Page 34 - 2018 Powerlist

The Top 10 anywhere else and you have to help

each other. The thing that makes us
human is our compassion and the fact GINA’S ADVICE FOR GETTING TO THE TOP
that we are able to stand up and fight
and that’s what I’m going to do. I’m not Work harder than everyone “You’re there to do your job and if
going to lose my humanity. else. “You have to do more than you have to be a bitch then just do
your colleagues are going to do, it. You have your friends and family.
What would have happened if you you need to know your stuff inside It’s something a lot of women and in
hadn’t taken on the Government over out and you need to be able to be particular young girls worry about.”
Article 50? cleverer than the next person in
Success doesn’t come easy.
I’m of the opinion the Government the room.” “The only reason I’m successful is
would have triggered Article 50, Presence is really important. because I failed so many times but
which would have been illegal, and “Think about how you occupy your I picked myself up and carried on.
constitutionally with the European space. Don’t knock on a door and And every time I failed I examined
Union we could have been in all sorts say ‘sorry’, don’t hang your head why I failed and I learnt from it so
of problems because Article 50 says when you go into a room. Stand tall I’m only successful because I failed
very clearly ‘along the lines of your and proud, own who you are, and so many times and most successful
constitutional requirements’ and we really radiate confidence because people would’ve told me that.”
would not have done it. So we would’ve people pick that up even before you
done an illegal trigger… the ramifications speak. You have a right to be in that Don’t be afraid to take risks.
for that are almost unbearable. The meeting, you’ve got through that “If you don’t dive in and take a risk
you’ll never discover what you’re
that interview process, you’re not
whole time [during the referendum] the any less than anyone else and you capable of. It’s a journey of taking
Leave campaign had been talking about have to be confident in that.” that risk that will teach you a lot.
parliamentary sovereignty, that was the Not just the outcome of actually
thing they were going to sidestep. But I You’re not at work to be liked. getting there.”
don’t think they thought anyone would
challenge them. The Government’s case
was so weak – when they appealed, I
think they were using me. What they the community and saving people’s
did was, they had no plan, they used the lives every single day, we’ll take them
case to kick the can down the road and on board and incubate them. At any
give them time to come up with a plan. one time we have 12 to 14 charities or
So I did them a favour in lots of ways, projects we work with and we will take
but I also became the butt of a lot of them through that process, typically
the abuse. three to five years, and then they
graduate away from us. I underwrite all
How do you feel about Brexit right the costs of the Foundation so it doesn’t
now? As a Remainer do you think it depend on donors and I have something
can be undone? Can we turn back called the ‘goodwill exchange’ where
the clock? 147 people volunteer in their area of
No, I’m democratic. I do believe we have expertise, so if we need an architect,
to follow the process. Now what we website designer whatever, they’ll help
have to do is concentrate on getting the us to help those charities. I meet the true
best possible deal we can get because dispute over title, you do two or three heroes of our society every day through
there is no such thing as soft, hard, things. You reconsider the offer you that. And that’s what I’m most proud of.
smooth. Whatever adjective you want made, you decide whether to go ahead It’s like taking a drug, the biggest high I
to put in front of Brexit, it’s just going to or you look somewhere else. If you do get is helping these charities.
be the deal we get given. I think there that with a house why can’t you do
then has to be a proper parliamentary that with a country? It’s just logical. It Would you consider going into
vote on the deal, no deal and remaining. is irresponsible of politicians of all sides politics?
Logic says there has to be all three. not to be pushing for an extension of No, no. Modern-day politics is run by
the two years – we need more time to Whips in the party and I wouldn’t toe
So could Remain be back on the table? come up with a deal. How no deal can the party line. I would speak out for
It’s got to be back on the table. Surely be better than a bad deal is nonsense. what I believe in, the system is too
you have to have all options there It’s just empty words. dysfunctional. My voice, independent
because only at that time will we really and outside of Parliament, makes
know what we’re voting for. At the Is the Brexit case your proudest me more powerful. My civic voice is
moment it doesn’t matter what we achievement outside of your children more powerful than my political voice
say, we don’t have a clue, nobody can and family? ever could be. This case has given me
see in the future, nobody knows. It’s Actually I’m most proud of the work we platform. I had to sit and decide how I
like buying a house. You put in your do with the True and Fair Foundation. was going to use it – there is so much
offer, then you get your searches back We act like an incubator. When poison in society, particularly against
and so on and then if it turns out the somebody has a small charity or project women and ethnic minorities, and I
person that’s selling the house is not that nobody else wants to take on, but I want to use the power I have to change
the person entitled to sell it or there’s a know is doing extraordinary work in that.

30 Powerlist 2018