With the New Labour party suffering from internal divisions, a small membership number of roughly 515,000 (as of July 2016) and a two-term failure to claim the government, the future for the party appears bleak. Could a new stance in leadership be the answer to the party’s problems?

Young student, Zoya Khan, may be the answer to the party instability. Educated, passionate and a Labour supporter, Khan’s goals to be Prime Minister of the UK may not be as far-reaching as it seems. With New Labour in jeapordy, Khan’s new stance and reforms for the party could revitalize the much needed solidity and popularity of the party.  

I sat down with her to discuss current political issues and how her ideologies could mould the role of PM, let alone the Labour party.

Q: Your ultimate goal is to become PM: what will make you a better, more efficient PM than any of the leaders we’ve had so far?

A: One thing that I would do differently is not be power hungry, carry my party as one and deliver on my manifesto points. When it comes to politics it’s sad to think that only a small number of people can imagine a Prime Minister who doesn’t want power and delivers on their promises. I want to change that and be a prime minister whose motive is to better the country and not gain power by delivering on the promises said prior to the election.

Q: Why do you want to be affiliated with the Labour party?

A: I would be affiliated with the Labour party because I believe in a country from which everyone benefits from not just one the rich benefit from. I feel the Conservative party is too dependent and concerned with the rich and hence cannot break away from serving them and only occasionally helping the middle and working classes.

Q: What is your stance on the Labour party at the moment?

A: At the moment the Labour Party is a mess. This month there was another Cabinet re-shuffle making it the fourth re-shuffle since Jeremy Corbyn became leader of the Labour party. This is not to say I personally don’t support Corbyn. He is a leader representing old labour which is why I believe there is so much discomfort amongst MPs when it comes to accepting him. When Blair became party leader a lot of what labour stood for changed. Whilst that accumulated a lot of support for the middle class it seemed that the working class had been forgotten. I think in order for there to be a united strong Labour we need to find a middle ground between old and new Labour which benefits all.

Q: Would your political views correlate most with Old or New Labour?

A: My views would correlate more with old labour as I feel that new labour is too similar to the Conservatives, who seem like they are only concerned with the rich. However, if I were labour leader I would find a middle ground between old and new Labour so that the party remains united.

Q: What key points would you place in your manifesto?

A: I couldn’t tell you what key points I would put in my manifesto because that would depend on the situation and climate of Britain at the time. If there were to be a 2017 election in Britain and I were the Labour leader I would include some key points such as: pledging to secure worker rights in the UK, pledging to reduce hate crime in the UK and securing a good Brexit deal.

Q: What’s your opinion on Brexit? Would you reverse it, or flow forward with the will of the people?

A: If I could have voted in the EU referendum, I would have voted to stay. I give no credit to the remain campaign for this, they were not as vocal or persuasive as the leave campaigners. I had to do my own research in order to come to that decision, however not everyone was just as proactive as me and so relied on the MPs to give them the information they needed. Now the decision has been made regardless if the votes were based on false information or not. I believe to reverse this decision would be undemocratic, it is simply too late. I think the best route now is to create the best possible version of Brexit to benefit the majority of British people. We must learn from our mistakes and move forward.

Q: How would you carry out Brexit?

A: I would not be carrying out the process of Brexit in the same way Theresa May and her government have been doing. It is not a wise decision to carry out such a great task so quickly; hastiness is bound to result in mistakes. I would be taking each step cautiously and would consult parliament on each big decision. I would also ensure that I protect workers right and secure Britain’s economy before leaving. That said this is easier said than done and so I do admire Theresa Mays efforts in conducting Brexit.

Q: Being a woman and part of a minority group in Britain, do you think it would be harder for you to achieve the road to MP, let alone PM?

A: Yes, I am female and Muslim so it’s going to be hard. I have doubted from time to time if I could even become an MP, not because I am not capable but because of the systematic racism that exists. I am currently doing an EPQ on how the issue of racism prevents people of ethnic minorities from becoming MPs. I have come to the conclusion that on a whole racism creates many barriers for people of ethnic minorities to become MPs but this does not mean it is impossible. I am determined to reach the position I want and I know it isn’t easy but I also know it isn’t possible. I already have multiple career paths planned which will hopefully result in me successfully becoming an MP or Prime Minister.

Q: Britain needs its military defense; how would you ensure Britain’s safety without compromising that of the world’s?

A: How military around the world has evolved is scary. Nuclear war is something which people can only hope doesn’t happen. I strongly believe we can have a good defence without stocking nuclear weapons. I of course am aware that having no nuclear weapons would leave Britain vulnerable to some extent, but that is only because the rest of the world also possesses these weapons of mass destruction. I would aim to negotiate a reduction of nuclear weapons globally which will create a safer world and also a stronger Britain.

Q: If necessary, would you take Britain to war?

A: I am strongly against war, but if Britain were to be in a good financial position and needed to protect an ally or innocent people of another country or needed to defend herself I would take Britain to war (after consulting parliament).

Q: Would you aim to create a codified constitution for Britain?

A: I wouldn’t aim to create a codified constitution for Britain simply because it would take too long to make a law or change an existing law. This could be a bad or a good thing, but I think what I aim to do would be good for the country and if the people agree then I would want to make that change as quickly as possible.

Q: How would you aid the situation in the Middle East?

A: I would make sure to give as much aid as possible without straining Britain. I wouldn’t want to give more than we have, as it would put us in a difficult situation.

Q: How would you battle Trump and his views?

A: Trump certainly has some very controversial views. I don’t agree with any of what he is saying, but I believe openly going against his views are wrong. We need a trade deal with the USA which I feel many people are forgetting. Despite Trump going against many of our British values we cannot ignore he is the president of the United States, and we need to maintain a good relationship with them to keep our country strong.

Q: What is your opinion on devolved assemblies? Would you provide them with more power? If required, would you remove their power, similar to the suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2002?

A: I think devolved assemblies are very good it keeps the UK organised and united. It’s important to share power and not keep it to yourself. One person can’t control everything successfully.

Q: Finally, are you wholeheartedly willing to be place on the highly scrutinized frontline of the nation?

A: I am prepared to be criticised for my actions, it’s part of the job. The best leader is one who always does right by the people and so would not fear being under the public eye as they have not done anything wrong. Even if I were to make a mistake I would be willing to be criticised for it and learn from those mistakes and make amendments.

It is evident Khan’s optimistic and logical viewpoints would certainly make a difference to the political climate of Britain in the future, possibly making it a stronger country than it is today. Her fresh-faced views could help salvage the UK, allowing it to gain a better global reputation.

Will she have your vote?

By Nafisa Ehsan, Woodford County High School