Hustings
All hustings will be hosted on Google Meet. Joining instructions will be published here alongside the relevant events. Hustings with timings that are still TBC are subject to changing day as well.

To submit questions, email the chair ahead of the start of the hustings. Questions may still be submitted by email once the hustings have started.

Tuesday 7th October - Chair: Ulysse Abbate (ulysse.abbate@youngliberals.uk)

• 1830: Scottish Young Liberals Convener Hustings - [Recording | Summary]
• 1930: Federal International Officer Hustings - [Recording | Summary] 

Wednesday 8th October - Chair: Tom Hughes (elections@youngliberals.uk)

• 1830: Federal Chair Hustings - [Recording | Summary].
   

Thursday 9th October - Chair: Tom Hughes (elections@youngliberals.uk)

• 1830: Federal Communications Officer Hustings - [Recording | Summary]
• 1930: Federal Policy Officer Hustings - [Recording | Summary]
   

Racial Equity, Diversity and Liberation Officer Q&A - Akachukwu Ogazi and Sharan Virk

1. Tell us a bit about who you are and why did you join the Liberal Democrats?

Akachukwu Ogazi: I’m Akachukwu Ogazi, the current Racial Equity, Diversity and Liberation Officer for the Young Liberals. I joined the Liberal Democrats because our party truly stands for fairness, equality, and opportunity values that reflect the kind of society I want to help build.

As someone who moved to the UK 2 years ago from Nigeria to study English Language and linguistics at the University of Wolverhampton. I have seen first-hand how inclusion and representation can transform lives. That’s why I have been working in my role to make our movement more diverse and accessible from amplifying underrepresented voices to challenging racial inequality in our spaces. For me, being a Liberal Democrat isn’t just about politics it’s about people, and ensuring everyone, no matter their background, has a fair chance to thrive.

Sharan Virk: I joined the Lib Dems during 6th form, during our 2015 elections. It was the worst time to be a Lib Dem but that’s why I thought it was even more important to campaign. For me, the Lib Dems have always been the party of diversity and standing up for what is right. At the time of incoming Brexit, division, and rising hate towards minorities and immigrants, the Lib Dems seemed to be the only party fighting against this narrative. It’s saddening to see that 10 years later, this issue is far from resolved. I’ve been an active local campaigner and candidate in Gravesham since joining. I grew up working class and believe in equity for all. 

2. What do you see being different in YL after a year of you being REDL Officer?

Akachukwu: After 6 months of me being REDL Officer, I see a Young Liberals that’s more inclusive, more diverse, and more confident in tackling inequality head-on. I want to build on the progress we’ve started ensuring our events, campaigns, and structures are more accessible and representative of the society we serve.

In the last 6 months, I have been working to bring discussions on racial equity into policy spaces and highlighted issues like anti-racism in education and inclusive economic development. Over the next year, I want to see those ideas reflected in real action more collaboration with liberation groups, stronger support networks for underrepresented members, and visible diversity in our leadership and campaigns.

Sharan: I would like to hope that I will have created a culture change within YL when it comes to talking about diversity and the barriers towards diversity within our organisation. As our membership is majorly white, these conversations are not prioritised enough for a variety of reasons. This has only hindered our progress and not allowed for engagement with people of colour. As a brown woman there have been too many scenarios wherein I have realised how little the YL community is engaging with issues that minorities face or even aware of them. How can an organisation advocate for something that they know nothing about? And why do they know so little about the issues POC and minorities face? This needs to be addressed. I also want diversity and inclusion for minorities to be a core issue for YL to campaign on. 

3. What do you think needs to be done specifically to support ethnic minority YL candidates who are standing for election?

Akachukwu: We need to provide real support, not just encouragement things like mentorship, campaign training, and financial accessibility. Ethnic minority candidates should feel equipped and confident, not isolated. I will also push for more visibility and active promotion of diverse voices within YL and across the party.

Sharan: Signpost and provide them with the relative agencies with the LDs who can support them. We should have a network of other minorities and POC of senior status or more experience who can act as “mentors” to those new to the party or role. They can provide real advice and community. 

