Labour leadership hopefuls share faith credentials at hustings
Christian Socialist Movement challenges candidates
‘Values’ was the word on everyone’s lips as the five candidates for the Labour Party leadership pitched for religious support and spoke about the role of faith in their own lives. They answered questions, in a packed room of about 300 people, at a hustings run by the Christian Socialist Movement (CSM) in London last week. Andy Burnham, the only religious adherent among the five, spoke of his Roman Catholic faith, repeatedly insisting that ‘the basic tenets of the Labour Party and socialism are one and the same with those of Christianity’. David Miliband said we could learn from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, while his brother Ed explained he had faith that ‘if you saw an injustice then you had to do something about it’. Ed Balls encouraged Labour to ‘talk more about values’. Diane Abbott called for a focus on ‘values of faith, community and family’ that she learned from her Christian grandmother.
An audience of almost entirely Labour supporters readily cheered attacks on the coalition government. Each candidate had enthusiastic supporters present – some sitting in organised groups, others lobbying outside the door. The mood was not always predictable, with as big a reaction to comments on poverty, peace and prisons as on explicit issues of religion.
All were keen to stress their left-wing credentials, with Ed Miliband working hard to distance himself from the last government. He twice addressed those present as ‘comrades’, called for a greater tax burden on the rich and attacked economic inequality. Ed Balls said that, while a minister, he had asked the Immigration Service to consider closing Yarl’s Wood immigration removal centre.
Economic questions were central, and it was only here that questions of peace and war came up. Diane Abbott received enthusiastic applause for attacking ‘the billions we spend on nuclear weapons’ – as the four pro-nuclear candidates sat looking down at the table.
A question on prisons put the panellists in a quandary, as justice secretary Kenneth Clarke had criticised short prison sentences the week before. All candidates save David Miliband seemed to share Kenneth Clarke’s view, at least in part, but were clearly reluctant to agree with a Tory minister. Andy Burnham said he welcomed the ‘opportunity’ that had been provided, but accused the justice secretary of money-saving motivations.
Knowing their audience, the candidates emphasised their commitment to working with faith groups. Some were keener than others to demonstrate their knowledge of religious issues. After giving a short answer to a question on religious liberty, Ed Balls listened to the replies of his fellow-candidates before drawing laughter by adding, ‘Now I understand the question, I agree with everything the other panellists have said’.
The result of the Labour Party leadership election will be announced on 25 September.
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