The following is my response to Richard Barnbrook's comments in last week's Ilford Recorder about St John's Seven Kings which was sent to Chris Carter, the editor of the Ilford Recorder, but has not been published:
In his comments about St John’s Seven Kings in last week's Recorder, Richard Barnbrook was up to his usual tricks of scaremongering and scapegoating. The reality is very different from his insinuations. St John’s has been a multi-racial congregation for many years and my predecessor Gordon Tarry, who was here for 13 years, has also spoken publically in opposition to the policies and views of far-right organisations such as the BNP. We remain a vibrant, welcoming parish that by our very existence demonstrates the prejudice inherent in the policies of the BNP. The choice facing our communities is stark; to welcome and enjoy the diversity that is, albeit imperfectly, represented by the worshipping community at St John’s or to choose the hatred of others that characterises the policies of the far-right and the scaremongering of Richard Barnbrook.
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Gospel workshop - Shackles.
Showing posts with label mayoral election. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mayoral election. Show all posts
Thursday, 8 May 2008
Sunday, 4 May 2008
HOPE not Hate
Nick Lowles' assessment (on the HOPE not Hate site) of the national and London results makes for an interesting read. In relation to London he says this:
"So the BNP has one person on the London Assembly.
If someone had offered us this two days ago, coupled with a net gain of just ten councillors across the country, we would have jumped at it. The media's one-sided obsession with immigration and migration and in particular the BBC's and Channel Four's fascination with the anniversary of Enoch Powell, together with the obvious collapse in support for Labour, meant we entered polling day fearing the worst. Even the BNP was predicting 40 new councillors and three on the London Assembly.
That they didn't achieve this was down to the hard work of literally thousands of activists across London and the rest of the country. We have never had so many people involved in the anti-BNP campaign before. Against the odds, both political and climatic, decent people took to the streets and campaigned for HOPE not hate.
We suffered a few defeats but overall we held back the BNP, and in many areas we actually reduced their vote.
Even in London, their biggest prize, we succeeded. In 2004 the BNP polled 4.8%, just missing out on a seat by 0.2%. In the same election UKIP polled over 8%. Since 2004 the BNP has grown significantly in outer East London and generally become a household brand. With the collapse of UKIP we really believed that the BNP were on course for two, if not three, seats.
In the end they just got one. They polled 5.4%, hardly increasing their share of the vote. Obviously, the BNP getting anyone elected is bad but we can all be proud that we helped keep them to just that. Indeed, for much of the day we actually thought there was a chance that we were going to stop them altogether."
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Mary Mary - Can't Give Up Now.
"So the BNP has one person on the London Assembly.
If someone had offered us this two days ago, coupled with a net gain of just ten councillors across the country, we would have jumped at it. The media's one-sided obsession with immigration and migration and in particular the BBC's and Channel Four's fascination with the anniversary of Enoch Powell, together with the obvious collapse in support for Labour, meant we entered polling day fearing the worst. Even the BNP was predicting 40 new councillors and three on the London Assembly.
That they didn't achieve this was down to the hard work of literally thousands of activists across London and the rest of the country. We have never had so many people involved in the anti-BNP campaign before. Against the odds, both political and climatic, decent people took to the streets and campaigned for HOPE not hate.
We suffered a few defeats but overall we held back the BNP, and in many areas we actually reduced their vote.
Even in London, their biggest prize, we succeeded. In 2004 the BNP polled 4.8%, just missing out on a seat by 0.2%. In the same election UKIP polled over 8%. Since 2004 the BNP has grown significantly in outer East London and generally become a household brand. With the collapse of UKIP we really believed that the BNP were on course for two, if not three, seats.
In the end they just got one. They polled 5.4%, hardly increasing their share of the vote. Obviously, the BNP getting anyone elected is bad but we can all be proud that we helped keep them to just that. Indeed, for much of the day we actually thought there was a chance that we were going to stop them altogether."
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Mary Mary - Can't Give Up Now.
Friday, 2 May 2008
Lancaster Unity link
Good to see that turn-out in the London Mayoral election has been high. Yesterday's Ilford Recorder reported my speech to the Redbridge & Epping Forest TOGETHER rally which led to some interesting information and comment on the Lancaster Unity blog, which can be found here.
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Mavis Staples - 99 & 1/2.
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Mavis Staples - 99 & 1/2.
