Meet Jovan

I am a political campaigner, commentator, consultant, writer, educator, and public speaker.

My journey into politics wasn’t about chasing a career—it was about standing up to injustice and trying to make the world a fairer place. That mission led me to stand as the Labour candidate for Clacton in the 2024 UK General Election, where I ran against Nigel Farage MP.

I grew up just outside Birmingham and came of age around the time the Conservatives took power in 2010. Austerity hit my community hard. I saw SureStart centres close, homelessness rise, our high street decline, and EMA funding scrapped. Working-class communities like mine were easy targets for an out-of-touch elite in London. That’s what got me interested in politics.

At school I was always interested in ideas, history and literature and was fortunate to have encouraging teachers, who brought it all to life and helped contextualise the present. I was gripped by Nelson’s battles during the Napoleonic Wars, the poetry of Blake and the rise of fascism in Europe not so long ago. It shaped my world view and led me to explore broader political writings in my teenage years to the likes of Fanon, Keynes and Marx.

I joined the Labour Party in 2014 while studying for my A-Levels. A decision I had little idea would shape my personal and professional life. After completing sixth form, I briefly attended Warsash Maritime Academy but quickly realised it wasn’t the right path for me. A transformative few months working at a summer camp in New Jersey revealed my passion for people and global issues, cementing my resolve to make a difference. I saw how global systems and established consensuses, resulted in inequalities the world over. I knew I had to do something.

In 2017 I began studying at Goldsmiths’ College. Whilst at university I swam for the University of London Swimming Team, and rowed out on the Thames Tideway in Putney. During my undergraduate I was chair of the Goldsmiths’ Labour Club, and Chair of the Lewisham Deptford CLP (the youngest CLP Chairman at the time). Between nights out, playing sport, gigs and band practice, I worked for Baron Watson of Wyre of Forest (Former Deputy Leader of the Labour Party), Kerry McCarthy MP (Minister for Energy Security) and Janet Daby MP (Minister for Education). I continued my education at Selwyn College, Cambridge where I pursued postgraduate studies and rowed for the College Boat Club.

After graduation, I joined Labour HQ, working closely with Sir Keir Starmer MP, senior cabinet members, backbench MPs and now a range of SpAd and No10 Officials. During my tenure, I co-led the Bernie Grant Leadership Programme, developed strategies for target seats, managed stakeholder engagement as well as led on local campaign strategy for a series of pivotal by-elections in England.

Being selected as Labour’s candidate for Clacton was a defining moment. It gave me the opportunity to advocate for social justice, societal transformation, and stronger labour and environmental rights on a national and local platform. Premising the local as a way to transform the global. The campaign against Nigel Farage MP underscored the stark contrast in our political visions and strengthened my commitment to building a more inclusive society. As the only Black candidate under 30, and one of a few Black men standing for Parliament, I was acutely aware how necessary diversity of thought and of people is to our politics. Especially is we to positively shape the lives of our countrymen and women.

My journey—from a young boy in a Midlands town politicised by austerity to a parliamentary candidate advocating for change—has always been about challenging the status quo and envisioning a better, fairer world.

As the saying goes, 'We have more in common than that which divides us.'

Since the election, I set up ONInsights and have collaborated with organisations such as My Life My Say to promote youth engagement in democracy, the Blagrave Trust to support civic action, and most recently, the Good Law Project on their "No Room for Slavery" campaign. This initiative calls for the British Museum to establish a permanent exhibition acknowledging the history of enslavement, and the broader historical narrative that is currently missing from its displays.

Beyond campaigning and advocacy, I regularly engage in public speaking, panel moderation, strategic and inclusive insight training, media work, and effective communication strategies.

I hold an undergraduate degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from Goldsmiths, University of London, and a master’s degree from Selwyn College, University of Cambridge.

You may have seen me on Good Morning Britain, LBC, Jeremy Vine, or read my writings on Substack and in the newspapers.