wfn.org | British Labour Victory

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS 97" by SUSAN PEEK on April 15, 1997 at 14:24
Eastern, about DAILY NEWS RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (108
notes).

Note 106 by UMNS on May 20, 1997 at 15:35 Eastern (7058 characters).

Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

CONTACT:  Ralph E. Baker                          294(10-71B){106}
          Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470             May 20, 1997

Methodists react to
British elections

by Kathleen LaCamera*

     MANCHESTER, England (UMNS) -- The recent elections in Great
Britain resulted in a "purgation and cleansing" of a government
that had turned a deaf ear to many of the most marginalized people
in society, according to the Rev. Leslie Griffiths, pastor of
Wesley Chapel in London and former president of the Methodist
Conference.
     "This is a good moment in the life of the church and for the
British people where there has been a restoration of faith in
politics" said Griffiths who served as a consultant to the former
Conservative Government on foreign policy matters.
     "People are suddenly captivated with the realization that the
British public has been able to vote and achieve something
different ... This has changed British politics irrevocably," he
said.
     In one of the most dramatic elections in modern British
history, the Labour Party -- the party most nearly associated with
the liberal end of the Democratic Party in the United States --
has been voted into power for the first time in 22 years.   
     The results are a radically changed House of Commons where
the Labour Party, led by the new Prime Minister Tony Blair, holds
418 of the 659 seats, reflecting a gain of 145 seats.  The number
of women serving in Parliament has almost doubled from 63 to 118. 
     The views of Griffiths were echoed by the Rev. John Kennedy,
the Secretary of Political Affairs for the British Methodist
Church.  "It just seemed that everyone took it as their personal
responsibility to get the Tories [Conservatives] out.  For the
first time since 1974 people judged there was a credible
alternative."
     A total of 18 Methodists are among those now serving as
Members of Parliament (MPs), three of whom have received
ministerial or cabinet level appointments.  Hilary Armstrong holds
a ministerial appointment in the Department of the Environment,
Win Griffiths has been appointed to the Welsh Office and Paul
Boateng takes on a junior minister position in the Department of
Health.        
     "My first reaction was absolute delight" reported Stella
Bristow who heads the Women's Network of the Methodist Church. 
"There was such a clear need for change."
     Bristow said she expects a whole range of "relationship"
issues such as child care and health care to be the focus of
increased attention in the new Parliament. She acknowledged women
are still very much in the minority but added that doubling their
numbers will make a significant difference.  
     "It's been very much 'the Boys' Own Club,'" she said.
     Valarie Davey, a newly elected MP from the Bristol area, said
the churches have become increasingly aware of their need to be
concerned about politics and government -- not necessarily a
Labour government, but government in general -- "because they
haven't been involved in politics in the past."
     "We the Labour government, hopefully will be a more listening
government and church members need to recognize the important
contribution they have to make to government."
     Regarding women's rights, Davey said, the Labour Party is
ahead of the church. "Women in the House of Commons will impact
both the process and the actual matters handled." She said, the
biggest impact will be that women "will be a significant part of
the more than 260 new MPs who now will join Parliament.
     "I have become aware of a creative tension between the old
MPs and the new, who are eager for change and fresh ideas."
     The president of the Methodist Conference, the Rev. Nigel
Collinson, said he will be looking for policies addressing the
issues of jobs, education and health that the Labour Party
identified as its priorities during the election campaign. 
     "Once the euphoria of change settles down I hope people will
remember all their words about caring for the elderly, the young
and the unemployed and come up with practical solutions," he said. 
     Newly elected MP Anthony Colman, a Methodist, predicted the
church's voice will be taken very seriously by the new Labour
government.  The 47-year-old businessman and former managing
director of a large British retail company identified the
government's new "Welfare to Work" program as just one example
of Methodist concerns and Labour priorities coinciding. The
program will use government welfare money to get more than a
quarter million young people off public assistance and into
private sector work.      
     "I ran for office because I wanted to use what I learned
about wealth creation in 27 years as a businessman to further the
cause of social justice and equality. ... I'm just pleased with
the opportunity to get on with it."  
     Colman believes the hand of God was in this election victory
and feels it signals a new chance for Britain to play a key role
on issues of national and international significance. 
     "We are poised to become outward looking.  It's good to see
more of a link developing between Britain and America, between
Tony Blair and President Clinton working together, to take the
lead on world problems."       
     In his role as political policy analyst for the Methodist
Church, John Kennedy is encouraged by what he has seen of the
Labour Party's policy so far.
     "At last we have a government that understands the connection
between profitable business and effective welfare provision. ...
In the past we've either hated business or hated welfare and at
last we've realized how they both can work to each other's
benefit."
     Kennedy and many others also feel optimistic over what they
label the "communitarian" aspect to Labour's policies, citing a
new  bill calling for a 10 p.m. curfew for all children under 10
years of age throughout the country.
     "Labour recognizes that human behavior has to be tackled and
that it's not just getting the economy right but getting the
community right as well."
     Another outcome of this political shift is the likely move to
a more "federal"  United Kingdom in which power will "devolve" to
separate governing bodies in Scotland and Wales.  A soon-to-be
held referendum in Scotland on devolution is expected to result in
a separate Scottish Parliament with powers of taxation.  In Wales
such a vote is likely to usher in a Welsh Assembly without revenue
raising ability.  The former Conservative government was opposed
to any public referendum on the issue of devolution.
     "This government will bring with it a dialogue, openness and
transparency that has been absent for the past 18 years," observed
Griffiths, "churches can only benefit from this shift of power."
                              #  #  #

     * LaCamera is a UMNS reporter living in Great Britain.      

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