Friday, 25 April 2008
Bishop says "Vote for ONE human race on 1st May"
The following is a statement which the Bishop of Barking is issuing for use in his Episcopal Area (and beyond) requesting that it be read out in churches this Sunday. Please feel free to pass it to ecumenical colleagues.
Bishop says "Vote for ONE human race on 1st May"
The Bishop of Barking is urging all church members and people of goodwill to vote on 1st May in the London and local authority elections. The Right Reverend David Hawkins says "It is a Christian duty to vote, not least in these elections where as little as 5% for the British National Party could give the BNP a seat on the London Assembly. Whoever else we vote for we must stop racist politics making gains in London and elsewhere."
The BNP has 47 local councillors across the country, including 12 in Barking and Dagenham and 6 in Epping Forest District. The Bishop has been working with churches and others across London (and Essex) to respond to the BNP. A joint paper between the Bishop and the Churches Racial Justice Network articulates a strong and informed response to racist politics, "based on the Christian belief that all people are created as ONE race, the human race."
Clergy across London have joined the Bishop in urging Londoners not to vote BNP in the coming elections. Revd Stephen Sichel is Vicar of St Matthew’s Brixton. He voted for a motion on racist political parties in the Diocese of Southwark’s Synod which mandated all churches "to ensure respect for all citizens is part of the contribution made by churches to local dialogue".
The BNP constitution states that it "stands for the preservation of the national and ethnic character of the British people and is wholly opposed to any form of racial integration".
Parish priests in Bethnal Green, Walthamstow, Ilford, Hackney, Islington and elsewhere have also supported the Bishop’s call for people to vote for ONE human race. Fr Alan Green Vicar of St John’s Bethnal Green said “I rejoice in the rich cultural diversity of our community. I hope people of faith will vote for those who are committed to London remaining a city where many cultures work together for the common good.”
Other church leaders across the UK have also been urging the faithful to vote for parties which are not racist. In Birmingham, church and other faith leaders are on record for having said "voting for or supporting a political party that offers racist policies is like spitting in the face of God".
“Each vote for the BNP," says the Bishop of Barking, "will put into reverse the patient, strategic work of healthy, race relations and social integration that is developing in our London Boroughs, Essex and else where in the country. We are members of one human race. We must vote for it the ballot box on 1st May.
END
For enquiries about the Bishop's Response Group to the BNP"contact: Fr Steven Saxby – 020 8520 3854; stevensaxby@btinternet.com.
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Love Music Hate Racism - concert visuals.
Bishop says "Vote for ONE human race on 1st May"
The Bishop of Barking is urging all church members and people of goodwill to vote on 1st May in the London and local authority elections. The Right Reverend David Hawkins says "It is a Christian duty to vote, not least in these elections where as little as 5% for the British National Party could give the BNP a seat on the London Assembly. Whoever else we vote for we must stop racist politics making gains in London and elsewhere."
The BNP has 47 local councillors across the country, including 12 in Barking and Dagenham and 6 in Epping Forest District. The Bishop has been working with churches and others across London (and Essex) to respond to the BNP. A joint paper between the Bishop and the Churches Racial Justice Network articulates a strong and informed response to racist politics, "based on the Christian belief that all people are created as ONE race, the human race."
Clergy across London have joined the Bishop in urging Londoners not to vote BNP in the coming elections. Revd Stephen Sichel is Vicar of St Matthew’s Brixton. He voted for a motion on racist political parties in the Diocese of Southwark’s Synod which mandated all churches "to ensure respect for all citizens is part of the contribution made by churches to local dialogue".
The BNP constitution states that it "stands for the preservation of the national and ethnic character of the British people and is wholly opposed to any form of racial integration".
Parish priests in Bethnal Green, Walthamstow, Ilford, Hackney, Islington and elsewhere have also supported the Bishop’s call for people to vote for ONE human race. Fr Alan Green Vicar of St John’s Bethnal Green said “I rejoice in the rich cultural diversity of our community. I hope people of faith will vote for those who are committed to London remaining a city where many cultures work together for the common good.”
Other church leaders across the UK have also been urging the faithful to vote for parties which are not racist. In Birmingham, church and other faith leaders are on record for having said "voting for or supporting a political party that offers racist policies is like spitting in the face of God".
“Each vote for the BNP," says the Bishop of Barking, "will put into reverse the patient, strategic work of healthy, race relations and social integration that is developing in our London Boroughs, Essex and else where in the country. We are members of one human race. We must vote for it the ballot box on 1st May.
