“To take the fight to Reform, we need change that people feel in their pocket.”
Jess Barnard is standing for re-election to Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC). You can read her statement in full below.
I’m standing for re-election because we’ve got to get back to real Labour values: a democratic party rooted in raising living standards.
People cannot afford a politics that fails to tackle inequality, insecure housing and broken services. To take the fight to Reform, we need change that people feel in their pocket.
That means redistributing wealth, building social homes, fixing our NHS and funding local government.
I joined Labour because of the damage Tory austerity inflicted on working-class communities like mine and knew we needed a transformative alternative. As a trade unionist, councillor, parliamentary candidate and youth worker, I’ve always challenged poverty and discrimination.
On the NEC, I’ve championed member democracy and transparency, introducing report backs and opposing attempts to sideline members.
I’ve campaigned against the two-child benefit cap and no-fault evictions, defended migrant and LGBTQ+ rights, disability justice, and proudly advocated for Palestine and human rights.
We’re strongest when members are respected, and our Party’s democratic foundations are upheld. I will continue to be a strong socialist voice for members and for change.
Please vote for me, Yasmine Dar and Gemma Bolton as your top preferences, followed by other candidates who have endorsed the Reset the Labour Party statement.
- If you are a member of the Labour Party, check your email inbox for your NEC ballot. Voting closes on 27 August 2026. You can find your recommended vote preference order through Grassroots Voice’s tool here.
- Jess Barnard is a member on Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and the former chair of Young Labour. You can follow her on Facebook, X/Twitter and Instagram.
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