  By deciding things together - in person - we can begin to bring people together and rebuild our solidarity with one another. 
• Corruption - when the few make decisions for the many, politics is inherently corrupt.  An individual can donate any amount to a political party, so those already rich and powerful get more influence than ordinary people.  The PM was going to limit the amount, but has decided not to.  Every party (except the Greens) sell access to their leaders and ministers.

No government or MP, however well intentioned, will change the system that causes these problems.  Change will not be made from the 'top down'.  Only we can change the system itself.

Politics today is a puppet show that distracts us from the reality that we have no power - and only we can take it back.  We are all sick of the simplistic slogans, childish debates and personal attacks.

If you agree, you should vote for me.  We can start to change things.

You can sign up for updates about my campaign below.  And you can contact me here.  I'd welcome any help with leafletting etc, but we won't be banging on people's doors asking for votes.  I don't think voters should be pestered.

For information about my work, books, courses etc., please go here.