4. What support can you provide for YL candidates standing in ethnically diverse areas?

Akachukwu: I will help YL candidates engage communities through culturally aware campaigning understanding local issues, using inclusive language, and building trust. I will also share resources and training on diversity outreach, ensuring candidates reflect and represent the communities they seek to serve.

Sharan: My town has the highest BAME population in Kent. I have grown up in a diverse area and ran my own campaigns catering to the diversity of my area. I can help establish what candidates need to consider when looking to represent diverse communities and the work they must do to engage them. I can offer support in how to approach religious and minority communities and the logistics of setting this up whilst remaining respectful and accommodating. I can help set a precedent on how to navigate these issues and the ideal attitude to have in order to create change. 

5. How would you help YL branch chairs, particularly uni branch chairs, make their branches more diverse?

Akachukwu: I will support branch chairs with practical diversity toolkits, outreach ideas, and training on inclusive leadership. I will also encourage partnerships with cultural and student societies to help branches better reflect the diversity of their campuses and communities.

Sharan: We need to campaign more on issues that matter to POC and minorities. We shouldn’t just be reacting to what young people are talking about, but rather, our views should naturally align with what concerns the youth and we should be proactively more radial than our national party - that’s the main focus for youth parties. Palestine should have been a huge talking point in YL and it just hasn’t been the central issue. Many young people have been swayed to the Greens because of their stance on Palestine and how outspoken they were. Protest has its history in university institutes and we need to be more receptive of what people at university and outside our YL political sphere are engaged in. We need more diverse people involved in order to attract other diversity. If I see an organisation full of white people, as a brown women, this is a red flag. Especially if that organisation tells me it cares about representation. We need to practise what we preach.

6.What opportunities do you see for YL to improve the diversity of the party as a whole?

Akachukwu: YL can lead by example by making our spaces welcoming, supporting diverse candidates early, and pushing for inclusion in national campaigns. We can also work with the party’s diversity groups to ensure young voices from all backgrounds shape policy and decision making.

Sharan: Considering it’s pretty bad, the only way is up! If YL are serious about addressing our lack of diversity and willing to challenge thought processes and be open to education, then there is no reason this should not happen. But, those opportunities are hindered if we cannot come to these conversations openly and willing to be critiqued and called out. The more open we are the more chance we have at growth and development. It can be a real opportunity for us to create lasting change. 

7. Would you make any plans with the Federal Events Committee to promote diversity at YL Conference? If so, what measures would you like to take?

Akachukwu: Yes, I will work closely with the Federal Events Committee to make the YL Conference truly inclusive. This would include ensuring speakers and panels reflect diverse backgrounds, offering bursaries or support for those facing financial barriers, and making the event physically and digitally accessible. I will also push for sessions that address racial equity, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and disability rights, while promoting the conference through networks that reach underrepresented groups. Finally, I will ensure clear codes of conduct and safe spaces for networking, and gather feedback just like I did in the recent conference to continuously improve inclusivity at future events

Sharan: I would like to collaborate with the events team to promote diversity but it would need to have real backing and support as it is not fair to leave all the burden for diversity awareness on minorities. We can lead and support the process providing the guidance but it requires allies to be equally involved in education and commitment to navigate this issue. Our approach to the issue is in itself will be us practising what we preach. I would love to have an external educator on DEI come in and lead a discussion and session - ideally this to be a main event in order to guarantee attendance. More often than not, if this type of event is treated as an option, it has a low number of attendees due to lack of knowledge, nerves, or discomfort. We have to create a space that allows those emotions to exist but doesn’t allow them to hinder growth.

8. What would you do to help state executives to promote diversity amongst their active members and on their committees?

Akachukwu: I will support state executives by encouraging outreach to underrepresented communities, providing guidance on inclusive leadership, and helping track diversity in committees. I will also promote mentorship and recognise diverse contributions, so all members feel valued and empowered to take on leadership roles.

Sharan: Ensure that educational resources and training is made available to the relevant parties. To create more visibility for minorities already in the party and include them in action plans and policies. If you have very little diversity in your region, it should be a top priority. We cannot keep saying there is a problem and then doing nothing about it. Execs need to actively work on this issue and not let it be an afterthought. POC and minorities are tired of being an afterthought. 

