Your say / Politics
‘Electing Denyer keeps the best of Thangam’s influence and introduces a powerful green voice in parliament’
As a Labour government waits in the wings, a damp but welcome squib, it is worth thinking beyond the immediate relief of a change.
What sort of government will we get and what can we do, at this eleventh hour, to influence it?
And what is the most critically important issue of our times, the one that casts a shadow over all others and, indeed, over the human race?
is needed now More than ever
It is climate change.
Any influence we can exert must surely be in the direction of profound policy shifts to tackle it, for it will not only subject us to more floods, weather changes, fires, energy vulnerability, war and economic chaos.
It will also destroy any hope our children have for a decent future – the future that all politicians like to claim they are investing in.
Such investment is under constant threat and will continue to be under a Labour government.
Will they see it as a top priority and work backwards from there, or will it take second or third place when the going gets tough on, for example, the economy – or the latest scandal?
Carla Denyer, Thangam Debbonaire and Samuel Williams at Bristol24/7’s Bristol Central hustings at the Beacon – photo: Rob Browne
Dale Vince recently wrote in praise of our sitting MP, Thangam Debbonaire, and there was a lot to agree with.
She is a fine MP and would surely make a good culture secretary. I quite understand those who hope that she remains in government and exerts a big influence.
But let us think beyond that.
If she is re-elected she will, despite her best intentions, have to fall in line (as she has already done) whenever green commitments are reduced or polluting businesses yet again take charge.
Personal integrity takes second place – which must hurt a decent MP like Thangam.
If we are certain that the Labour majority will be a comfortable one, would our votes not be better spent on getting a new, genuinely green, voice into parliament?
At least we will then know that these existential green issues will be raised when the government wobbles on them….as it will.
Meanwhile, Thangam would surely be welcomed to the House of Lords to do battle for culture there.
So we would have a win-win: we keep the best of Thangam’s influence and have a powerful green voice – as Caroline Lucas has always been.
The Bristol Central seat is a straight two-horse race between the incumbent Labour MP Thangam Debbonaire and Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer – photo: Martin Booth
We haven’t got long to change direction if we are serious about the planet.
Not to have an MP in opposition who puts the planet’s survival first would be tragically ironic – when we all now know we need it.
We have an opportunity on Thursday – perhaps a unique one.
This is an opinion piece by Alastair Sawday, former chair of Bristol’s Green Capital Momentum Group, founder of Sawday’s Publishing and the Children’s Scrapstore, and recipient of an honorary degree from Bristol University
Main photo: Rob Rrowne
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