Chante O'Shaughnessy
Who Am I?
A social activist dedicated to creating equality in opportunities, fighting misinformation and strengthening democratic representation nationwide.
In 2022, I interned with Unlock Democracy after reaching out to my former MP, Tom Brake. This experience transformed my view on politics, allowing me to see that politics should be a collaborative effort, not a top-down system. while also empowering me to use my voice. Fuelled by this newfound perspective, I went on to….
Champion Youth Voice:
Using my platform as a journalist to raise awareness of issues affecting young people and current affairs.
Tack Political Elitism:
Organising a panel for Political Literacy Day 2022 to highlight the lack of lower socio-economic background representation in government and address elitism in British politics.
Boost Civic Engagement:
Lead a civic action scheme (Southampton, 2021-23) for pupils aged 9-14 to bolster youth political engagement, combat misinformation in the media and promote active participation in their communities.
Promoting Democracy & Civic Voice:
Partnered with Shout Out UK to educate young adults on UK politics and the importance of voting. Campaigned during London Voter Registration Week to encourage 16-24 year olds to register to vote.
If elected, I Will Help Campaign For:
Introduction of Proportional Voting: Democracy has long been undermined by a first-past-the-post system which restricts voters. Forcing them to vote tactically between two parties they don't fully support or risk wasting their vote, thus compromising the integrity of democracy.
Give Power Back to the People: The current centralised system concentrates power, leaving those most impacted by decisions on the side-lines. We deserve a constant voice, not just a quadrennial shout. A participatory democracy would empower citizens to shape the decisions that affect their lives, returning power to the people.
Citizen-Led Services Lets empower communities to shape their own development and influence the services they receive.
Vote for me and as council member, I will advocate for Britain's youth and campaign for a fairer, people led democracy guided by you.