9. How will you work with LDCRE effectively?

Akachukwu: As someone from a black heritage. I will work with LDCRE by collaborating closely on campaigns and initiatives that promote racial equality, sharing ideas and best practices, and supporting events and training that help members understand and tackle race related issues. My goal would be to ensure their work reaches all members effectively and creates meaningful change.

Sharan: For this question, I honestly do not know. Time after time points and reports have been made to actively ensure that more minority candidates are approved for electoral positions but this is hardly followed through. I intend to engage with LDCRE with my insights but it will require an overhaul of the way in which diversity is prioritised. Conversations and accountability is central to this challenge. I also want to find out how racial diversity has been worked on in the last few years across the party. 

10. REDL (RACIAL EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND LIBERATION OFFICER) and ADI (ACCESSIBILITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION) often work quite closely together, as their portfolios overlap. How do you picture your work with the ADI officer?

Akachukwu: I see my work with the ADI officer as a close partnership. We will coordinate on initiatives that promote inclusion and accessibility, share insights on best practices, and ensure our events, campaigns, and policies reflect both racial equity and broader diversity goals. Together, we can make the Young Liberals a more welcoming and representative organisation for all members.

Sharan: Liberation for minorities and marginalised communities is not only interlinked, but relies on each other. Racism, misogyny, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism etc are all intertwined and upheld by our current systems of oppression. I believe and hope we will work very closely together in advocating and furthering our goals since one type of liberation cannot be reached without the liberation of all our causes. This would involve input and advice of policy and ensuring that all bases of intersectionality are understood. I am keen to be involved and present as much as ADI would like me to be. 

11. Which officers do you think it’d be most important to work with to improve our diversity in YL bodies, especially the Federal and State executives?

Akachukwu: All officers in the executive play a vital role in ensuring a diverse Young Liberals. I will work closely with the Co-Officers for Accessibility, Diversity, and Liberation, as well as the Communications Officer, to ensure our diversity initiatives reach members across the country. I will also collaborate with the Events Officers to embed inclusivity into all our activities and events.

Sharan: As this issue is a culture problem for LD as a whole, I would want to work with all officers as we need to navigate this together as a whole. I would rely more so on the Chair of YL to help ensure this remains a top priority as well as ADI in ensuring we can support each other. I think social media and our presence online is vital. We need to be seen advocating for POC and minorities. We need to be vocal with our stances and ensure we depict an image of inclusivity. 

12. What is an area of policy in either the federal liberal democrats, or the young liberals, that you think is lacking, or you think we should be louder on?

Akachukwu: I think we can be louder on “racial and social equity within economic policy”. While we do important work on equality and inclusion, there’s room to more actively address how systemic barriers affect access to education, employment, and economic opportunities. Speaking out and campaigning on these issues would show that Young Liberals are committed to both fairness and practical change for underrepresented communities.

Sharan: We need more policy on the rising hate and racism faced by minority communities and our steadfast approach to tackle and condemn it. The last few years have been awful for minority communities with attacks on places of prayer, attacks based on the colour of your skin - this has been overlooked by the majority of people in the UK. YL should be challenging these issues. We also could pursue policy relating to consumerism relating to religious festivals. On occasions such as Eid, Diwali, Bandi Chor Divas; major supermarket chains stock their seasonal aisles with products relating to those festivities. However, they treat these occasions as homogenous, meaning that food items containing beef are displayed under signs of Diwali, a holiday celebrated by those who do not, according to their religion, consume beef. These “one size fits all” approaches exemplify the ignorance that should not be accepted in large corporations such as Sainsbury’s and Morrisons and showcases underlining bias and racist thinking. 

We also need to be louder on attacks and discriminatory behaviour towards those in the black and brown community. Proximity to whiteness is something which is rewarded. We cannot address our diversity problem without realising that racism is still alive today. We need to centre these communities and learn from their experiences by listening and validating fears and concerns. We need to provide a safe space for this. 

13. Is there anything else you want to add?

Akachukwu: My role as REDL is to serve all members by ensuring their voices are heard, supporting underrepresented groups, and embedding diversity in events, campaigns, and policies so that our organisation is welcoming and representative for everyone. If elected again, I will continue this work, building on our progress and driving further positive change.

Sharan: No response given.