Looking for signs of hope amidst all the chaos and reasons for despair. Opinion piece Newham Recorder 26.10.22 (written while awaiting the coronation of Sunak, the third prime minister in 3 months)
Pity the poor opinion columnist in these febrile times, trying to write something that won’t been overtaken by events! A safer bet is to focus on those who work steadily for social justice, whatever the political turbulence.
One notable advance this month, even as chaos reigned all around, was the cross-party support for buffer zones to prevent abortion clinic harassment. Humanists briefed MPs, alongside organisations including Mumsnet, the TUC and the Royal College of Obstetricians, to vote for the measure. Walthamstow MP Stella Creasey told Parliament that half of the 100,000 women seeking treatment each year have been targeted by anti-abortionists.
The tightly drawn amendment to the Public Order Bill upholds reasonable boundaries for free expression while protecting women from harassment. As Humanists UK say, “Free speech is of course vital, but it should not extend to a right to disrupt others’ ability to access essential medical services.” The anti-choice movement has been emboldened by the roll-back of women’s rights in the US. We will remain vigilant when it comes to any attempt to turn the clock back here. Incidentally, the Government did not support the measure, and neither of our Newham MPs voted.
Elsewhere, during party conference season, humanists have enjoyed success at fringe events highlighting areas ripe for reform. At the Tory conference we co-hosted a ‘Humanist Wedding Reception’ with speeches from James Baird, Chair of Conservative Humanists, and Aaron Bell MP, Secretary of the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group. (Humanist weddings are legal in Scotland and Ireland but are still not legalised here).
A panel at the Labour conference, including Lord Alf Dubbs, treasurer of the all-party group, discussed issues ranging from our campaign against divisive religious schools, to legislating for assisted dying in line with progressive jurisdictions around the world. The Lib Dem conference had to be abandoned, but a theme at their upcoming Humanist AGM will be the problem of illegal religious schools and their dire educational provision.
There are many reasons to feel despair, whether it be the fate of our planet, the cost of living, the scourges of war and bigotry, or the state of our politics. Politicians will come and go, but decent values endure, and so long as there are good people of all stripes willing to work together for a better world there is always hope.
Paul Kaufman
Chair East London Humanists
