Warwickshire County Council has just gone through a 6 month process to slash 26% from a budget over 4 years that had already been cut by a similar amount since 2010. Up and down the UK the picture is the same: older peoples' care, firefighters, road maintenance and libraries all under threat. As we approached… Continue reading Democracy in action…or not
Category: Politics
On trial tomorrow: Christian activists who blocked an arms fair displaying torture equipment
Last September, a group of Christians knelt in prayer to block the entrance to the London arms fair - known as Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEi). The protestors sang hymns, prayed together and prevented arms dealers from entering the fair for nearly an hour.On that same day as the protest, two companies were thrown… Continue reading On trial tomorrow: Christian activists who blocked an arms fair displaying torture equipment
The Summit of faith, social action and politics – by Andy Flannagan
Regular readers of R&R may already know about the re-launch of Christians on the Left. I wanted to grab a few moments of your time to tell you about a great event we are hosting for everyone interested in faith, social action and politics. I believe this is a hugely significant time both for… Continue reading The Summit of faith, social action and politics – by Andy Flannagan
Foodbank politics: faith, community action and social justice
The Labour government of the late 1970s will always be associated with economic failure, public sector strikes and the ‘winter of discontent’ when (as legend has it) the rubbish went uncollected and the dead unburied. When we see documentaries about the 1970s, they often include scenes of refuse piled up and picket lines accompanied by background… Continue reading Foodbank politics: faith, community action and social justice
‘They came expecting fireworks’: the launch of Christians on the Left
Christians on the Left, the new name for the Christian Socialist Movement, was formally launched in a packed room at the Houses of Parliament on November 5th. It was quite a night to be in that famous old building. Drawing inspiration from the most famous anti-parliamentary activism of all time, an anarchist demonstration was noisily… Continue reading ‘They came expecting fireworks’: the launch of Christians on the Left
Now is the time for Christians on the Left
Next week, the Christian Socialist Movement will officially launch its new name: Christians on the Left. I was strongly in favour of a name-change -you can read my reasons in a previous R&R post. I think the launch of Christians on the Left is a significant moment in the history of faith-based political activism. Rather… Continue reading Now is the time for Christians on the Left
How to get elected and hold onto your soul
Back in May I was elected to the County Council. In amongst all the congratulations from friends, people from church and colleagues I sensed a curious cognitive dissonance that went something like this: “You’re now a politician. All politicians are lying, power-grabbing such and suches in suits, but…well, we know you. You’re Jon with the… Continue reading How to get elected and hold onto your soul
Liberal Democrats Do God
It is incredibly easy to be cynical about politicians. They’re constantly slated by the press, and often with good reason. But I was struck by the impact this has a few years ago when I found myself at a wedding with a Christian MP and got talking with him and his wife about how the… Continue reading Liberal Democrats Do God
Backing off Syria strikes doesn’t mean sitting idly by
Listen to the military hawks this week and you would think that by voting against military intervention the UK was sitting on its hands and doing nothing about an horrific civil war killing thousands and creating millions of refugees. Worse still it’s suggested that our international standing is ruined because we’re ‘doing nothing’ – as… Continue reading Backing off Syria strikes doesn’t mean sitting idly by
The secularisation of Martin Luther King
Martin Luther King remains a hero to a wide range of people. But alongside the appreciation of his life and work, there is a consistent tendency of commentators to downplay or eliminate the Christian faith that King's civil right's activism was rooted in. A Baptist Minister Many people don't even know that King was, and always remained, a Baptist… Continue reading The secularisation of Martin Luther King
Grace + Truth 