Yesterday's local government elections in England witnessed a lurch to the right in British politics. The Conservatives were virtually wiped out in areas where they had previously been strong. Labour also suffered major losses, particularly in areas where until recently they had a stranglehold, areas such as the fomer mining and industrial areas of Northumberland, Durham, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. Are the results a protest vote against the policies followed by the Conservative and Labour parties, or is there a much more deep-seated and possibly enduring reaction to years of failure by the parties to understand the concerns of people?
Sadly, both the Conservatives and Labour between them have ramped-up the anti-immigration rhetoric, have attacked those forced to survive on benefits, pensioners, LGBTQ+, homeless individuals. In other words the vulnerable members of our society have become fair game for financial cuts whilst at the same time there is a failure to deal with the causes of poverty, discriminaton and marginalisation. The right in British politics has not been slow to identify whom to blame, aided and abetted by the failure of Labour and Conservatives to tackle and remedy the causes of social injustice, a failure to initiate and carry through systemic change.
So, yes, I am worried about the future direction of political decision making in this country. Will the political parties pander to the false narrative that those suffering social injustice are to blame for the economic mess the country is in?
I seek to follow the injunction of Jesus to love my neighbour There is precious little love on display from the political right. We need a sea-change in the policies of government, embracing systemic change, not seeking to outbid the right in its nastiness. Now is the time for political bravery and also for faith groups to speak out.
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