Blog

“How many gifts God has bestowed upon us!” This declaration is part of the Passover Seder and is followed by a series of statements; “Had He brought us out of Egypt and not divided the Sea for us”, “Had He divided the Sea and not permitted us to cross on dry land”, “Had He permitted us to cross on dry land and not sustained us for forty years in the desert”. The seder continues asking the same question around being fed with manna, given the Torah, built the Temple. To each act those gathered respond “Even that would have been enough!”

I was reminded of this litany whilst watching the State Opening of Parliament. Whilst the pomp and ceremony was pared down due to COVID-19 this is still the time for the Westminster government to put its’ agenda “on show”. Sadly, we have seen far too much of that agenda in recent months, briefed out to the press ahead of today’s spectacle and the acclamation is not “that would have been enough”; but “how much further can we fall?” as we see the government set itself on a course which has no regard for the poor and vulnerable, no concern for justice and peace.

The abolition of the Department for International Development and abandoning the commitment to 0.7% of Gross National Income to be spent on international aid has seen a series of programmes committed to serving the poorest and most vulnerable globally slashed. How much further can we fall?

A “Policing” Bill which targets the rights of Traveller communities, along with seeking to outlaw protest and make a single person making “too much noise” against the law. A “Borders” Bill which involved consultation on a clumsy website which required those responding to accept a series of “false premises” about migration; framing asylum seekers as criminals and those being exploited by traffickers as the guilty party. The consultation was targeted to government supporters rather than to those who work with asylum seekers and refugees and no effort made to engage with those who have lived or current experience of the asylum system. Condemned already by all, from grassroots campaigners to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. How much further can we fall?

A Justice Bill which seeks to limit the ability of the courts to hold the government to account, a stated intention to break international obligations to disarmament and increase the size of the nuclear stockpile. Seeking to put democracy behind the paywall of either a passport or a driving license; targeting disproportionately the young and the poor who don’t have such things. Voter suppression in no uncertain terms. How much further can we fall?

At the end of the Seder there is Kos Hartza-ah (the cup of acceptance) which speaks of “the preservation and affirmation of hope”. For me there is very little hope with this government, and I hope like many others; I don’t plan to just accept it!