The LCDPR, founded by MPs Jeff Smith & Thangam Debbonaire, have today announced new details of the campaign, including members of their Expert Working Group and voluntary Ambassadors.
The Campaign was set up to provide a forum for the Labour grassroots to debate and shape Labour’s drug policy for the future.
Ambassadors have been appointed who will host Public Meetings across the UK, where Labour members and voters will be asked how they would like the Labour Party’s drug policy to be reformed. More information about the Campaign’s Ambassadors can be found here.
The campaign will be visiting Belfast, Bristol, Glasgow, Grimsby, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Newcastle, Southampton, Swansea & Wolverhampton with firm dates for each to be revealed in due course.
People can also get involved by organising their own Fringe Meetings, submitting motions to their Constituency Labour Party and making individual submission on the LCDPR website.
The Campaign’s Expert Working Group will be responsible for turning the findings from the consultation into a concrete set of recommendations that will be presented for consideration to Labour front bench representatives.
The Expert Working Group will be chaired by Lord Falconer, who previously served as Secretary of State for Justice in Tony Blair’s Labour government. Other members of the group include Professor Fiona Measham, founder of the UK drug testing service, The Loop and Benjamin Twomey, former Policy Officer for the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner.
The rest of the group is comprised of Mike Trace, CEO of Forward Trust, Chandni Hindocha of UCL Psychopharmacology Unit, Kate Halliday, Executive Director of SMMGP/ FDAP & Liz McCoy of the Pennine Trust NHS Foundation.
Volteface’s Communications and Events Officer Ant Lehane is taking on the role of Secretariat, which will involve helping with the Campaign’s administration, logistics and social media.
Anthony’s entry into the drug policy world began when he worked as a PA and Communications Assistant at the inaugural Cannabis Europa event at the Barbican. He continued his journey doing communications work for the Families4Access campaign, which was largely credited with reforming medical cannabis laws last year.
Ant has been a lifelong Labour supporter and has a passion for grassroots politics.
Volteface eagerly await the Campaign’s recommendations, which are expected to be released at the beginning of next year.
If you would like to get involved or find out more about the Campaign, please go to the LCDPR website at www.labourdrugpolicy.com/.
Tweets @Liz_McCll, @antlehane.