MP WATCH
MP WATCH
MP WATCH
Together, we strive to strengthen community bonds, amplify local voices, and foster ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP.
Together, we strive to strengthen community bonds, amplify local voices, and foster ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP.
Together, we strive to strengthen community bonds, amplify local voices, and foster ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP.
Local MP Watch groups of concerned constituents, share their fears for the future with their representatives, draw attention to relevant information and encourage MPs to work to raise standards of integrity. On the environmental front, we encourage them to join groups such as the Conservative Environment Network, Socialist Environment, Resources Association, Labour Climate and Environmental Forum and UK100. We are pleased to ally with MPs and engage as critical friends. If all else fails, we will work to remove MPs we believe to be the greatest moral hazard or who block action on Net Zero.
Our team
Our team
Our team
MEET THE TEAM
MEET THE TEAM
MEET THE TEAM
Jessica Townsend
Jessica Townsend
Jessica Townsend
Co-founder and campaign coordinator
A former journalist, scriptwriter and filmmaker, she recently wrote a chapter about MP Watch for the Climate Majority Project book and featured in Josh Appignanesi’s film My Extinction. MP Watch is her third climate start up.
A former journalist, scriptwriter and filmmaker, she recently wrote a chapter about MP Watch for the Climate Majority Project book and featured in Josh Appignanesi’s film My Extinction. MP Watch is her third climate start up.
A former journalist, scriptwriter and filmmaker, she recently wrote a chapter about MP Watch for the Climate Majority Project book and featured in Josh Appignanesi’s film My Extinction. MP Watch is her third climate start up.
Lesley Grahame
Lesley Grahame
Lesley Grahame
Training support
Mother, Quaker, active citizen of Norwich, former nurse and Green Party councillor, Lesley sees politics as public health by other means, and walking the talk on peace, fairness and a just transition to from an extractivist economy to a sustainable circular one, that allows everyone to live well on the one planet that we have.
Mother, Quaker, active citizen of Norwich, former nurse and Green Party councillor, Lesley sees politics as public health by other means, and walking the talk on peace, fairness and a just transition to from an extractivist economy to a sustainable circular one, that allows everyone to live well on the one planet that we have.
Mother, Quaker, active citizen of Norwich, former nurse and Green Party councillor, Lesley sees politics as public health by other means, and walking the talk on peace, fairness and a just transition to from an extractivist economy to a sustainable circular one, that allows everyone to live well on the one planet that we have.
Guy Ducker
Guy Ducker
Guy Ducker
Film Maker
Guy has worked in the cutting room of over 25 feature films, including ‘Calendar Girls’ and ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”. He also edits artist’s films that have been shown at Tate Modern and the Pompidou Centre. An award-winning screenwriter and short film maker, Guy’s activism is making films with MP Watch and writing environmentally savvy drama.
Guy has worked in the cutting room of over 25 feature films, including ‘Calendar Girls’ and ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”. He also edits artist’s films that have been shown at Tate Modern and the Pompidou Centre. An award-winning screenwriter and short film maker, Guy’s activism is making films with MP Watch and writing environmentally savvy drama.
Guy has worked in the cutting room of over 25 feature films, including ‘Calendar Girls’ and ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”. He also edits artist’s films that have been shown at Tate Modern and the Pompidou Centre. An award-winning screenwriter and short film maker, Guy’s activism is making films with MP Watch and writing environmentally savvy drama.
Marijn van de Geer
Marijn van de Geer
Marijn van de Geer
Team Support
Marijn has a history in refugee organisations, international development and climate and environmental politics. She is our lead on deliberative democracy, particularly citizens' assemblies. Marijn has been a candidate in her local council and London Assembly elections, and is excited to use her knowledge and experience of the political system to support the MP Watch team.
Marijn has a history in refugee organisations, international development and climate and environmental politics. She is our lead on deliberative democracy, particularly citizens' assemblies. Marijn has been a candidate in her local council and London Assembly elections, and is excited to use her knowledge and experience of the political system to support the MP Watch team.
Marijn has a history in refugee organisations, international development and climate and environmental politics. She is our lead on deliberative democracy, particularly citizens' assemblies. Marijn has been a candidate in her local council and London Assembly elections, and is excited to use her knowledge and experience of the political system to support the MP Watch team.
