Syed Kamall is Professor of politics and international relations at St Mary’s University, Twickenham; Visiting Scholar at the Vinson Centre, University of Buckingham; a Member of the UK House of Lords; Shadow Minister (Health and Social Care) and co-chair of the APPG Commonwealth.Previously roles include: UK government Minister for Health; Minister for Civil Society; Academic and Research Director at the Institute of Economic Affairs, the UK’s leading classical liberal think tank; a Member of the European Parliament (MEP); leader of the Conservative MEPs; and leader of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group.He regularly meets and supports neighbourhood non-state civil society organisations tackling social exclusion and improving wellbeing.In his spare time, he enjoys travelling, reading and playing guitar and electric bass in blues and rock bands. In this episode,  Lord Kamall talks to Dr Mealey about his work and his special interest in community based solutions to poverty, his hope for the role that education can play in this endeavour, and the need for us to promote more local groups that seek to be self-reliant (SRGs).  He discusses his career journey and shares his views on the need for good character education, ethical leadership and service learning as part and parcel of what society needs right now for the common good.