A Quaker/Conservative coalition?
Margie Savory acknowledges the public recognition given to west Dorset Quakers by Oliver Letwin
The Christmas column in the Bridport News (19 December 2010) proved to be a wonderful present for Quakers in west Dorset and all groups who undertake long term campaigns. It was written by Oliver Letwin, MP for the area, and focused on a subject that has been a long standing concern of local Friends – the plight of the children of asylum seekers being held in detention.
He wrote: ‘I am often asked whether local groups can really have an impact on major issues of national policy. So I think I should… pay tribute to a particular local group in Bridport which certainly has had an effect. Over the years, the Bridport Quakers have been amongst my prolific correspondents – and there is quite a lot of competition for that title.’
The correspondence began fourteen years ago, when Bridport Quakers invited him to meet with them shortly after he was first elected in 1997. At this meeting Mary Errington, active in supporting local young offenders, raised the issue of detention and prison reform. Straight away, from Oliver Letwin’s questions, how seriously he listened and the thinking he shared, the Meeting realised he shared their concerns. His column tells how this developed.
‘A considerable time ago, …(Bridport Meeting) started to agitate about the conditions of children in detention. They pointed out that, when families were being deported as a result of illegal immigration, the result was sometimes that the whole family, including the children, would be taken into detention for a period, even though the children had obviously committed no crime themselves at all.’
Led by Audrey Urry, a circle of Bridport Friends who shared her personal concern met regularly, wrote letters, and invited Oliver Letwin to talk with the Meeting. ‘Quakers have a tradition of quiet diplomacy, using informed gentle persuasion,’ Audrey told me, and reminded me how important this diplomatic approach was in encouraging his willing involvement.
‘So persistent in their kindly and considered way were the Bridport Quakers that I really felt I had to go and find out myself what the whole thing was like. A visit to the Yarls Wood detention centre followed – and, despite the considerable efforts that were evidently being made to be as human and respectful as possible (there), the visit convinced me that… we really did have to… construct a new system which avoids detaining families with children for any noticeable length of time.
‘In due course, …discussions matured into an important couple of lines in the Coalition Programme for Government, as a result of the fact that Liberal Democrat colleagues had been similarly lobbied and had reached similar conclusions.’
Bridport Quakers are only part of this. The concerted efforts of many campaigners from all over the country, and from many different organisations, will persist in trying to ensure that the human rights of asylum seeking families are fully respected.
Oliver ended his piece with hope of good news, and a warm endorsement of the Quaker way.
‘And now, as we approach Christmas, I am delighted to be able to report that by next May, the family detention wing of the Yarls Wood centre and the routine detention of children before deportation will be things of the past. I can only salute the calm, rational and thoughtful persistence of this group of well-intentioned and passionate people.’
