Kilburn academics launch manifesto to help shape future political debate

Lorraine King

Published: 1:11 AM May 16, 2013 Updated: 9:18 PM October 15, 2020

Doreen Massey, Emeritus Professor (Geography) in the Faculty of Social Sciences at The Open University, and Mike Rustin, Professor of Sociology at the University of East London, founding editors of the political journal Soundings. - Credit: Archant

Michael Rustin, 75, Doreen Massey, 69, and Stuart Hall, 81, hope their plans can unite the community

Stuart Hall, Emeritus Professor in the Faculty of Social Sciences at The Open University, and a founding editor of the political journal Soundings. - Credit: Archant

Three academics from Kilburn have launched a manifesto outlining new ideas which they hope help shape future political debate.

The aptly named ‘Kilburn Manifesto’ written by Michael Rustin, 75, Doreen Massey, 69, and Stuart Hall, 81, will set out notions about the economy, and relations between the sexes and the generations.

The trio, who have lived in Kilburn for a total of almost 100 years, hope their plans, which will be revealed in the 12 months, could bring the local community together.

Mr Rustin, who has lived in Exeter Road for 40 years, said: “We have often met to talk about our ideas in each others’ houses, and in the 1980s we had a political discussion group that included Ken Livingstone, before he became a local MP and then mayor.

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“We’ve all always liked the fact that Kilburn is such an ethnically mixed area and felt this was relevant to writing about Britain.”

“People living in Kilburn who depend on public services will be experiencing a lot of difficulties at the moment and we’re trying to revive an idea of the public and the common good that brings people together.”