Outgoing Index chief executive RUTH ANDERSON, who is making a return to full-time politics, reflects with MARK STIMPSON on the past four years
CREDIT: Chris McAndrew
RUTH ANDERSON JOINED Index on Censorship as its chief executive at one of the strangest times in recent memory.
“I started during the pandemic when authoritarian regimes used the pretext of Covid-19 as an excuse to restrict access to a free media,” she said.
Anderson was born in Edinburgh, the daughter of a Scottish trade unionist. Her mother is from east London, her family having arrived there during the 1890s, fleeing the pogroms in Russia.
Anderson took politics and international relations at the University of Birmingham.
She was elected to the UK parliament as Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent North in 2015, losing her seat in the Conservative party’s successful attack on the so-called Red Wall in the 2019 election.
In late 2022, she was granted a life peerage as Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent.
She recognises that being CEO of Index is to act as a “temporary custodian” of an organisation that has striven to protect freedom of censorship for more than 50 years.
“When the uninitiated ask about Index, I tell them that our origins could have come from one of Graham Greene’s novels - and he was an early supporter,” she said.
“Our story is one initiated at the height of the Cold War, with tales of samizdat, political dissidents, tyrants and, of course, more than the odd dose of unimaginable bravery.
“Today, Index is a proud and determined NGO, which speaks truth to power without fear or favour.”
In the four years that followed her arrival, Anderson’s in-tray was never empty.
“Putin invaded Ukraine (again) and sought to destroy a culture as well as a people. The people of Afghanistan were abandoned to the Taliban - with women who had fought so hard for their rights to freedom of expression left to vicious and dogmatic censorship. And a more aggressive Chinese Communist Party moved daily against dissent both at home and abroad - with a vivid showcase of their repression on show in Hong Kong. And this is before I mention Mexico, Belarus, North Korea, Myanmar or even Iran.”
Anderson is handing over custodianship of Index to former editor-in-chief, Jemimah Steinfeld, so it seemed like the opportune moment to interview her for our Last Word column.
MARK STIMPSON What was your first memory of realising that not everyone has freedom of expression?
RUTH ANDERSON I have a vivid memory of my mum singing a protest song about Nelson Mandela when I was a very young child. I inevitably asked who he was. This was my first exposure to the reality of political prisoners and the bravery of dissidents.
MS What took you into politics?
RA I come from a family of extraordinary women. Every week my grandmother’s friends would bring their post to her flat and she would help them reply to their letters. She was lucky to be more literate. My mum helped people at work, day-in-day-out, fighting for their rights and incomes. These amazing women instilled in me the responsibility to help those people who need it, when they need it.
Too often the status quo doesn’t work, and those with louder voices can help change the world.
MS What aspect of Index’s work has been most interesting to you?
RA Our values are more than words on a page. Our core rights need to be celebrated, cherished and protected. The right to freedom of expression is the canary in the coal mine - when regimes seek to restrict speech and undermine protest, it demonstrates their fear of their people. The bravery of those who will speak truth to power must never be underestimated, which is why I was so proud to lead Index.
MS What do you think Index’s greatest achievement was during your tenure?
Baroness Anderson is sworn in to the House of Lords
CREDIT: Parliament Live
RA The team at Index have done extraordinary work over the last four years. Our work on Slapps has been world-leading, our journalism has thrived, our magazine is beautiful and a great read. I’m really proud of what we have achieved, but the greatest achievement has been providing a platform for dissidents and re-establishing Index’s voice at the heart of the fight for global freedom of expression.
MS Do you think you will still champion freedom of expression in the House of Lords?
RA As a given!
MS If you were detained and could take one book to jail with you, what would it be?
RA This is probably the hardest question to answer. I love the written word so I’ll need to cheat! Can I have the collected works of Robert Caro? His four volume biography of Lyndon B Johnson is one hell of a read and would keep me going for months.
MS What piece of art has moved you the most?
RA The Holocaust Memorial on Miami Beach.
MS What news headline would you most like to read?
RA Hmmm... Just one? Can I have three?
“UK Labour Landslide.”
“Israel and the Palestinians sign peace agreement and agree terms for a two-state solution.”
“Putin’s forces leave Ukraine.”
MS Last thoughts as you become a government whip in the House of Lords?
RA It would be remiss of me not to thank my amazing chair, Trevor Phillips, and our brilliant board of trustees. With me, they’ve helped Index rebrand, relaunch and celebrate our 50th birthday. They’ve rebuilt the organisation into the force I believe it to be. Their commitment to Index has been unwavering and without them Index wouldn’t be here today. A final word to Index’s new CEO: Jemimah, you know how special Index is, and under your stewardship we are going to go from strength to strength.
