Quakers join call for politicians to promote ‘social cohesion’

Friends join others to call on politicians to ‘put social cohesion at the heart of their policies’

Quakers are among a group of faith, belief and community organisations who have signed a statement calling on politicians to heal societal divides. The statement from The Faith and Belief Forum calls on politicians ‘to put social cohesion at the heart of their policies’ and says: ‘Challenging the growing polarisation in society is now an urgent imperative.’

It adds: ‘We need to debate issues without resorting to language that dehumanises others or turns people from different backgrounds against each other. This is especially true in a climate where hate crimes against minority groups have increased.’

The statement, which includes twenty-nine signatories, was issued before the general election on 12 December which saw a big Conservative majority. The party won 365 seats.

Quakers online responded to the result with Quaker Council for European Affairs (QCEA) tweeting: ‘Now isn’t the time to give in to division. Now is the time to stand together even more resolutely.’ Paul Parker, recording clerk of Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM), quoted Edward Burrough from 1659: ‘We are not for names, nor men, nor titles of government, nor are we for this party nor against the other… but we are for justice and mercy and truth and peace and true freedom, that these may be exalted in our nation…’

BYM was also among more than 100 civil society groups that, before the election, urged all party leaders to commit to protecting universal human rights.

Oliver Robertson, head of witness and worship for BYM, said: ‘At heart, human rights are about treating people decently. They recognise that everyone is important, just because they are human, and that there are some things we should never do to people. We urge whatever government emerges out of this week’s general election, to protect the rights and dignity of all.’

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