Paul MacDonnell is the Reform UK Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for North East Somerset and Hanham. We spoke with Paul about his decision to stand.
“I am an anti-authoritarian Austrian. Brexit was the first step. There is much work to be done to reform the UK”
Briefly introduce yourself to our readers?
Paul MacDonnell was executive director of Global Digital Foundation—a technology-policy think tank which he co-founded—from 2016-2024. He is a specialist in public policy that affects the development and use of digital technology. He is currently researching the threat to free speech posed by government regulation, organisations’ speech-codes, and censorship by digital platforms.
Prior to founding Global Digital Foundation, Paul was head of European policy at the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF) in Brussels. Before that he spent 12 years as director of regulatory policy and EU affairs at Insurance Ireland, the industry association of the national and international Irish insurance industry. In 2015 he launched an initiative, supported by the OECD, to develop a workplace auto-enrolment pension for all Irish workers. He began his career with Hill & Knowlton’s government affairs division in London where he provided advice to a number of Fortune 500 companies. In 2001 he co-founded an economic policy forum in Dublin, Open Republic, which, as well as hosting events aimed at policy-makers and politicians on such issues as pensions, taxation and the EU, was the Irish publisher of the Economic Freedom of the World Report. Paul has extensive broadcast and print media experience and has contributed articles to The Wall Street Journal, TechCrunch, The Critic Magazine, Economic Affairs, EurActiv, EU Observer, and Europe’s World. He holds a BA in Medieval & Renaissance English Literature and Philosophy from Trinity College Dublin, an MBA from University College Dublin, and a masters degree in Classics from the University of Exeter.
What made you decide to stand for Reform UK
I agree with its platform. The Thatcher-Hayek-inspired revolution has curdled into corporatism and this needs to be opposed. Also I am an anti-authoritarian Austrian. Brexit was the first step. There is much work to be done to reform the UK.
“Jobs are very important, as are skills. We also have issues with poverty in Somerset”
You’re the Spokesman for North East Somerset and Hanham what’s made you decide to represent this area?
I live in Somerset (in the constituency of Wells next-door) and I am interested the county.
What do you see as the big concerns for the constituency and what issues do you hope to champion?
Jobs are very important, as are skills. We also have issues with poverty in Somerset and I believe that a clear lead from government where help is sharply defined and decisively offered to those who need it should be available while those who do not understand their obligations to work and improve their skills need to be encouraged to re-engage with the community as workers and citizens.
For those eager to help, how can they get involved in the campaign?
Contact me on : [email protected], see my X profile: @paulmacdonnell and find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ReformUKNESH.
