Page 32 - 2018 Powerlist

The Top 10 NUMBER ONE

I won’t stop fighting until

I can sleep at night

Gina Miller is used to picking big fights… and winning. She’s taken on the charity sector
and the City, but winning in court against Theresa May’s Government, which wanted to
trigger Article 50 without a Parliamentary vote, is her biggest victory. She talks to
Eva Simpson about becoming a household name, suffering vile abuse, and why her
proudest achievement is the work she does with charities

How does it feel to have been voted very conflicted industries who have a always [secretly] there but became
Britain’s more influential black person? lot to lose through my activism – so I’m completely unacceptable. What
It’s amazing to get an accolade when used to a negative response. I’m used happened with the march of the far
what I’ve done has solicited a huge to people trying to destroy me because right around the world and the UK, it
amount of abuse. To be acknowledged what happens is, when they can’t has become acceptable to be vocal
is extraordinarily kind and counters a lot destroy your argument they pick on and to say things out loud that you
of what I still get on a daily basis, even you. They make it personal, and that’s might have said behind closed doors in
this morning, [hate mail] pours in from when I know I’m winning. So I knew the past. Social media platforms have
everywhere – letters, Twitter, emails, there would be a backlash. In the City, allowed that to be amplified and that’s
you name it. I can’t avoid it and my staff I’m told time and time again that my the problem. It has allowed voices that
can’t avoid it. It’s really horrible – they nickname is the ‘Black Widow’, which is were probably always there, extreme
get it all too. minor voices in society, to get oxygen
that gets other people there as well. The
How serious are the threats against combination of those things means we
you and your staff? are in a very dangerous place. We’re
Extremely serious. We’re sitting in in a place, where if all ethnic minorities
these offices today because I’ve had to are seen as things, and not people,
move offices, this is far more discreet. I’m seen as a and we’re seen as so different and so
I’m also looked after by two personal ‘Barbie doll degraded and dehumanised, then it’s
security teams. easier to attack and physically hurt
of hate’ – someone who is dehumanised. And
Why do you think you provoke such a that’s what I’m really concerned about.
violent response? I tick all The dehumanisation – you could kill
A journalist summed it up using this the boxes someone or hurt someone because
phrase: I’m seen as a ‘Barbie Doll of they’re really not like me.
hate’. I tick all the boxes; a woman of
colour, bright, articulate, whatever, ridiculous for every reason you can think Have you felt that personally?
so I am attacked every which way – I of. So I know I solicit an angry response Absolutely. They attach things to me
gave them all the ammunition they because people don’t want me to say like ‘not British born’ as if that means
use to attack me. Now what happens what I’m saying. I knew with Brexit, I don’t have a right to speak. I’m
is that when other people speak up because of the emotional involvement, supposed to stay quiet and accept the
against Brexit, whenever there is any I knew there would be a backlash. But I society I’m in and be beholden. As a
objection, from politicians or anyone, I had NO idea that we lived in a country black woman I have to be beholden, I
am accused of being behind it. So I’m that people think it’s okay to call me have to be grateful in some way, which
now responsible. I never knew I was the things they’ve called me, to say as means I can’t even speak out, which
so powerful, so maybe this award is a woman of colour I have no right to means I mustn’t have a voice. I find that
perfectly timed. speak up or that I could only have made extremely worrying but I will speak out
my money by being on my back. I didn’t even more because you know what,
Were you prepared for backlash you know we lived in a country that. I’m not the only one getting abuse. I
received by holding the Government get thousands and thousands of letters
to account? Do you think those opinions have and phone calls from other people
Not to this extent. I’ve been an activist always been there, but just became who are suffering [as a result of the
for nearly 10 years now – I’ve taken on unacceptable to voice in public? referendum decision] telling me what’s
the City and the charity sector – both I think in an element of society it was happening to their lives, how they’re

28 Powerlist 2018