GAIL BARTON
What makes me the best candidate
Twenty years ago I chose to make East Lancashire my home. This dramatic sweeping landscape, with its rich textile heritage and strong sense of community sang to me.
It still does.
Having held the privilege of three years working for a Labour Police and Crime Commissioner funded initiative, as the Community Engagement Officer for Pendle and Ribble Valley, there is no one more uniquely qualified than me to champion our local causes as the next MP for Pendle and Clitheroe.
What do you know about these communities?
In my Pendle and Ribble Valley community engagement role, I worked collaboratively with a wide range of public sector organisations, liaising with elected and employed council representatives at county and borough level, emergency services, wider NHS, education, and many voluntary and community organisations who have a local presence. This role brought me to the forefront of a range of community focused committees and forums, including Community Safety Partnerships across both Pendle and Ribble Valley, East Lancashire NHS signposting clinics, Dementia Positive Pendle, East Lancashire’s Community Rail Partnerships and Pendle Youth Forum.
Deeply embedded within the VCFS sector across the constituency, I supported communities during covid as our team became the primary conduit between community groups and the public sector. I was part of the team which rolled out the first tranche of community covid testing (becoming stock footage for BBC national news in the process!), and was there on the front line when we began the vaccination programme, acting as Lancashire County Council’s eyes and ears on the ground to iron out barriers and bottlenecks, alongside managing other vaccination volunteers.
Although I’ve since moved into a Financial Crime role, I've retained those links and connections in a personal capacity, including accepting the invitation to become Chair of Clitheroe Town Wells Community Campaign, and contributing to the committees of Dementia Positive Pendle and Clitheroe and East Lancashire Community Rail.
A proactive Labour member since 2016, I grew up in a family that had our party values at its heart. My grandparents were very active within their unions, initially pursuing rights for their textile mill colleagues, before they moved into public sector roles when the local weaving industry collapsed.
Renowned across my committees and campaigns for close attention to detail and asking difficult questions, my neurodivergent perspective allows me to see challenges differently, resulting in creative solutions to difficult problems. I address issues head on, am unafraid to ask the tricky questions, and widely trusted to get things done!
The first generation in my family to access university, study was undertaken as an adult learner; the idea of education beyond 18 was never an expectation. Nevertheless, I’ve excelled academically, gaining a First Class BA at undergraduate, and Distinction for my MA Community Leadership (course leader: former Labour MEP, Lord Wajid Khan of Burnley) – achieved while working full time alongside my commitments as a parent and as an active volunteer.
Alongside my MA, I have undertaken an extensive array of training and professional development around public awareness issues and self-development. I am further qualified to industry standards in Leadership, Project Management, Asset Management, and teaching.
I spent my early career in female dominated industries, like childcare, adult social care, and clerical roles, so wholeheartedly appreciate the multiple issues women face, and improving gender equality is my passion point.
My membership of the Association of Speakers, and the skills developed from participating in local meetings and events have developed my speechwriting and presentation abilities to a professional standard. (This year I reached the National Competition Finals of the ASC for my ability to speak on a topic completely unprepared.)
Elected to Burnley Borough Council in 2022, the skills and strategies developed through CLP roles and wider volunteering continues to inform and enhance my contribution. This year I was voted Scrutiny Chair, where I’m delivering effective and influential cross-party leadership which focuses on the real issues affecting residents and how best to make a positive difference. I have been fortunate to be part of a progressive local authority which has received much media attention, as we utilise creative and community-centric ideas to counteract high levels of deprivation and our exceptional combination of challenges.
My expansive relationships as a volunteer across the education and charity sectors allow a more holistic approach as I communicate ideas and information to make a genuine difference to the individuals and families we support. As a trustee for Home-Start, our scheme in East Lancashire is highlighted as a national model of excellence and I’m proud to champion the excellent work of our staff and volunteers, while working with them to ensure we stay at the forefront of best practice.
I am also a governor at both primary and secondary schools in Burnley, ensuring I have good oversight of the education sector and the challenges and opportunities at play. Also a former Chair of Governor’s at an Outstanding Nursery School, alongside having a decade of professional experience across the wider early years and education sector, I know the incredible value and impact of having good early years experiences.
Most recently I accepted the invitation to lead the implementation of a Read Easy UK scheme across the East Lancashire geographic area, which offers one-to-one support for adult literacy – an issue close to my heart as my daughter has Dyslexia – which my committee and referral partners are excited to see develop in our area of disproportionately low education attainment.
I have long supported communities across Pendle and Clitheroe.
Now, I'm asking you to support me.
Together, lets turn Pendle & Clitheroe red!
Words Win Wars
Endorsements
I'm privileged to have a broad-church of amazing people backing me, both from within and outside the Labour family, who themselves demonstrate the highest levels of ethics and integrity.
Here are just a few.
