I was born in 1997, a couple of months after Tony Blair walked into Downing Street, and everything I have ever known has been shaped by that election, and who best to lead us into a post-1997 Britain, than someone born in that year!
I've been hooked on politics for as long as I can remember. I argued about it with anyone who'd listen at school and sixth form, and my year book voted me most likely to become Prime Minister, though I'm fairly sure they meant it as a joke.
My road here hasn't been a straight shot from University into politics. After studying Medieval and Early Modern History at Bangor, I spent a year behind a bar waiting to join the RAF, only to be turned away because of eczema I'd had at fourteen. So I started again as an apprentice administrator at Warwickshire County Council, moved into the museum service, then went back to study a Masters in Crusader Studies (yes, really). Crusader history doesn't pay the bills, so I joined the Missionary Society of St Columban as an organiser and fundraiser, managing their priests' fundraising appeals across the country, and I owe them a great deal for the sense of service they gave me.
In 2024 I was looking for someone to vote for, I found the SDP on Wikipedia and joined up after reading through the New Declaration. I even set up my X account just to offer my help in Coventry, and I haven't stopped since.
Within a year I was elected Chair of the Young Social Democrats, representing the under 30s on the NCC, and leading them has been one of the great privileges of my life. They're a brilliant, thoughtful bunch, and together we've built regular meetings, a student society at Warwick (with more on the way!), a real say on policy and a presence at every major campaign the party runs. Then the Party offered me a full time position, first as Campaigns Organiser, now as Communications and Engagement Lead.
As a volunteer and now as staff, I've done the work people see and the work that keeps a party standing. I've run the campaign in Earlsdon and backed our candidates in Leeds, supported all of our major publications, and streamlined our social media content production. Behind the scenes, I've tidied our membership data, engaged with the systems that welcome new members. I set up our new phone system, organised our volunteers and put safeguarding in place for our young members and I've mentored work experience students and led outreach with 6th forms and universities. I know where our strengths are, and what we need to build.
Now I want to bring that same energy to leading the whole party. We're in this to win, not just to talk, and it's about time our efforts showed it.
Join me, and let's have some fun doing it.
Adam Williams