Daisy Thomson
Daisy Thomson
Daisy Thomson
Political advisor
Daisy has extensive experience in democracy and politics and is working on our political strategy in the run up to the next general elections. Daisy is currently working on our exciting new project of citizens-led polling through various focus groups in constituencies around the UK. Daisy currently also works for Involve, an organisation focussing on running deliberative processes such as citizens' assemblies.
Daisy has extensive experience in democracy and politics and is working on our political strategy in the run up to the next general elections. Daisy is currently working on our exciting new project of citizens-led polling through various focus groups in constituencies around the UK. Daisy currently also works for Involve, an organisation focussing on running deliberative processes such as citizens' assemblies.
Daisy has extensive experience in democracy and politics and is working on our political strategy in the run up to the next general elections. Daisy is currently working on our exciting new project of citizens-led polling through various focus groups in constituencies around the UK. Daisy currently also works for Involve, an organisation focussing on running deliberative processes such as citizens' assemblies.
If you feel you have something to contribute to our core team, please get in touch
With thanks to co-founders Tom Hardy and Rosie Merrifield.
WHAT WE BELIEVE IN
WHAT WE BELIEVE IN
Monitoring the integrity of our politicians
Does your representative truly express a sincere perspective on matters? Have they ever been dishonest in public or backed another's dishonesty? Have they distorted the truth, or endorsed someone else's distortion? Has your representative ever displayed bravery in upholding truth or distancing themselves from dishonesty?
Honesty
We look for evidence of any time an MP falls short of the whole truth, whether that’s outright lies, misrepresentation, partial truths and data or omissions of any kind. If a politician is inadvertently untruthful or misleading, we expect them to correct the record as soon and as clearly as is practical.
Transparency of funding and association
MP Watch is committed to ensuring MPs are transparent about who they are affiliated with, who they are lobbied by, and who funds them. We do not think it is acceptable for MPs to act as lobbyists as a side job. Transparency is only effective if it leads to accountability. So, we look at the extent to which an MP keeps a distance from financial or other influences that might seduce them away from doing an honest job.
Distinguishing Reliable Facts from Misinformation
Alongside an intention towards honesty, we need MPs (and candidates) to acknowledge and be educated in the many sources of misinformation they will encounter from vested interests: including powerful multinationals, organised misinformation sources, conspiracy theorists, and other attempts to manipulate our political system. They must recognise the need for reliable sources and independent research as a basis for their work.
Upholding high general political standards.
Politicians owe the electorate their own honesty, but they also need to be part of the wider solution by holding their colleagues to the
same standard. If another MP or minister says or writes something that they know to be untrue or which is misleading, they have a duty to point this out, even if it means contradicting an argument in support of their own agenda or defying the party whip.
Honesty
We look for evidence of any time an MP falls short of the whole truth, whether that’s outright lies, misrepresentation, partial truths and data or omissions of any kind. If a politician is inadvertently untruthful or misleading, we expect them to correct the record as soon and as clearly as is practical.
Transparency of funding and association
MP Watch is committed to ensuring MPs are transparent about who they are affiliated with, who they are lobbied by, and who funds them. We do not think it is acceptable for MPs to act as lobbyists as a side job. Transparency is only effective if it leads to accountability. So, we look at the extent to which an MP keeps a distance from financial or other influences that might seduce them away from doing an honest job.
Distinguishing Reliable Facts from Misinformation
Alongside an intention towards honesty, we need MPs (and candidates) to acknowledge and be educated in the many sources of misinformation they will encounter from vested interests: including powerful multinationals, organised misinformation sources, conspiracy theorists, and other attempts to manipulate our political system. They must recognise the need for reliable sources and independent research as a basis for their work.
Upholding high general political standards.
Politicians owe the electorate their own honesty, but they also need to be part of the wider solution by holding their colleagues to the
same standard. If another MP or minister says or writes something that they know to be untrue or which is misleading, they have a duty to point this out, even if it means contradicting an argument in support of their own agenda or defying the party whip.
FAQ
FAQ
FAQ