Jess Phillips: Let's Be Honest
MP Jess Phillips takes us on a whistle-stop tour of British politics and her enduring faith in democracy, in conversation with Rebecca Jones.
From culture wars to clickbait, it’s fair to say that politics has lost some of its integrity, and we’ve all suffered as a result. If it hadn’t nearly wrecked the country with calamitous consequences in every sector of public life, it would almost be funny. We’ve let our standards drop – but we deserve better.
Jess Phillips believes in democracy, and the people she meets give her cause for optimism, even if sometimes politicians really (really) don’t. At once a laugh-so-you-don’t-cry takedown of the state of Westminster in recent years and a rallying battle cry for bringing truth back to politics, this book will make you angry, cheer you up and give you hope.
Phillips was first elected as the Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley in 2015 and was elected chair of the Women’s Parliamentary Labour Party in September 2016. Before becoming an MP, she worked with victims of domestic violence, sexual violence and human trafficking, and she continues to speak up on behalf of those who struggle to have their voices heard. She lives with her husband and two sons in Birmingham, where she was born and raised.
Need to know
Copies of Let’s Be Honest are available as an optional add-on at point of checkout for the discounted price of £15 (RRP £20). The book must be collected on the night of the event, as we’re unable to distribute copies afterwards.
Access
This event is Speech-to-Text transcribed.
You can join our free Access Scheme through your online Southbank Centre account or via email.
Find out more about our Access Scheme
All our Access & facilities information
For your visit
This event is held at the Queen Elizabeth Hall Southbank Centre
The Queen Elizabeth Hall is open from 90 minutes before events start until they finish. It’s closed at all other times.
Plan your visit
The Queen Elizabeth Hall is home to both our second-largest auditorium and the Purcell Room.
Getting here
Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues. More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.
We’re cash-free
Please note that we’re unable to accept cash payments across our venues.
Access
We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.
All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.
All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
Food & drink
From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.