Faith in the future

Helen Dennis catches up with three CSM members who will be standing as candidates at the general election.

Sam Burden, Labour PPC for Bromsgrove

So how did you get involved in Labour politics?
I got into politics when I first moved to Birmingham and was attracted to the Labour Party because of its heritage and commitment to the poorest and most vulnerable in society.  This reflects the heart of the Christian faith but I wasn’t from a political family so it was a bit if a step into the unknown!

What do you currently do for your day job and how will this equip you for life as an MP?
I currently work as a pensions consultant for a global consulting firm.  I think you gain an enormous amount of valuable experience through working in the business world – experience which I hope would serve me well in parliament.

You’re standing as PPC for Bromsgrove in the West Midlands.  What do you see as the key issues for constituents there?
The challenge in Bromsgrove, similar to the rest of our country, is to establish a new trust between politicians and the electorate.  The expenses scandal has been a big issue in this constituency and I think we need greater transparency and a new politics of accountability.

And if you are elected to parliament, are there any other issues that you feel strongly about and would want to prioritise?
Climate change is a massive issue and something that we all need to engage more on.  This is probably the biggest issue facing the world today and I think we are all only just starting to understand the long-term implications.

Do you have any political heroes or heroines, people who have inspired your politics?
They may be over-quoted examples, but William Wilberforce’s tenacity and perseverance were truly remarkable.  I also greatly admire Nelson Mandela and the way he responded so graciously to his enemies after many years in prison.

And finally, any characters in the Bible who you particularly admire?
I tend to think in themes and I’m drawn to the themes of ‘justice’ and ‘concern for the poor’ that run through the Bible.  Having said that, I do think Daniel has a lot to teach us about politics, particularly in the way that he conducted himself in a very difficult environment and under so much pressure.

Susan Elan Jones, Labour PPC for Clwyd South

Tell me a bit about yourself and your political involvement
Politics has always been part of my life.  I came from a Welsh village with a strong coal-mining tradition and always had a sense of the Labour movement as my extended family.  During the 1980s I felt this even more strongly.  I remember the cut-backs and the negative impact on manufacturing and decided to join the party in 1985.

More recently, you have been a local councillor – what kinds of issues have you worked on in this role?
I was a councillor in Southwark for a few years and it was a privilege to represent people there.  One of issues that most concerned me was crime and community safety.  Crime levels are down but sometimes I do think we need to reflect more on how crime can affect people – burglaries and drug-related crime can lead to people feeling unsafe in their communities.  That issue and the need for much more to be done to tackle the lack of affordable housing are really legacies of when I was a councillor in London.

Are there any council achievements that you’re particularly proud of?
I think that success as a councillor is often very undramatic, but I was proud of our campaign to stop a strip club coming to Peckham.  We involved a whole range of groups including local churches and managed to change the licensing policy in Southwark as a result of the campaign.  For me, it brought up a whole range of ethical issues, including the links with exploitation and trafficking, and many of us felt very strongly that we shouldn’t have this kind of place in our neighbourhood.

When you’re not campaigning, how do you spend your time?
Over the last 14 years I’ve worked as a fundraiser for small and medium-sized charities dealing with disability, housing and also some church-related organisations.  Through this I’ve developed a strong understanding of the community and voluntary sector, a sector which is growing, quite rightly, in importance.  Supporting the sector is something I feel quite strongly about but there is a difference with the Conservatives.  I don’t think that voluntary groups can replace the state – it is hard to replicate the creativity and success of one particular church or voluntary group, and it is a mistake to think that we can do everything through them.

Are there any other issues that you would champion as an MP?
I hope that I would champion social inclusion, across the board, but I would also seek to address rural concerns.  Rural communities can be very diverse and many are dealing with poverty and inequalities.  I am also very pro-Welsh language.  Outside of Wales, I am surprised by how few people know about the ‘Blue Books’ and the ‘Welsh Not’, which basically authorised state sanctioned punishment for children who spoke Welsh.  I don’t think you can understand Wales without understanding these particularly disgraceful episodes in Welsh history.

Are there any people who have particularly inspired you in your politics?
There is a saying ascribed to St David: “remember the little things”. And so while big visions are important, things happen because people see small things through on a day-to-day basis.  Megan Lloyd George, though, is quite a big heroine of mine.  She was the first female MP in Wales and was passionate about speaking out about poverty.  More recently, I have also enjoyed Jim Wallis’ books on faith and politics.

If a Christian friend asked you why they should vote Labour, what would you say?
I don’t think you can reduce God to any political party but I do believe that Labour values cohere with the Christian values of social solidarity and of standing up for people who are not always able to stand up for themselves.

Allan Davies, Labour PPC for Basildon & Billericay

How did you end up involved in party politics?
It started off when I was working as a postman and, as I was delivering mail in some of the less affluent areas, I saw quite a lot of poverty and had a strong urge to get involved.  I didn’t do a huge amount to begin with but started to attend the local branch.

And what kind of things have you done since then?
My decision to stand as a local councillor came quite out of the blue.  I wasn’t that involved but my uncle who was a district councillor encouraged me to stand for the local council and this coincided with a church service where I felt quite a strong call to get more involved in politics.

Are there things that you have done on the council that you’re especially proud of?
Obviously I enjoy representing my constituents and taking up casework but one of my biggest achievements has been to bring fair-trade status to the council.  I have always been an active fair-trade campaigner and the opportunity arose to bring a motion to the council which was passed, with the backing of the Conservatives at that time, as they were running the council.  I was chuffed to bits with that!

What made you decide to stand as a PPC?
One of my initial reasons for going into politics was to feel passionate about tackling poverty and inequality.  I feel like I want to take that further and I particularly want to represent the area where I live.  It’s helped me knowing the local community – I won the selection by the slimmest of majorities and it’s a privilege to be doing this!

Are there particular issues that you would champion as an MP?
One of the things in my constituency is the issue of social housing, something that is at the root cause of people’s sense of self-worth and aspirations.  The immigration debate is also linked; if we had more social housing I don’t think there would be such a backlash against progressive immigration policies. And also issues of health.  I think this government has done a lot to improve the NHS, including a huge investment in services for people in Basildon.

How has the community tried to tackle the BNP threat locally?
The Labour Party has definitely recognised the threat and in Barking, Margaret Hodge MP has done a lot of work with faith groups, to build opposition to the BNP.  I think that we can learn quite a lot from that and I’m keen to work with local churches on this in the run-up to a general election.

If a Christian asked you why you should vote for the Labour Party, what would you say?
When I read the Sermon on the Mount, I see a lot of what the Labour Party stands for.  The Labour Party stands for tackling poverty, dealing with inequality, and sustainability.  I know that some people who may vote Conservative have concerns about traditional ‘family values’ but I believe that the Labour Party is ‘pro-family’.

Do you have any political heroes or heroines?
Labour leader George Lansbury is my political hero.  What he did for poor people in east London was inspirational – he also fought for the suffragettes and even went to prison for his views!  I know that many think his pacifism was naive but, at the end of the day, it was inspired by a vision of peace and his dedication to the gospel.

And finally, do you have any tips or advice for others wanting to get involved in politics?  
Just to keep at it and be persistent!  And of course, to join CSM!