Friend calls for stronger Quaker Brexit stance
‘In my mind, one of the main functions of religion is to create a cohesive society.’
An Edinburgh Quaker brought together thirty Friends to take part in a march to remain in the EU after what he described as ‘a lack of response’ from Quakers.
Jonathan Riddell, from Central Edinburgh Meeting, told the Friend that he partly took part in the March to Remain in the EU for Peace and Climate Action on 21 September because he was dismayed by Quakers’ response to Brexit, which, he says, has been little more than ‘a shrug’.
According to Jonathan Riddell, leaving the EU is a threat to peace and equality and was brought in on a referendum based on ‘lies, not truth’ so ‘all our testimonies are in there too’. He says he approached Central Edinburgh Meeting to raise a concern about what Quakers could do, but felt there was not much response. He said: ‘In my mind, one of the main functions of religion is to create a cohesive society and this will be at grave risk through Brexit.’
Central Edinburgh Meeting however said they had agreed to uphold Friends attending the march and had issued a minute in support. It said: ‘The Society of Friends has a long standing commitment to work for Peace… More recently representatives of seven Christian denominations – including Quakers in Britain – have written an open letter to the new prime minister expressing concern that failing to agree a deal on Brexit will “hit those held back by poverty very hard indeed”… We agree to support the march as a Local Meeting, and uphold in the light those Friends who wish to attend.’
Jonathan Riddell described the minute as a ‘good minute as far as it goes’ but said: ‘I’m still astonished at the nonchalance from individuals towards the topic of removing the UK from the largest project of peace and equality in our time using lies.’
Urging Friends to get ‘passionate, not angry’, he called for other action, including preparing Meetings ‘in case the economy goes all Yellowhammer [the code name for Brexit contingency planning]’ and there is a lack of food or employment, and ‘people have to leave their homes’.
He also asked for ‘Sufferings/BYM/Friends House staff to make clear statements against Brexit (rather than… against only no-deal Brexit) and the corruption of democracy that has accompanied it’.
However some Friends said that it is not feasible to store food in the Meeting house, but suggested there could be training in how to defuse conflict in case of violent outbreaks. Others said there was a broad range of views on Brexit, which had to be respected.
