About Us
Compassion in Politics is dedicated to transforming the political landscape by infusing it with empathy, fairness, and integrity. We believe that politics should serve the people, prioritize social justice, and operate with a genuine concern for the well-being of all citizens. Our mission is to advocate for a political system that puts compassion at its core, ensuring that policies are designed to uplift the most vulnerable, protect our planet, and foster a more inclusive society.
Founded on the principles of empathy and ethical governance, Compassion in Politics works tirelessly to hold leaders accountable and push for legislative changes that reflect our shared humanity. We engage with policymakers, collaborate with like-minded organizations, and mobilize grassroots movements to create a more just and compassionate world.
Join us in our mission to redefine politics. Together, we can build a future where compassion guides our decisions, and every individual is treated with dignity and respect.
Achievements
Formed in 2018, the group has advocated for several changes in the political landscape, focusing on issues like mental health, social inequality, environmental sustainability, and democratic reform.
Here are some of their notable achievements and initiatives:
1. Cross-Party Collaboration: One of the key successes of Compassion in Politics has been its ability to bring together politicians from various parties to support initiatives that prioritize compassion in legislative processes. This approach aims to reduce adversarial politics and encourage more collaborative decision-making.
2. Mental Health: The group has campaigned for better recognition of mental health issues in politics and policies. This includes advocating for mental health considerations in all governmental policies and ensuring mental health services are adequately funded and accessible. Our Co-founder Jennifer Nadel presented the BBC Radio 4 programme: Broken Politicians, Broken Politics. To listen click here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001zdf4
3. Compassionate Policy Proposals: Compassion in Politics has been involved in promoting policies that reflect compassion, such as measures to combat social inequality, protect the environment, and improve welfare systems. They propose viewing policy impacts through a "compassion lens" to ensure decisions help those most in need.
4. Constitutional and Democratic Reform: The organization has called for reforms to make the political system more democratic and less adversarial. This includes supporting proportional representation to ensure a fairer reflection of the public’s views in electoral outcomes.
5. Public Awareness Campaigns: They have initiated and participated in campaigns that raise public awareness about the need for a more empathetic approach to governance. These campaigns often highlight the human impact of policy decisions and promote a more understanding and less divisive political discourse.
6. Participation in Panels and Public Discussions: Members of Compassion in Politics frequently participate in panels, discussions, and public forums to discuss the importance of compassion in politics, influencing both public opinion and the perspectives of other politicians.
Our efforts to promote a culture of kindness, empathy, and understanding in politics reflect a broader movement within several democracies to address the often divisive nature of contemporary political discourse and policymaking.
Our team
Matt Hawkins
Director, Co-Founder
Matt Hawkins has led a number of social and environmental justice campaigns. He was part of the Nobel Peace Prize winning team at the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) which successfully lobbied the UN to introduce a ban on nuclear weapons. Most recently, he managed the Equal Civil Partnerships Campaign which secured the introduction of civil partnerships for mixed-sex couples.
Jennifer Nadel
Director, Co-Founder
Jennifer Nadel is a qualified barrister, author, political strategist, activist and award-winning television journalist. She has reported for the BBC, Channel Four News and was ITN’s Home Affairs editor. Her report exposing the use of rape as a weapon of war in Bosnia was used by UN war crimes investigators and she’s reported extensively on how the law discriminates against women. Her most recent book, WE, charts how to bring about individual and societal change. Her father came to the UK on the Kindertransport. She is on the board of INQUEST, a charity which supports families whose relatives have died in custody.
Anya Sizer
Democracy Lead
Anya is responsible for leading our initiative for a better democracy including our Clean Up Politics campaign and our parliamentary programmes . Anya is local councillor and had worked in the offices of three MPs, including David Lammy
Tom Burgess
Executive Director
Tom is an author, entrepreneur, and political activist. He is the author of From Here to Prosperity: a practical policy agenda for a sustainable economy and greater social justice . He is chair of the campaigning group Taxpayers Against Poverty, an adviser to Tax Justice UK, and a Senior Fellow of Radix, a radical-centre think tank. He is the founder of Real Agenda Radio, a network of podcasts for progressive change.
Alex Wilks
Campaigns Adviser
Alex has extensive experience as a digital campaign strategist and manager. He was previously Digital Manager for the European Movement and Head of Digital Campaigns for the People's Vote movement. He has joined Compassion in Politics as an adviser with specific focus on our digital work.
Bella Roberts
Partnerships Manager
Bella Roberts is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales having qualified at KPMG. In 2021 she ran for a London Assembly seat campaigning for regional devolution and greater police accountability. Bella also has a passion for mental health and well-being, and is a certified Happiness Facilitator with the Museum of Happiness. Currently she is completing her Masters in Digital Politics and Sustainable Development at NCH.
Plus of course there is our valued team of volunteers
Resources
Taxpayers Against Poverty
Compassion in Politics has a sister organisation called Taxpayers Against Poverty founded by the late Rev Paul Nicolson, the pioneer of the Real Living Wage. Before he sadly died in March 2020, he had agreed that TAP should join together with Compassion in Politics as both groups were working towards bringing more compassion into politics, an issue dear to Rev Paul’s heart.
TAP has over 24,000 followers and focusses on more specific policy proposals to end poverty and reduce the hardship of the millions who are struggling financially every day. The Rev Paul understood that these hardships were not going to end until we stopped taking money off people who had no money. This meant a fundamental shift in the way government raises public revenue. He realised that we all create the wealth, but the current system means this wealth is accumulated by a few. So, if this wealth was shared more equitably we could afford good infrastructure and public services, if not, there is always going to be millions who struggle.
Rev Paul had personally supported many people suffering from the inability to meet tax bills and showed leadership by refusing to pay his council tax bill. You can find out more about Taxpayers Against Poverty by clicking here www.taxpayersagainstpoverty.org.uk