END
For enquiries about the Bishop's Response Group to the BNP"contact: Fr Steven Saxby – 020 8520 3854; stevensaxby@btinternet.com.
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Love Music Hate Racism - concert visuals.
Thursday, 17 April 2008
Hope not Hate
Most Churches shy away from instructing people on how to vote but the Church of England in the Barking Episcopal Area has recently been working with the racial justice team of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland and the Methodist Church to produce guidance for our congregations on exploring a Christian response to far-right political parties including the BNP. At tonight's Redbridge & Epping Forest TOGETHER rally, I shared some of the key messages from that guidance:
"Most churches are agreed that the racist policies and fascist philosophy of the British National Party are incompatible with Christian faith. In addition to being a racist party, the BNP belong to a fascist political tradition which has sought to do away with democracy and personal / collective freedom, both of which must be at the heart of any political system compatible with Christianity.
Many denominations and Christian leaders have expressed their concern about and their opposition to far-right political parties:
The response of Churches to the BNP is based on the Christian belief that all people are created as one race, the human race. The Christian view is that all people are made in the image of God and this leads us to a vision of a just community where people of all backgrounds live together in equality. The BNP, and organisations such as The Christian Council of Great Britain, clearly reject that vision and so, as Christian churches, we oppose the racist policies and fascist philosophy of the BNP stating clearly that they are incompatible with Christian faith and calling on all Church members to use their vote for democracy and against the BNP. "
The key message from the rally was the importance of turnout in the election. There is a real risk of the BNP gains Assembly seats but doing so will be harder the higher the turnout in the election. It is vital that as many people as possible exercise their democratic right and vote against the BNP.
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Curtis Mayfield - We Gotta Have Peace.
"Most churches are agreed that the racist policies and fascist philosophy of the British National Party are incompatible with Christian faith. In addition to being a racist party, the BNP belong to a fascist political tradition which has sought to do away with democracy and personal / collective freedom, both of which must be at the heart of any political system compatible with Christianity.
Many denominations and Christian leaders have expressed their concern about and their opposition to far-right political parties:
- The Church of England “believes that voting for and/or supporting a political party that offers racist policies is incompatible with Christian discipleship.”
- “The Methodist Church expects members of the Methodist Church to practice and promote racial justice and inclusion, and reject any political parties that attempt to stir up racial hatred and fear of asylum seekers.”
- The United Reformed Church affirms “that membership of or support for organizations such as the BNP is incompatible with Christian discipleship.”
- The Baptist Union of Great Britain “encourages full voting participation in local, national and European elections, but urges people not to vote for candidates who promote, give assent to, or are associated with racist policies.”
- The Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales has said that “All political parties have a responsibility to be clear and unequivocal in their refusal to collude with racism.”
- The African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance states that “The BNP may present its election message as ‘Christian’, but as it is based on the divisive and racist agenda inherent to that party, it is clearly out of step with the message of freedom and belonging that is central to the Christian faith.”
The response of Churches to the BNP is based on the Christian belief that all people are created as one race, the human race. The Christian view is that all people are made in the image of God and this leads us to a vision of a just community where people of all backgrounds live together in equality. The BNP, and organisations such as The Christian Council of Great Britain, clearly reject that vision and so, as Christian churches, we oppose the racist policies and fascist philosophy of the BNP stating clearly that they are incompatible with Christian faith and calling on all Church members to use their vote for democracy and against the BNP. "
The key message from the rally was the importance of turnout in the election. There is a real risk of the BNP gains Assembly seats but doing so will be harder the higher the turnout in the election. It is vital that as many people as possible exercise their democratic right and vote against the BNP.
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Curtis Mayfield - We Gotta Have Peace.
Monday, 14 April 2008
Church hustings for London Mayor
More can be found on the Church hustings for London Mayor at Ekklesia. Of the six minority candidates standing for election as London mayor, only the one standing on an explicitly Christian ticket has been invited to attend the main hustings event for churches in central London.
I've written the following for Pilgrimage, the St John's magazine, on approaches to voting:
On 1st May Londoners will elect a new Mayor and London Assembly. There are 10 Mayoral candidates, 153 Assembly Member candidates and 20 different political parties taking part in the contest. So how should you vote as a Christian?
