Meet The MPs

Growing up in East Norfolk, Jess Asato MP talks about ‘doing what was required’ when growing up as a young carer, and the importance of having a Government that understands childhood trauma. She talks about getting a real opportunity at 16 of getting a ‘stable, loving family’ to fulfil her dream and study law at Cambridge University.Drifting between sport and politics and university, including a short-lived career as the women’s football goalkeeper, she realised she wasn’t that interested in Law as the political bug took over the legal one. Born in California, Jess occasionally imagines an alternative life as a ‘Californian beach babe’.She joined the Labour Party in 1997 and soon became involved across multiple political campaigns, including running David Miliband’s social media for his leadership campaign. Initially a huge fan of social media, Jess is now in the process of suing Elon Musk’s xAI over non-consensual deepfake imagery of her, and is trying to get nudification apps banned. Psychologically, she says the impact of deepfakes is incredibly unsettling and calls out the ‘emboldened, entitled men’ who are behind it. She calls for a complete halt to developing super-intelligent Artificial Intelligence (AI) over the risks posed to humanity.It was during the leadership of the Labour party under Jeremy Corbyn that Jess considered leaving the party altogether. The party’s handling of antisemitism ‘nearly broke’ her, describing the atmosphere as ‘hellish’ as many of the party leadership sought ideological purity.  As an MP, she actively campaigned against the Assisted Dying Bill, arguing it does not do enough to protect people against possible coercion. She was worried about the implications for the most vulnerable in society in the care of the state, arguing that the state can’t be trusted to deliver a system of death and palliative care should be improved.

In this episode of Meet The MPs, we interview Joshua Reynolds, Liberal Democrat MP for Maidenhead and member of the House of Commons Business and Trade Select Committee. Elected at just 25 years old, Reynolds talks about keeping online giants Amazon and eBay accountable for unsafe marketplace products, having £60,000 in student loan debt, and the security concerns surrounding intimidation against a Hong Kong pro-democracy campaigner in his constituency. Reynolds also discusses the secrets of the Lib Dem election, voting on the Assisted Dying Bill, the crisis facing British high streets, and why he is campaigning for a ban on passengers playing audio through phone speakers on commuter trains.#MeetTheMPs #JoshuaReynolds #LibDems #UKPolitics #Maidenhead #BusinessAndTrade #Westminster #HouseOfCommonsEpisode Timestamps00:00 – Political stunts, mega-donations, and sending Ed Davey to space 02:40 – Superintelligent AI: Economic productivity vs national security 05:15 – How MPs actually use AI for casework and daily correspondence 08:00 – Inside the Assisted Dying Bill Commons division lobbies 11:30 – Entering politics at 16 and representing Maidenhead 14:45 – The future of the High Street: Business rates and independent retailers 18:20 – Select Committee scrutiny: Interrogating Amazon and eBay on unsafe goods 21:50 – Facing £60,000 of student debt whilst serving as an MP 24:30 – Digital campaigning, glue stick tactics, and Elizabeth line travel 27:10 – Headphone dodgers: The campaign against phone speakers on trains 29:40 – Transnational repression: Protecting Hong Kong activists on UK soil

In this episode of Meet The MPs, we interview Alex Ballinger, Labour MP for Halesowen, former Royal Marine Commando and Foreign Office crisis manager. Ballinger shares insights from his frontline service in Helmand Province and his role on the Pakistan border during the 2021 evacuation of Kabul during Operation Pitting. He outlines why he considers Britain's 20-year involvement in Afghanistan as a whole “can only be described as a failure”, why the situation in Gaza meets the legal threshold for genocide, and why Benjamin Netanyahu must be held accountable as a war criminal. Ballinger warns that cutting foreign aid is a "strategic error" and pledges to vote against his own government whip to protect West Midlands steel manufacturers. He talks about his campaign to reform gambling laws to protect young service personnel and the wider public, his push for a new Halesowen tram link, and the lighthearted story behind his viral PMQs name mix-up.

