As the Labour Party have just secured a landslide victory in the General Election – we have just ushered in the first female chancellor, Rachel Reeves MP. This article looks at how implementing equitable economic policies is fundamental to securing economic growth and prosperity.
Cecilia Jastrzembska
Director and President of the Young European MovementGender equality is a crucial driver of economic prosperity, and the Young European Movement is dedicated to championing this cause, enhancing professional advancement, leadership success, and inclusive growth across society.
It is no secret that the UK economy has taken a sharp downturn in recent years. Inflation is at 2 per cent, the cost-of-living crisis has become an uncomfortable norm and 7.2 million people who are in fact employed are still living below the poverty line. In short, the UK is on its financial knees.
The 23rd of June was the anniversary of the referendum on EU membership, which was delivered on misinformation and promises the Government failed to keep, such as our withdrawal from the Erasmus+ – the EU’s flagship international exchange programme. This alone is estimated to have cost the economy £243 million per year.
The pressure is now on for parties to break the ‘omerta’ – the pact of silence – and outline their vision for Britain’s relationship with the EU, a subject on which public opinion has demonstrably shifted, with the majority now acknowledging that the deal we crashed out with has been disastrous, regardless of where they originally sat on the issue. Yet, both main parties are still studiously avoiding the topic. What began as arguably strategic swerving is now becoming actively harmful to political credibility as the public looked for decisive leadership.
As the European Union geared up for its Parliamentary Elections over June 7–9th, and the UK hastily sprung into action for its own General Election on July 4th, there is more than ever at stake. For us at Young European Movement, two related issues remain central. One is youth mobility. And the other is equality.
The Young European Movement is a unique, cross-party organisation for under-35s that is home to pro-European activists from all walks of life – lawyers, civil servants, diplomats, policy and communications professionals, NGO and thinktank representatives, consultants, and diplomats, to name a few.
We train the next generation of changemakers and leaders in political engagement – with networking events typically held in embassies or UK Parliament, interactive workshops, and panels comprising of MPs, MEPs, and former or current Prime Ministers, as well as professors and business leaders.
Last year, we teamed up with the British Youth Council and our parent organisation, European Movement, to campaign on reinstating our membership of Erasmus+, which would mean young Brits would be able to work in EU states, broaden their horizons and foster invaluable social and professional connections with our European neighbours.
The campaign amassed over 40,000 signatures and the backing of Mayor Sadiq Khan, plus the support of MEPs such as Colm Markey and Natalie Loiseau, and several MPs, Caroline Lucas among them. The European Commission then broke its silence on the matter, suggesting that it would be willing to reopen negotiations with the UK. This attracted international coverage, with media requests spanning as far as Abu Dhabi television channels and articles appearing across the FT, The Guardian, The Independent, POLITICO, and more. The British Government snubbed the offer, suggesting that it would only be interested in bilateral deals with member states, whilst a Labour spokesperson stated that it had “no plans for a youth mobility scheme”.
Both sparked angerfrom young Britons who had welcomed the breakthrough. The leader of the Liberal Democrats urged the Conservatives to rethink, saying that it “would be a much-needed boost to the economy”, while the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen, pointed out that a reciprocal relationship would stand both sides in good stead for future cooperation, given that the younger generations benefiting would inevitably grow closer.
The Disproportionate Impact Gap
When opportunities such as Erasmus+ are lost or crises arise, the hardest to be hit are always those who are already on unequal footing, namely women and underrepresented groups. During my near-decade in politics, I have advocated for gender equality in many ways, from writing to speaking at UN and International Human Rights Commission events to attending summits on ending gender-based violence (GBV) and commissioning pamphlets on intersectional feminism.
Last year, I wrote an article akin to a progress report on gender equality in the EU and UK. The results were shocking. In many ways, progress was stagnating or even reversing. This led to YEM teaming up with the European Parliamentary Liaison Office and Vice President of the GREVIO Committee, Ellen O’ Malley Dunlop, plus former MEP Frances Fitzgerald who went on to pass landmark legislation on combating GBV adopted earlier this month. We realised that this could be a unique opportunity for collaboration between the UK and EU and decided to make this central to our next campaign.
Women’s Lives Are At Stake: A gendered Issue
There were three key takeaways from the event. One was that gender-based violence and femicide rates had barely dropped in both the UK and EU, so action is imperative. A more positive takeaway was the fact that improved female representation in political leadership directly correlates with reductions in rates of GBV. Hence, we at YEM decided to focus on championing parliamentary gender parity as a tool to combat GBV, as well as to gain the obvious wide-ranging benefits of making leadership more representative.
The Economic Case for Equality
The third key takeaway was an angle that is rarely discussed – the impact of GBV on the economy, which, for example, costs the EU €366 billion annually. This makes an altogether different kind of case for fighting it – which is also worthy of attention – though, of course, the inexpressible human impact will always remain at the core of reasons to champion its extinction. In a world where women are safe from misogynistic persecution, they are free to advance professionally and feel confident to take up space and lead their generations. Countless studies have shown that leadership with more women is far more successful. It’s a win-win all round.
The Tides Have Turned
Elections on both sides have been a watershed moment for women, and they have decided a wider existential question that will determine whether we secure and sustain the European project.
Europeanism, and its value system of inclusivity, solidarity, and equality, is far from the rancorous issue it was once characterised as by the far right to divide voters by using bitter identity-politics messaging. Eurosceptic narratives have pivoted, new dialogues that were unthinkable years ago are emerging, the electorate is speaking, and the polls and data are delivering their messages.
The British public are acutely aware that Brexit hasn’t worked, and the dishonest framing of the UK’s cooperation with the EU as a sovereignty issue in an increasingly globalised world isn’t landing either. Young people – men and women alike – deserve better across the board and to see themselves represented equally, both from an economic standpoint and to live free from persecution. It is high time we worked together to shape future governments that enable all of their citizens to flourish, not just a few. Progress is good, but parity is better.
To read more of Chamber’s analysis on the link between female equality and fiscal prosperity, click here.
