Beki Adam

Beki Adam (born 25 June 1966) is an English journalist, broadcaster, researcher, farmer, former nun and political activist. She was a parliamentary candidate for Mid Sussex in the 2015 general election.

Beki Adam
Adam in 2015, outside the Houses of Parliament.
Personal details
Born (1966-06-25) 25 June 1966
Cuckfield, West Sussex, England
Political partyIndependent
Websitehttp://www.voteadam.info/

Journalism

Television

Adam worked as a journalist for print, before later moving into television and presented the BBC television show Top Gear during the 1980s.[1] Speaking of her time presenting the programme, "Back then there were only four television channels and at our height we were getting seven million viewers. I just remember looking down the camera lens and thinking I've got this huge audience and I'm talking about a car. It felt like such a waste.".[2]

Print

Adam has published several books related to motoring, including Star Cars, Cobra and Ferrari V8.[3]

Research

Cannabis

Adams spent time investigating the prohibition of cannabis during the 1990s, resulting in her opening a cannabis cafe in Brighton in 1993. The cafe was shut down by police after 57 minutes.[4]

Fracking

Adam is an opponent of hydraulic fracturing, claiming that the UK has "other alternatives for UK energy supply and security, and, quite clearly, it is time to turn our undivided attention to them.".[5] Her independent research and opposition of fracking led her to become a contributor of evidence during the Infrastructure Bill committee debates in 2015.[6] She campaigned against the Infrastructure Bill in 2015 and suggested that it was the "arguably the most irresponsible piece of legislation ever to be laid before a British Parliament".[7]

Electric cars

Adam advocates electric car use: "The more people buy electric cars, the more the price will come down. I think today's politics are outdated and so is our view on technology. We need a 21st century vision."[8]

Spiritual life

After working as a journalist Adam travelled to Nepal and upon her return, she visited Samye Ling in Scotland and was ordained as a Buddhist nun.[9] During her seventeen years of ordination, she spent three years in the United States in silent retreat and taught meditation in Mid Sussex.[10] She was featured in a short documentary about her life as a nun titled 'Unusual Choices' filmed in 2009.[11]

Politics

Adam was a candidate in the 2015 British general election for the Mid Sussex constituency. As an independent candidate, she stood 'beyond party politics' without 'vested interests' for the benefit of a 'fair + safe society'.[12] She wished to offer "a viable option for people who have lost faith in the main political parties." were she elected.[13] She has never voted in an election.[14] She cites her previous experience in journalism and as a Buddhist nun as instrumental in leading her into a political career path, campaigning for a "safe and secure" society.[15] During campaigning, Adams spoke of her desire to launch a local bank providing small loans to local traders and small businesses,[16] with her aim in office to bring economic controls back to "support and protect people and place".[17]

Publications
  • Star Cars (Osprey Publishing, Oxford, 1987) ISBN 085045803X
  • Cobra (Osprey Publishing, Oxford, 1989) ISBN 0850458099
  • Ferrari V8 (Osprey Publishing, Oxford, 1990) ISBN 0850458811

References
  1. Fletcher, Harry. "Former Top Gear presenter Beki Adam to stand as MP". Digital Spy.
  2. "Top Gear presenter's bid to become East Grinstead's next MP". East Grinstead Courier. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  3. "Beki Adam (author page)". OpenLibrary. OpenLibrary.org. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  4. Renton, Alex (2 October 1993). "Police snuff out first cannabis joint". The Independent. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  5. Gross, Oli. "Fracking legislation divides opinion". Mid Sussex Times. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  6. "Infrastructure Bill: written evidence submitted by Miss E R Adam". Parliament.uk. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  7. "Why We Should Bin The Fracking Infrastructure Bill". Talk Fracking. 19 December 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  8. Courier, East Grinstead (28 March 2015). "Ex-Top Gear presenter brings dream car to East Grinstead". East Grinstead Courier. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  9. Brown, Mick (2010). The Dance of 17 Lives: The Incredible True Story of Tibet's 17th Karmapa. Bloomsbury Publishing PLC. ISBN 978-0747568711. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  10. "Beki to stand against Sir Nicholas for Mid Sussex seat". East Grinstead Online. 22 January 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  11. "Unusual Choices: Ani Chudrun (video)". Vimeo. Planetary Collective. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  12. Adam, Beki. "Homepage". Vote Adam. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  13. "Mid Sussex independent candidate to run in election". Mid Sussex Times. 7 February 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  14. Alex, Williams (21 January 2015). "Ex-Top Gear presenter's bid to be Mid Sussex MP". Bright.fm. Archived from the original on 25 June 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  15. "Top Gear presenter's bid to become East Grinstead's next MP". East Grinstead Courier. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  16. "Mid Sussex independent candidate to run in election". Mid Sussex Times. 7 February 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  17. "Packed house for Election Hustings at the Jubilee Centre". East Grinstead Online. 16 April 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
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