As a newly elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Guildford, Zoe Franklin reflects on how her schedule and responsibilities have changed significantly. While the summer recess offers a bit of breathing space, she notes that her calendar is already filling up with meetings, local commitments, and parliamentary duties.One of the first topics discussed is sleep—or rather, the lack of it. Zoe shares that during parliamentary recess, she’s managing to get decent rest, but when Parliament is in session, the long days and late votes, sometimes extending until 10 PM, followed by early mornings, take a toll. Despite the intensity, she remains enthusiastic and committed to making the most of her new role.Zoe's entry into Parliament came with a whirlwind of activity. She explains that the initial weeks after her election were a steep learning curve. Between getting her bearings in Westminster and beginning to address constituent issues, it was a crash course in parliamentary life. The discussion highlights just how quickly newly elected MPs must acclimate to the pace and expectations of the role. With just two weeks between her election and the recess, she had to hit the ground running.A major part of Zoe’s approach is rooted in her commitment to local representation. She emphasizes that being an MP isn't just about what happens in Westminster—it's about staying deeply connected to the community she represents. For her, that means being visible in Guildford, attending events, listening to residents, and maintaining a local presence even when her parliamentary work is demanding.The conversation then turns to the nature of parliamentary duties. Zoe explains how MPs must engage with both local and national concerns, from individual casework to national policy debates. She talks about the balance she tries to strike between representing her constituents’ interests in the House of Commons and advocating for the broader values she stands for.She reflects on the experience of being in Westminster—walking into Parliament for the first time, navigating the complex systems, and interacting with experienced MPs. Despite the potential intimidation, she notes that there’s been significant support and camaraderie among new members. The sense of shared purpose, especially among MPs with similar values, helps her stay grounded.Zoe also speaks passionately about the need for Parliament to reflect the diversity and experiences of everyday people. She acknowledges that the institution still has a long way to go in terms of inclusion, and she sees her presence there as part of the broader movement for change. Her focus is on ensuring voices from all backgrounds, particularly underrepresented groups, are heard and valued.In discussing her priorities, Zoe outlines several key areas. These include improving local infrastructure, addressing environmental concerns, supporting families and young people, and ensuring the government is held accountable. She believes that MPs have a responsibility to advocate for both immediate local issues and longer-term national challenges.The conversation also touches on personal resilience. Zoe admits that the role can be emotionally demanding—especially when dealing with constituents facing difficult circumstances. However, she draws strength from her sense of purpose and the support of her team and family. She stresses the importance of self-care and maintaining perspective, particularly in high-pressure environments.YouTube - https://goo.gl/aLFBjCTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@meetthempsInsta - https://www.instagram.com/meetthempsX - https://x.com/MeetTheMPsBlue Sky - https://bsky.app/profile/meetthemps.bsky.socialFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/meetthempsThreads: https://www.threads.com/@meetthemps

From growing up as a 'tomboy' in Hull, new Liberal Democrat MP Pippa Heylings, Westminster's latest polyglot MP, speaks about a career travelling the world negotiating climate deals. Starting life as the daughter of the local GP who“preferred climbing trees to sewing”, Pippa started her career as a teacher in Derby, supporting girls with ambitions to go to university where“you’re not going to change anything within a generation”. She moved to Zanzibar to volunteer as a teacher and ended up working in the public sector to support local communities manage environmental issues as a 'honorary male'.Her biggest achievement to date is helping to create the Galápagos Marine Reserve and she is only one of a few people who have permanent resident status in the Galápagos Islands.Parliament Webpage: https://members.parliament.uk/member/5078/contactLib Dem website: https://www.libdems.org.uk/mps/south-cambridgeshireX: https://x.com/pippaheylingsIG/Threads: https://www.instagram.com/pippa4southcambsAbout Meet The MPsMeet The MPs is a series that brings politicians to the public, with in-depth profile interviews with MPs from across the House of Commons, as well as political commentary and analysis of the latest key events happening on the green benches.

From growing up as "Eastbourne's Cutest Baby”, new Liberal Democrat MP Josh Babarinde speaks about being born and bred in ‘one big village’ Eastbourne. Josh speaks about growing up having to be ‘hyper vigilant at home’, with domestic abuse and violence being a part of his childhood. Joining the Liberal Democrats over a beer mat at a freshers’ fair, Josh went on to receive an OBE after starting a social enterprise fixing smartphone screens.Josh describes his family’s historical routes to Eastbourne, when his father was ‘shipped off’ by his grandparents to Eastbourne to be raised by white families, a common occurrence in 60s and 70s. As a new MP, Josh tells us about snooping around the Houses of Parliament with his friends, calling himself a ‘politics buff’ on his Tinder bio and having a place in their constituency tattooed on their arm. Parliament Webpage: https://members.parliament.uk/member/5086/contact Josh’s Lib Dem website: https://www.eastbournelibdems.org.uk/josh X: https://x.com/joshbabarinde IG/Threads: https://www.instagram.com/joshbabarinde About Meet The MPsMeet The MPs is a series that brings politicians to the public, with in-depth profile interviews with MPs from across the House of Commons, as well as political commentary and analysis of the latest key events happening on the green benches.

Peter Bedford is the new Conservative MP for the constituency of Mid Leicestershire. From realising he wanted to be a member of Parliament at 15, Peter talks about being the first in his family to go to university, his newfound love of cruising (like, on a ship) and recounts one memorable time being fired at by a man with an air rifle whilst campaigning.As a brand new MP, Peter says the 2024 election was ‘tough’ and he was ‘frustrated with the campaign’. Now in Parliament, he talks about hot-desking with colleagues whilst waiting for an office in Westminster, and how he will be focused on social mobility in politics, and supporting reform to assisted dying laws in the UK. #ukpolitics #politics #conservative #assisteddying Parliament Webpage: https://members.parliament.uk/member/5330/contact Peter's website: https://www.peterbedford.uk/ X: https://x.com/PeterABedford IG/Threads: https://www.instagram.com/peterbedfordmp/Meet The MPs is a series that brings politicians to the public, with in-depth profile interviews with MPs from across the House of Commons, as well as political commentary and analysis of the latest key events happening on the green benches. #meetthempsMeetTheMPs is produced by London Broadcast.