Hope Again: Beyond Andy Burnham's conference speech
The Black PaperPlay episode
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Summary
Ndukwe Onuoha is joined by Joseph Ogundemuren — political and trade union activist, community campaigner, former Hackney councillor and Chair of British Nigerian Councillors.
They explore why African and Caribbean communities need to stay engaged in politics, particularly as Labour’s conference agenda signals potential shifts on care, utilities, Brexit and electoral reform.
They also unpack what these policies could mean in practice for Black and migrant communities — from care work and the lessons of Windrush to trade union protection and Obsidian Labour’s role in building a stronger political network.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Joseph Ogundemuren and his community political work
03:00 Losing Hackney Wick and staying active after council office
04:15 Meeting King Charles, diaspora work, and Labour conference activity
07:44 Why Joseph stayed in politics instead of walking away
10:01 “If you are not seated at the table, you are on the menu”
12:12 Andy Burnham’s conference speech and the five major announcements
15:04 Why the National Care Service matters to Black workers
16:48 Care work, Windrush echoes, and political education
19:16 Why voting matters even when people feel disillusioned
20:39 What councillors do and why local politics matters
24:47 Learning the system before the system teaches you
27:13 Why Europe and the EU are not simple answers
30:09 Bad governance, elites, and blame politics
33:06 Privilege, climate politics, and global inequality
35:09 Understanding proportional representation and how it works
40:29 Why Joseph opposes proportional representation
44:09 The limits of PR, party lists, and voter participation
49:50 Listening more than speaking in political life
51:41 Why public utilities should not be run only for profit
54:17 Housing associations, waste collection, and accountability
57:37 What Obsidian Labour is and who it is for
61:30 Unison, migrant workers, and the 10-year ILR debate
65:17 Trade unions, exploitation, and defending workers’ rights
67:39 Peace, prosperity, and the case for collective action
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