The first thing to say is that we should all vote. A lot of cynicism exists about politics in the UK but we have the fundamental human right of a democratic vote, something that people in other parts of the world risk their lives to gain or use, and we should not waste the opportunity we have to contribute to the democratic process.
After all, we have something to contribute and share because Christianity engages with and has something to say on all the major issues facing our society and world - environmental degradation; international poverty; health and the NHS; education and schools; defence, foreign affairs and terrorism; crime, law and order; race, asylum and immigration; Europe and the EU; the economy; pensions; and transport.
However, the Bible and Church tradition does not provide a set of political policies that we can simply adopt, instead Biblical and Church approaches to issues over the centuries can help us formulate a series of principles against which we might evaluate party manifestos and promises. We need to think and pray through the issues, ask questions that matter to us, and reflect on our own priorities and what we understand to be the priorities emerging from the Bible and Church tradition, both for ourselves and for the society in which we live.
We won’t all agree; which is why Christians can be found in all the main political parties. It is also an issue with parties that aim to present a Christian voice – in this election Christian Choice are taking this approach and encouraging Churches and their members to support them. This approach suggests that there is agreement on key issues and policies on those issues among Christians and agreement that we have to tackle those issues in our own way and not in partnership with others (as happens when Christians are members of other parties). But that agreement does not exist. However, leaflets about Christian Choice are available in the Church lounge so you can make up your own mind.
I cannot tell you how to vote but I do encourage to vote and try to think about the issues and the parties in terms of your understanding of the Bible and Church tradition before you do vote.
One thing that does seem clear to me however is that we should oppose prejudice and any party, such as the BNP, which seeks to exploit or stir up prejudice among voters and within our communities. That is why I have been happy to accept an invitation to speak at the Redbridge & Epping TOGETHER rally at the Town Hall which encourages people to vote in favour of democracy and against the BNP.
Ultimately, voting is not easy, as it demands a difficult prioritisation of issues, or appealing, when the options available may fail to inspire allegiance. But it remains an important privilege and responsibility for those who live in a democracy, and if Christians can engage with the issues seriously, vote wisely and provide an antidote to consumer politics, democracy will be healthier for it.
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The Charlatans - Blank Heart, Blank Mind.
I've written the following for Pilgrimage, the St John's magazine, on approaches to voting:
On 1st May Londoners will elect a new Mayor and London Assembly. There are 10 Mayoral candidates, 153 Assembly Member candidates and 20 different political parties taking part in the contest. So how should you vote as a Christian?
The first thing to say is that we should all vote. A lot of cynicism exists about politics in the UK but we have the fundamental human right of a democratic vote, something that people in other parts of the world risk their lives to gain or use, and we should not waste the opportunity we have to contribute to the democratic process.
After all, we have something to contribute and share because Christianity engages with and has something to say on all the major issues facing our society and world - environmental degradation; international poverty; health and the NHS; education and schools; defence, foreign affairs and terrorism; crime, law and order; race, asylum and immigration; Europe and the EU; the economy; pensions; and transport.
However, the Bible and Church tradition does not provide a set of political policies that we can simply adopt, instead Biblical and Church approaches to issues over the centuries can help us formulate a series of principles against which we might evaluate party manifestos and promises. We need to think and pray through the issues, ask questions that matter to us, and reflect on our own priorities and what we understand to be the priorities emerging from the Bible and Church tradition, both for ourselves and for the society in which we live.
We won’t all agree; which is why Christians can be found in all the main political parties. It is also an issue with parties that aim to present a Christian voice – in this election Christian Choice are taking this approach and encouraging Churches and their members to support them. This approach suggests that there is agreement on key issues and policies on those issues among Christians and agreement that we have to tackle those issues in our own way and not in partnership with others (as happens when Christians are members of other parties). But that agreement does not exist. However, leaflets about Christian Choice are available in the Church lounge so you can make up your own mind.
I cannot tell you how to vote but I do encourage to vote and try to think about the issues and the parties in terms of your understanding of the Bible and Church tradition before you do vote.
One thing that does seem clear to me however is that we should oppose prejudice and any party, such as the BNP, which seeks to exploit or stir up prejudice among voters and within our communities. That is why I have been happy to accept an invitation to speak at the Redbridge & Epping TOGETHER rally at the Town Hall which encourages people to vote in favour of democracy and against the BNP.
