by Florence Boyle

I recently attended a function at Òran Mór in Glasgow and painted on the ceiling is a version of the Glasgow motto ‘Let Glasgow flourish’. Their version is equally challenging: ‘Let us flourish by telling the truth’.

First elected in 2015, Phillips, MP for Birmingham Yardley, has established a reputation as a truth teller, a political streetfighter, unafraid to raise difficult subjects or ask uncomfortable questions.

This is a ‘how to’ manual for those who see injustice but aren’t sure what they can do or are afraid of the consequences. Practical advice and reassurance is drawn from real stories. For Phillips it’s about socialism in action. For Christians it’s a reminder that we are called to ‘take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them’

Some of the most famous scandals of recent times – Weinstein, Grenfell, institutional child sex abuse – all have their accidental heroes, who saw the injustice, called it out and persisted, sometimes at great personal cost and often unrecognised. Phillips concludes that speaking truth to power is about service to others, it’s not about vengeance, nor is it about having a rant.

There’s little equality of arms in these fights, and winning takes work. The advice is practical. Whatever your fight is treat it like a campaign. Arm yourself with information, become an expert, enlist support to minimise the chances of becoming isolated and picked off.

If you don’t feel strong enough to fight, Jess Phillips advises to start with not being a bystander because ‘if you don’t speak back to the bully, the bully always wins.

This is a ‘how to’ manual for those who see injustice but aren’t sure what they can do or are afraid of the consequences. Practical advice and reassurance is drawn from real stories. For Phillips it’s about socialism in action. For Christians it’s a reminder that we are called to ‘take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them’

Some of the most famous scandals of recent times – Weinstein, Grenfell, institutional child sex abuse – all have their accidental heroes, who saw the injustice, called it out and persisted, sometimes at great personal cost and often unrecognised. Phillips concludes that speaking truth to power is about service to others, it’s not about vengeance, nor is it about having a rant.

There’s little equality of arms in these fights, and winning takes work. The advice is practical. Whatever your fight is treat it like a campaign. Arm yourself with information, become an expert, enlist support to minimise the chances of becoming isolated and picked off.

If you don’t feel strong enough to fight, Jess Phillips advises to start with not being a bystander because ‘if you don’t speak back to the bully, the bully always wins.