What Has Compassionate Politics To Do With Me?
A question many might ask as most people do not know about the lobby group Compassion in Politics or their aims. Michael Barker in his recent ‘Thoughts of a Leicester Socialist’ blog “There is No Compassion in Politics” is critical of the lobbying group because some of the Labour MPs who support their aims failed to oppose the Labour Party’s welfare bill and also failed to oppose the proscription of the group Palestine Action.
Whereas many compassionate minded people might rightly oppose both of these and understand his point, it is best perhaps not to subscribe to undermining the intent of Compassion in Politics simply because they are wading through our undemocratic, biased, party-political run system.
In order to persuade those in power to change it is necessary to get their attention, gain their trust and persuade them that there is another way forward. This does not happen by ostracising those already deep in the mire for keeping in line with their political masters while still stuck fast in the current party-political system. It takes time and patience. The first stage it to eradicate the lying and deceit and to make it criminal to knowingly lie or mislead for political advantage. If that had been the law the proscribing of Palestine Action would not have taken place.
Compassion in politics has nothing to gain from lessening the effectiveness of its message and everything to gain from patient persuasion. When this happens and we have acceptance that lying or knowingly misleading for political advantage is wrong and this filters down to local politics too, we all win, and democracy has the chance to rise from the ashes.
So, in what way does injecting compassion into politics relate to Evington and our day to day lives? Take for example, the closure of our GP branch surgery. Had it been law that lying or distorting the facts for political advantage was illegal then the reasons put forward for the closure, the timescale and the consultation on the matter might have had a completely different complexion. The reasons put forward for the closure were that a) the practice had been given notice as the landlord wished to sell the building and b) that the building was unsuitable as a modern GP practice. Both arguments had a certain amount of truth to them, indeed Dr Wood, the owner of 10 The Common, had told the practice that he wanted to sell the building, however he had not issued any formal or informal deadlines and wished for the practice to be taken over as a going GP Practice concern. In-so-far as the building not being suitable as a modern GP practice is concerned that as a statement is perfectly reasonable and true, however as 10 The Common was never set up as a practice and was only ever a branch of the main surgery meant to provide more local GP and nursing consultations in the heart of Evington Village, the argument is a false one.
If Compassion in Politics was to persuade Government to enshrine into an act of Parliament sanctions for lying or misleading for political ends neither argument could have held the weight, they were given in pushing through the closure.
Added to this the recent admission from the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board and St Elizabeth Medical Centre that the consultation on shutting the surgery at 10 The Common Evington took place after St Elizabeth Medical Centre had decided they did not wish to run it, probably makes the consultation ‘unlawful’ and invalid. In addition, the views of local people might also have been taken more seriously and contributed to us retaining our much loved and appreciated branch surgery.
References:
I There is No Compassion in Capitalist Politics – Thoughts of a Leicester Socialist
