Andrew Fisher (political activist)

Andrew Fisher (born 28 December 1979) is an English political adviser and researcher, writer, and trade unionist. He was a senior policy adviser to Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn from 2015 to 2019[3][4][5] and was described as Corbyn's head of policy by some sources.[6][7]

Andrew Fisher
Fisher in 2020
Born (1979-12-28) 28 December 1979[1][2]
Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
NationalityBritish
Occupation
  • policy advisor
  • activist
  • writer
  • trade unionist
Political partyLabour

Early life

Fisher was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire and grew up in Worthing, West Sussex.[8][9] He holds a Master of Arts in Politics.[10][11]

Professional career

Fisher worked as a parliamentary researcher for six years, and was policy officer at the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) trade union. According to Labour List,[12] in 2006 he co-founded the Left Economics Advisory Panel (LEAP), a body chaired by John McDonnell.[13]

After Jeremy Corbyn became Leader of the Labour Party in September 2015, Fisher was appointed as an adviser.[12] In November 2015, he was suspended from the Labour Party, following complaints from other Labour party members, for appearing to endorse a Class War candidate in the May 2015 general election.[4][6] In a statement, Corbyn stated that he still had full confidence in him.[14][15] Fisher apologised and said that he had been misinterpreted. His suspension was lifted by the Labour National Executive Committee later in the month, and he was issued with a warning.[16]

On 21 September 2019, he announced that he was resigning before the end of the year to spend more time with his family.[17] He had a key role in the party's campaign in the December 2019 general election. [18]

Writing

Fisher has also maintained a blog at LEAP Economics.[10] He is the author of The Failed Experiment: And How to Build an Economy that Works, a book published in 2014 about the financial crisis of 2007–2008. According to one reviewer, the book "argues for the urgent need for a fundamental democratisation of the economy, and recognises this will require a re-intensification of popular struggles."[19]

Fisher wrote an online article for The Guardian in the aftermath of the 2019 general election, published on 17 December 2019.[3] He wrote another which was published on 18 January 2020, regarding the 2020 Labour Party deputy leadership election.[20]

In The i on 17 February 2020, he wrote regarding the legacy of Tony Blair and New Labour.[21]

Television

Fisher appeared on the BBC's Politics Live on 13 January 2020, with Steve Baker, Anneliese Dodds and Sarah Baxter.[22] He was also interviewed by Katie Razzall for the BBC's Newsnight on 17 January 2020, regarding the 2020 Labour Party leadership election.[23]

Personal life

Fisher is married with a son and has lived in Croydon since 2006.[1]

References
  1. Andrew Jameson, "Croydon man's book sheds light on financial crisis", Croydon Advertiser, 8 June 2014 Archived 24 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 9 November 2015
  2. Matt Zarb-Cousin (28 December 2018). "@FisherAndrew79 happy birthday chief, 39 today but you somehow still have the complexion of a university fresher". Retrieved 26 December 2020 – via Twitter.
  3. Fisher, Andrew (17 December 2019). "There is a lot to criticise. But Corbyn and McDonnell have transformed Labour | Andrew Fisher | Opinion". The Guardian.
  4. Sparrow, Andrew; Johnston, Chris (7 November 2015). "Labour suspends Corbyn political adviser Andrew Fisher". the Guardian. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  5. "Corbyn aide Andrew Fisher suspended by Labour Party". BBC News. 6 November 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  6. "Jeremy Corbyn's adviser Andrew Fisher has been suspended by the Labour Party". The Independent. 6 November 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  7. "Corbyn policy head Andrew Fisher suspended from Labour over tweets". New Statesman. 6 November 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  8. "Corbyn policy aide Andrew Fisher: 'We changed politics'". Inside Croydon. 12 June 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  9. Andrew Fisher (4 August 2017). "Tremendous result in the town where I grew up!". Retrieved 26 December 2020 – via Twitter.
  10. "About the author", The Failed Experiment, The Radical Read Project deadlink Archived 8 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 9 November 2015
  11. "People & Politics: The Failed Experiment – Conversation with Andrew Fisher". Book and Kitchen. 19 April 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  12. "Who’s been hired to work in Corbyn’s office?", Labour List, 18 September 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2015
  13. "Beyond the conference", LEAP Economics, 26 May 2008. Retrieved 10 November 2015
  14. Toby Helm and Daniel Boffey (6 November 2015). "Corbyn adviser Andrew Fisher faces new claim of disloyalty". The Guardian.
  15. "Jeremy Corbyn criticised for standing by suspended aide". BBC News. 7 November 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  16. "Labour aide Fisher warned over conduct as suspension lifted", BBC News, 27 November 2015
  17. "Andrew Fisher: Jeremy Corbyn's senior aide to quit", BBC News, 21 September 2019
  18. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jan/21/crushed-by-brexit-how-labour-lost-the-election
  19. Michael Calderbank, Review of The Failed Experiment, RedPepper.org. Retrieved 9 November 2015
  20. Fisher, Andrew (18 January 2020). "Labour's deputy leader has a crucial role. And it's time to define exactly what that is | Andrew Fisher | Opinion". The Guardian.
  21. Fisher, Andrew (17 February 2020). "Labour needs to leave Tony Blair behind - he would never get elected now". The i.
  22. Politics Live on BBC iPlayer, 13 January 2020
  23. Newsnight on BBC iPlayer, 17 January 2020
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