Originally published @ 10:36 am, Sat 18th Jun 2011
Having bumped into the Nottingham Post at Loxley House and at Chris Leslie's MP do, I was twice told they'd be interested in my reaction to last week's editorial by the Archbishop of Canterbury. 650 words; then a revised version of 780. To no avail cos only 520 words made it into the newspaper.
I liked the editorial in particular for the part where he powerfully describes modern politics as “attempting with shrinking success to negotiate life in the shadow of big finance”.
It's salutary for the Labour party for reasons I explain. But whilst the party is delving in detail into 21 or so policy reviews and a detailed look at organisation, it's arguable that simpler truths are being overlooked.
We need a narrative (thank you Peter Mandelson) that applies our values (as in the new clause 4, thank you Tony Blair) to the modern setting (thank you John Prescott). It should be ambitious, determined to find local jobs for local people and give people the kind of opportunity and security that big finance has undermined (hopes to start a mortgage delayed) or is undermining (we shouldn't lower our ambitions for good employment pensions cos other working people have lost out).
Our organisation needs to build on the energy a new narrative could create and create the capacity to deliver the election winning ways of old (the Reading System and Contact.Creator) as well as the new (e-campaigning). We don't need a new rule book.
Anyway, article follows.
Nottingham Post version is available at - http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Archbishop-s-words-apply-political-parties/story-12794532-detail/story.html
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The Archbishop of Canterbury spoke out last week on the state of British politics
His words were widely considered to be an attack on the Conservative-Liberal Democrat government.
And while he undoubtedly aimed some strong comments in the government’s direction, I think his message was intended for all politicians.
Dr Rowan Williams is a spiritual leader of millions of people who thinks he is right he contribute to public debate. However challenging we might find that, he is always worth listening too and his thoughts worth reflecting upon.
The Archbishop of Canterbury has a particularly sharp mind. I saw this for myself as long ago as 2005 when the Anglican Church held a major international conference in Nottingham.
With the help of Rev. John Pennington, I wrote a welcoming speech which celebrated the history of Christianity in Nottingham. It is a rich history which includes, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, born in Aslockton; William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army; and the venerable Mary Potter, founder of a nursing order of nuns.
Nottingham, we said, is the home of the most famous man of the cloth! There was silence while some of the most brilliant theological minds in the world tried to think who this person could be.
The answer, of course, is Notts’ own, Friar Tuck. The line drew laughs while we told of the millions of references to him on the world wide web, but in a throw-away remark, we acknowledged, there was not one explanation of his theology.
The Archbishop of Canterbury spoke next. I can tell you the theology of Friar Tuck, he said. "Christian Socialist." Friar Tuck carried Robin Hood halfway across a river and then dropped him into the water. Hard, he suggested, to think of a more dramatic example of the reversal of powers. Unprompted, the Archbishop had answered the throwaway question and we realised just how good he really is.
So what has he got to say about politics?
The Archbishop said what is happening in the Middle East and North Africa should prompt some basic thinking about democracy. ... “Political debate in the UK at the moment feels pretty stuck.” ... ‘Big Society’ is suspected to be opportunistic. ... No-one voted for the current government’s proposals and there hasn’t been sufficient debate at the elections. ... “What services must have cast-iron guarantees of nationwide standards, parity and continuity? ... What is too important to be left to even the most resourceful localism?”
He labels modern politics as “managerial”; an unfortunate choice of word because it does not match his analysis. And we need good managers and good management, in all sectors.
Clarity and communication of vision, good planning, tracking outcomes, getting the capacity and capability in place with the right culture to get things done, all for legitimate aims is important.
It is also vital to have a customer focus, learn from others, and work smarter rather than harder. Good management is essential to progress, and should not be described or treated as a political philosophy.
He powerfully describes modern politics as “attempting with shrinking success to negotiate life in the shadow of big finance”.
The questions I heard as a parliamentary candidate in South Derbyshire in 2010 back that up. Why were bankers getting huge bonuses when they’d been bailed out with our money? Why couldn’t small businesses get the loans they needed to meet orders? Why can’t local people do the local jobs?
However much the public might have bought into free-markets and privatisation in the eighties, they now expect more than big finance is enabling. Why has the property-owning democracy resulted in people having to wait years before they can start a mortgage? Why has the investment in the regions been replaced by corporation tax breaks that so favour the City of London?
The reaction to the Archbishop’s editorial has focussed on the Government, when he, like a number of commentators, wonders what Labour’s big idea is going to be. A bit unfair since after defeat, Labour should “pause, listen and reflect”. It may well be four years to the next General Election and a lot can and will change. (We can certainly expect more government u-turns!)
The Labour party can meet the challenge. Examples of Labour successfully making an appeal by applying its values to meet public concerns include - for Britain with New Labour in 1997; for our city with “Respect for Nottingham” in 2003; and even for Wollaton East by picking up on planning concerns this year.
The Archbishop is telling all political parties something very powerful by saying it’s time to come out of the shadow of big finance. The Labour Party, in fashioning a new appeal, needs to pay heed.
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