Emma Clayton was born and grew up in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire and went on to The University of Liverpool to study History and Politics, before joining the Pharmaceutical industry in 1997. Emma has worked in healthcare communications for over 20 years and has won an array of industry awards over the years. In her career, Emma has worked on projects in diabetes that have enabled improved skills and competencies for Diabetes Specialist Nurses, provided extensive tailored education to the diabetes community, and more recently she has founded the UK Diabetes Network which provides a bridge between the diabetes health care providers and policymakers.
Her political career started when she was elected to Haywards Heath Council in 2017 with a 66% majority. Emma’s passion and tenacity for making a difference for patients with diabetes, tackling variations in access to care, and supporting the diabetes specialist workforce, now sees her lobbying and pursuing policy changes, and tackling treatment access barriers within national and local government, through the UK Diabetes Network and her own political career.
Emma has recently been appointed as Ambassador for the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Diabetes and brings a wealth of experience in diabetes, local government and communications to the group.
1) Which place, or city or country do you most feel at home in?
I currently live in Sussex, but my home is Yorkshire which will always have my heart. Yorkshire isn’t all about flat caps and whippets, it is such a picturesque part of the country, steeped in culture and has beautiful countryside, cities and coastlines. Some of my happiest memories were family holidays in Whitby and Scarborough.
2) What are your proudest achievements?
I have many achievements that I am proud of but I can’t separate between raising my daughter single handedly whilst achieving success in my career, and that after only 3 months of entering politics in 2017, I was elected with a 66% majority.
3) What inspires you?
I am inspired by people that have a “can do” attitude and live life with passion and bravery. When you see people jump over adversity with grit and determination that lights me up. I am also inspired by teamwork and working together to achieve common goals. Silo workings are just so uninspiring.
4) What has been biggest obstacle in your career?
I think that we all have some form of negative self-talk and that little voice saying “you cant do that” and at times, I have listened to that voice and not taken opportunities when they have presented. I think we should all learn at an early age how to overcome the worry of rejection or not being enough to society. We all have something special to bring to the table.
5) Who has been the biggest influence on your career to date?
There have been quite a few people that have influenced my career, but my Dad stands out as the one person that influenced my political career. I remember him telling me at 6 years old that I would be a Prime Minister as I was always very good at holding my own with my two older brothers and always took the lead. It took me 40 years to listen though.
6) What is the best aspect about your current role?
I love the fact that I get to make a difference to people’s lives and health outcomes. I have always been the person to have the voice and represent people and through the work I do in my business and in politics, I really get to deliver positive changes. I get the chance to make things better for the next generation.
7) And the worst?
I would love more hours in the day!
8) What are your long term goals?
I really want to be part of reversing the diabetes tsunami that is upon us in the United Kingdom, and ultimately I would love to become the first ever “Minister of Diabetes”. Always think big and have a dream I say.
9) If you were Prime Minister, what one aspect would you change?
I would rebuild the whole NHS system. It takes an extremely brave person to make fundamental changes to the NHS as it is such a treasured institution that we are all so protective of, whatever changes you make will always upset someone. I see that over the years the NHS has been built with “add ons” and therefore become too complex. I would start with a blank piece of paper and rebuild it based on what we need to achieve and deliver for our country’s needs, and then work backwards.
10) If you were marooned on a desert island, which historical figure would you like to spend your time with and why.
I have been fascinated with the life of the Queen. She has been monarch for over 65 years and has been part of so many historical and political events, and yet we still don’t really know her. I would make her a nice cup of English Tea and listen whilst she regaled all her stories.
