Recently, I had the opportunity to embark on a journey to the United States as a representative of the British-American Parliamentary Group. As part of a team with four other UK Members of Parliament, I took part in a wide range of fascinating tours, meetings, and discussions with my American counterparts. From Senate tours to Army visits, I gained a comprehensive understanding of how America works, and of the lessons we can take from it. Overall, it was an eye-opening experience which gave me a real insight into the inner workings of American democracy, industry, and society.
The trip took place in two main locations – Boston and Washington. I also had the opportunity to visit New York and meet with a wide range and representatives and diplomats.
Whilst in Boston, I visited the Ash Centre for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University, where I participated in discussions about the future of politics and participation. As a group, we covered topics such as the new generation of political activists, alongside the governance of US States and their relationships to local and federal governments. This event, alongside a venture to the Massachusetts State House and Senate chambers, showed me just how important it is to understand different political systems. For example, the trip left me with the impression that America is a deeply democratic society, with the ballot at the heart of its values – even the judges are elected!
Another personal highlight of my visit to America was going to the Massachusetts Office of Refugees and Immigrants (ORI). The ORI is a brilliant institution, which aims to help people integrate into American society and find their place, through the use of its vast network of faith and community organisations. It was brilliant to see how many people the ORI help every single day, and it demonstrated just how vital it is to have well-funded, effective, and compassionate public services.
Following my time in Boston, the British-American Parliamentary Group and I went to Washington DC, where I had a jam-packed schedule of political engagements. Here, I met with numerous US congresspeople. In particular, it was great to catch up with my friend Ilhan Omar. Ilhan was one of the first ever Muslim-American women to be elected to Congress and is a leading progressive voice in the Democratic Party. I first met Ilhan when she visited the UK Houses of Parliament, so it was great to see her again, but this time in her own patch.
In addition to meeting our American counterparts, as members of the British-American Parliamentary Group, we were given a tour around a U.S. Army facility with Charles Schumer, the Senate Majority Leader. This was an excellent experience, and it was great to see the high-tech equipment on display.
On a more cultural note, I was toured also around cricket associations, racetracks, ports and colleges. However, one thing which really stuck out to me was the Gothic architecture in Boston, which of course reminded me of Manchester! It is always great to experience a bit of home whilst away. A separate aspect of American society which equally reminded me of Manchester was the diverse cuisines on offer. There was a broad range of excellent food from a variety of different cultures, which really added to my experiences of the States.
In the upcoming posts on my website, I will delve into further detail about my work on combating Islamophobia and addressing climate change, drawing from insights I gained from the American context and highlighting the importance of global cooperation on these key issues.