Ultimately, voting is not easy, as it demands a difficult prioritisation of issues, or appealing, when the options available may fail to inspire allegiance. But it remains an important privilege and responsibility for those who live in a democracy, and if Christians can engage with the issues seriously, vote wisely and provide an antidote to consumer politics, democracy will be healthier for it.
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The Charlatans - Blank Heart, Blank Mind.
Sunday, 13 April 2008
Mayoral Election Hustings 23 April, 2008
The Evangelical Alliance and Premier Radio (who will be recording the proceedings), with support from the London Churches Group, have organised a Mayoral Election Hustings at St Martin-in-the-Fields from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday 23 April 2008 (St George’s Day).
The organisers plan to use the occasion to present the church in London and how churches are active in their communities, as well as giving church members the opportunity to engage with the Mayoral candidates. It will help a lot St Martin’s can be filled for this Hustings!
The event will start promptly at 6 p.m. at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square , on Wednesday 23 April. Doors will open at 5 p.m. and attenders will be given a card and encouraged to contribute a question to the candidates. Cards with questions will then be collected and sorted to ensure a spread of topics and a manageable number. These questions will probably be asked by the Chair, though space may be left towards the end of the Hustings for spontaneous questions from the floor.
In general, they expect that each of the candidates (Labour, Liberal Democrat, Conservative, Green and Christian Party) will be given an opportunity to respond succintly to each question. At the beginning of the Hustings each candidate will be invited to make an opening statement on what they think makes a good city. Candidates have been yold that this was a key question for the Commission on Urban Life and Faith in its report in May 2006 Faithful Cities, which covers many of the issues which concern the churches in London.
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Shawn McDonald - Gravity.
The organisers plan to use the occasion to present the church in London and how churches are active in their communities, as well as giving church members the opportunity to engage with the Mayoral candidates. It will help a lot St Martin’s can be filled for this Hustings!
The event will start promptly at 6 p.m. at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square , on Wednesday 23 April. Doors will open at 5 p.m. and attenders will be given a card and encouraged to contribute a question to the candidates. Cards with questions will then be collected and sorted to ensure a spread of topics and a manageable number. These questions will probably be asked by the Chair, though space may be left towards the end of the Hustings for spontaneous questions from the floor.
In general, they expect that each of the candidates (Labour, Liberal Democrat, Conservative, Green and Christian Party) will be given an opportunity to respond succintly to each question. At the beginning of the Hustings each candidate will be invited to make an opening statement on what they think makes a good city. Candidates have been yold that this was a key question for the Commission on Urban Life and Faith in its report in May 2006 Faithful Cities, which covers many of the issues which concern the churches in London.
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Shawn McDonald - Gravity.
Friday, 4 April 2008
BNP targetting May elections
Just received the following from Unite:
The BNP is targeting the May elections. The BNP could get elected to the London Assembly as they require only 5% of the vote. In the previous London elections the BNP polled 4.9%.
Once again the BNP were exposed this week. Nick Eriksen, the second candidate on the BNP list, has withdrawn his candidacy after he was exposed for writing sexist, racist and offensive comments on a blog in which he uses the name "Sir John Bull". Eriksen was also a former Conservative councillor in Southwark. Here are some quotes from this blog:
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The Style Council - Walls Come Tumbling Down.
The BNP is targeting the May elections. The BNP could get elected to the London Assembly as they require only 5% of the vote. In the previous London elections the BNP polled 4.9%.
Once again the BNP were exposed this week. Nick Eriksen, the second candidate on the BNP list, has withdrawn his candidacy after he was exposed for writing sexist, racist and offensive comments on a blog in which he uses the name "Sir John Bull". Eriksen was also a former Conservative councillor in Southwark. Here are some quotes from this blog:
- In one post ('RAPE: LIES, LIES, LIES', 24th August 2005), Eriksen says: "I've never really understood why so many men have allowed themselves to be brainwashed by the feminazi myth machine into believing that rape is such a serious crime." http://sirjohnbull.blogspot.com/2005/08/rape-lies-lies-lies.html.
- "..the South Africans will never stage a proper World Cup, how could they? It's a black country."http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2006/dec/21/thefarright.politics.
- "What a ridiculous fuss was made about the so-called 'monkey noises' directed against the English football team's black players by Spanish supporters recently." (Right Now! December 2004-January 2005).
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The Style Council - Walls Come Tumbling Down.
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