Josh Babarinde: Liberal Democrat MP, campaigner and humanitarian | Proudly in Conversation

In this episode, we’re joined by Josh Babarinde OBE, a campaigner and Liberal Democrat MP for Eastbourne. Raised on a council estate, he founded the award winning social enterprise Cracked It, supporting young people at risk and ex‑offenders into work. This earnt him a Shackleton Award, a Churchill Fellowship, Forbes 30 Under 30, and an OBE at 26. In Parliament, he has become a leading voice on domestic abuse reform, successfully pushing ministers to strengthen domestic abuse law within his first year. Now President of the Liberal Democrats, Josh brings lived experience and an LGBTQ+ lens to his work.   Despite serving in what is often described as the most LGBTQ+ Parliament in history, Josh argues that many LGBTQ+ issues still receive insufficient attention at Westminster. He discusses why this is the case and what needs to change. A big part of the conversation focuses on growing political division. Josh argues that populist politicians often exploit people's fears and insecurities, sometimes targeting already marginalised groups such as trans and non-binary people. Rather than dismissing people who hold different views, he believes it's important to understand where those views come from and have respectful conversations, even when there is disagreement. Josh and Simon also discuss how social media has intensified conflict, making debates louder and more hostile. Both agree that many people are afraid of saying the wrong thing when discussing LGBTQ+ issues, which can stop potential allies from speaking up.  Josh believes politics has become more toxic and divisive than ever, but he remains optimistic that ordinary people can find fair and balanced solutions when they're given the chance. In Eastbourne, he's been experimenting with citizens' assemblies, bringing together randomly selected residents to learn about issues they may know little about. After hearing from experts and discussing the evidence, participants are encouraged to combine the facts with their own values and experiences to make informed decisions. He argues that this approach helps people move beyond the noise of party politics, social media arguments and culture wars.  He believes that giving people reliable information and the space to talk openly with one another could help the UK address some of its most difficult and polarising issues.  ✨ In this episode: Rising populist politics, and why courage and transformational leadership matter. We discuss growing polarisation in politics and public life Why understanding different perspectives is essential for progress. Josh is clear we don’t have to agree on everything, but we do have to learn how to “disagree well” with humanity and respect.  How the loudest voices rarely represent the majority, why no community is a monolith, and how social media can amplify stories and create opportunity Politics has become increasingly toxic and polarised, but through Citizens' Assemblies, citien participation has actually improved outcomes and trust in politics. 🎧 Mentions & links: Citizens – Book by John Alexander 💬 Enjoyed the episode?  Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon and Youtube  We’d also love to hear your thoughts or questions — email us at: [email protected] ⭐ Leaving a 5-star review really helps more people discover these stories. Proudly in Conversation is a Stonewall production. Jingle by legendary rock band @EMF.