We are a growing network of Labour members and supporters across the UK working to better represent Labour on the coast and in the country. Our work is overseen by an informal committee, including:
Hywel Lloyd is an independent facilitator and policy practitioner at Facilitating the Future. His work seeks to promote sustainable local communities through local governance and ownership, not least of energy, land and local food. His varied career includes nightclub management to running employment programmes, particularly for disabled people; he has worked for the Ministerial teams of Hazel Blears at CLG, and Hilary Benn at DEFRA, and helped improve many local public services across the UK while at the Office for Public Management (OPM). He has helped plant over 30 community orchards & woods and would like to see Apple Day (21st Oct) as a new Bank Holiday. While he lives in north London, his family’s roots are rural South West Wales. He is the first point of contact at Labour:Coast&Country.
Dr Pamela Buchan Formerly a marine biologist, and after a career in the voluntary sector as a science communicator, Pamela is now a marine social scientist specialising in marine citizenship and community engagement in marine issues. She is Vice Chair of the Devon & Severn IFCA and a duty holder at the Cattewater Harbour Commissioners. Pamela has been a Plymouth City Councillor since 2018. Working with the LGA Coastal Special Interest Group and Ocean Conservation Trust, Pamela leads on the local government Ocean Recovery Declaration, which first passed through Plymouth City Council in November 2021 and seeks to give local voice and coordination to marine issues. Pamela leads the LCC Coastal Sub-group.
David Drew – First elected as a Labour Councillor 40 years ago. Labour & Coop MP for the Stroud Constituency 1997 – 2010 and 2017 – 2019. Been a County, District and was a Parish/Town Councillor for 28 years. Currently County Councillor for Stroud Central. Has a PhD which studied rural policy-making under New Labour.
Alex Mayer – Alex is a Labour activist and former Member of the European Parliament. She is a member of the GMB, UNISON and the Co-operative Party; a trustee for Show Racism the Red Card; international co-ordinator for the Washington DC Statehood campaign; and an animal welfare campaigner, who took an 8 million signature petition to the UN calling for animal-free cosmetic testing.
Sam Alvis – Sam is head of Green Renewal at Green Alliance, leading their work on a sustainable economy. He is also a member of Chatham House’s Panel of Young Advisors, advising on youth strategy and climate. Before joining Green Alliance Sam was a Senior Advisor to Tony Blair, as well as lead on Brexit and Industrial Strategy for the Wellcome Trust. Prior to this, he worked for the Shadow Treasury team in Parliament. Outside of work Sam is a school governor, charity trustee and mentor with the Social Mobility Foundation. He holds a MSc in Climate Change.
Elizabeth Marsh – Elizabeth is a parish councillor in Leicestershire and has (unsuccessfully) fought district and county council elections as a Labour representative. After being told too often that Labour is the
party of towns and cities, she has joined Labour Coast and Country hoping to challenge that view