Getting to Know You: Melanie Ward

What’s your earliest memory?

It’s being on holiday in the north of Scotland with my mum, dad and brother. I particularly remember it because there was a swimming pool. Really it was a wee paddling pool, but I thought that was quite unusual in Scotland. 

My first political memory was the miners’ strike. I remember seeing it on TV and being curious, and asking my parents and grandparents what was going on and why they were doing it. I remember this particular image on the news of these men on the lift going down into the mine shaft.

What were you like at school?

When I liked the subject, I worked really hard. Things like modern studies and English, the latter was my best subject. When I didn’t like the subject so much, I was a bit cheeky. I really didn’t like computing and home economics. 

After school I went to the University of Stirling, which I absolutely loved and still do to this day. That was really where I worked out politics is how you change things like injustice. I ended up getting involved in the student union, becoming president of the union, and got involved with the Labour Party. 

It exposed me to all of these new ideas, challenged me to think about how we have a responsibility to tackle injustice and change those things that are wrong. In particular, my younger brother has complex multiple disabilities, and growing up seeing my parents battling the system and fighting for him that was very informative on how I think and on my politics. 

Who would be your dream dinner date?

It would be Hugh Jackman, to be honest. He’s a great actor and he’s great at singing. I love musicals, so we’d sing musicals together, although he would not enjoy my singing, but I would enjoy his. 

What’s the worst thing that anyone’s ever said to you?

Reflecting over the last year, in early May 2024, I was woken up with the news that ‘operations are starting in Rafah’. This was referring to an Israeli military invasion in Rafah, south of Gaza. I was a humanitarian aid worker leading an aid agency before I was elected and my organisation worked there. 

This was news we had been dreading and advocating against for months. It was awful news for Palestinian colleagues and their families, the civilian population and our international medical volunteers. It was a terrible day and I worked closely with senior colleagues to make a number of rapid and difficult decisions to try to help people be safer. The situation on the ground has only worsened since and I’m very active on this issue in parliament.  

What’s your most treasured possession?

My engagement and wedding rings from my husband. I also have some family jewellery that means a lot to me. It belonged to grandparents who are no longer here and it just means quite a lot in the family. 

I also wore my great granddad’s Second World War medals at Remembrance Sunday for the first time this year. That meant a lot to me, I know it would have meant a lot to him and my dad, who are no longer with us. 

What’s your guiltiest pleasure?

Probably eating chips and cheese and watching trash TV, something like Below Deck. My husband hates it, but I find it’s great just to switch off. 

If you could go back in time, where would you go?

My dad died of cancer a few years ago, and I recently had a meeting with one of the cancer charities and they told me about a treatment that he didn’t receive. And I wonder if he had received it, it’s not that he would have lived longer, but I wonder if his quality of life would have been better at the end. I wish I would have known about that and been able to advocate for it. 

It’s called PERT [pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy], it’s for people with pancreatic cancer and there’s a shortage of it in the NHS, which is how we ended up talking about it when I met with the cancer charity. It helps you to not lose weight and stay a bit healthier. 

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever had?

Effort in equals effort out. 

Who gave you that advice? 

David Miliband. I worked with him for a while at the International Rescue Committee. It sounds obvious, but he is also right. 

What’s the worst pain you’ve ever experienced?

Childbirth. Absolutely no question. 

What’s your top film or TV programme of all time?

Maybe something really cheesy like The West Wing, but that feels like an awful cliche. With it being around the festive period, I have a kind of Christmas tradition where we watch The Santa Clause and The Muppet Christmas Carol. 

What was your best holiday ever?

About 10 years ago I went to Cornwall with friends for a week, and I just laughed so much. It was just such a brilliant time; I was laughing so much that I ached. I just remember it feeling very carefree and happy. 

It was during the summer, so we were going cycling, we went surfing – which we were all quite competitive at, but to be honest I was terrible at – we had loads of barbecues, we were on the beach, wine tasting, it was just such a lovely, happy time with good friends. 

What was the last book you read?

I’ve been rereading Jonathan Powell’s book Talking to Terrorists. He was a conflict mediator after working for Tony Blair when they brought about the Good Friday Agreement, and he has worked to bring about resolutions in lots of different conflicts around the world. I think it is particularly apt at the moment, having worked in the Middle East, especially given events in Syria. 

He brings a massive experience on hugely important issues and I am glad he has come to work in government again. There’s a lot we can benefit from having him in there, and I think he’s going to be a key role for the UK Government in foreign affairs.