Churches Update News from the Labour Party w: labour.org.uk/faith Issue 10, 2010 Standing up for fairness Labour pledges to work with Britain’s churches in the face of massive spending cuts Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, Alan Johnson, has pledged to work with churches who have concerns about the impact on the poorest of massive Government spending cuts. Chancellor George Osborne unveiled wide-ranging public service cuts in October. The measures extended earlier cuts that were announced in Osborne’s June Budget. Under the Government’s plans, Britain’s welfare budget will be particularly hard hit, with £18 billion of cuts per year by 2014-15. The Institute for Fiscal Studies, a respected think tank, has already described the impact of the cuts as “regressive”, as the poorest will be hit hardest. Alan Johnson added: “The Treasury’s own figures show the Other church leaders have criticised figures in the CSR poorest in society will pay more to reduce the deficit which they claim exaggerate the cost to the taxpayer than almost anyone else. This is a reckless gamble of welfare fraud. Graham Sparkes of the Baptist Union with people’s livelihoods and the case for it is of Great Britain, said : “There is already deep concern unravelling fast.” that the severe reductions in welfare provision will cause immense hardship to the most vulnerable. This “The Labour John Sentamu, the misuse of figures to exaggerate the scale of benefit Archbishop of York, echoed fraud only adds to the sense of injustice.” Party shares Mr Johnson’s concerns. He many of the said: “To cut investment to Simon Loveitt, from the United Reformed Church, churches’ vital public services, and to added: “The coalition government is very keen to talk concerns and will withdraw investment from about fairness and the false notion that ‘we are all in work with them communities, is madness. this together’, but the Chancellor’s exaggeration of to stand up for You do not escape an fraud and last week’s Comprehensive Spending those who need economic downturn by cutting Review confirm the grim reality that it is those who are our help” investment and by squashing most vulnerable who will pay the price for that which is aspirations.” so clearly not their fault.” In an interview for BBC West Midlands, Rowan Mr Johnson welcomed the intervention of church Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, also raised his leaders. He said the Labour Party would continue to concerns. When asked about the Government’s support churches in the years ahead: “Churches will intention to reduce Housing Benefit payments, undoubtedly provide extremely significant support to Williams said: “My worry there is that people's housing those in need in the year ahead. We have heard is part of their sense of stability, part of a sense of church leaders say that they are concerned over the having a secure future, and I'm also a bit worried about fact that they will be made to ‘fill in the gaps’ as the the way in which this could lead to a kind of social Government attempts to pass the buck as their cuts zoning: middle class areas get more middle class and take effect. The Labour Party shares many of the other people are pushed out onto the edge, so those churches’ concerns and will work with them to stand up are concerns I'd like to see addressed.” for those who need our help.” 1 Churches Update News from the Labour Party Issue 10, 2010 Andy Burnham speaks to Christians in Manchester Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, Andy Burnham MP, has told Christians in the North West that the Labour Party must continue to work with faith communities. His comments came as he spoke to the new Manchester Branch of the Christian Socialist Movement. During the evening, Andy, who is the MP for Leigh, told the audience how his personal faith had helped both inspire and shape his politics. The discussion was led by former North West MEP, Terry Wynn. Andy, who stood to be Labour leader earlier this year, spoke warmly of the support he had received from fellow Catholics around the country during the leadership campaign – with many of them sending him against the background of cuts and looming Mass cards. He also highlighted a number of occasions unemployment that we continue to work together in where his Christian faith had helped him through his spreading Labour’s message of justice, equality and political career. fairness for all.” Speaking to Churches Update, Andy said: “ Christians For more information about the new CSM branch in and the Labour Party share a great common agenda in Manchester, please email trying to deliver social justice. It is important that [email protected] . Churches and welfare-to-work A message from Stephen Timms MP, Labour’s Vice Chair for Faith Groups After Ed Miliband was elected Party Leader, he The new Government will appointed me Shadow Employment Minister. I am commission private and very pleased to have the brief. My first ministerial third sector organisations to deliver appointment, in 1998, was at the Department for welfare-to-work services through the Social Security. Work Programme. It contains some good ideas, drawn from the New Deal. We will Ensuring sufficient employment should be one of the scrutinise details of the Work Programme as they highest priorities of Government. Of course, emerge. The biggest problem will be availability of increasing employment boosts economic growth and jobs. Spending cuts will cost many thousands their reduces welfare spending. But, more than that, it jobs. Many are sceptical at the Government’s claim makes a huge difference to individuals. My most that the private sector will create more than enough inspiring experiences as a politician have been jobs to fill the gap. seeing people—perhaps out of work for years, often depressed—whose lives have been transformed I recently met with representatives of the Salvation because someone took the trouble to help them back Army, which hopes to participate in the Work into work. Programme. The Army is one of the biggest welfare- to-work providers in Australia, alongside Mission Employment is a moral issue. The Bible pictures God Australia. As employment minister I saw great as a “worker”, and the theologian John Stott has said welfare-to-work initiatives being undertaken by that “our potential for work is an essential part of our church-based groups. For example, in London: City God-likeness” . The Churches’ Report Gateway in East London, Spear in Hammersmith “Unemployment and the Future of Work”, published and Pecan in Peckham. just before the 1997 election, set out the compelling moral argument that it is wrong, in a society as I hope that churches and other groups will be able to prosperous as ours, for large numbers of people to contribute fully to the Work Programme. We want to be deprived for long periods of the means to earn a scrutinise the Government’s programmes closely. If living. They were right, and Labour’s New Deal was your church is involved in helping people into work, I introduced in response. would be pleased to hear about your experiences. 2 Churches Update News from the Labour Party Issue 10, 2010 Ed Miliband encourages churches to play their part Christians in the Labour Party have welcomed the election of Ed Miliband as its new leader at the annual Party Conference in Manchester in September this year. One of Ed’s first engagements after securing his victory was to attend a reception celebrating 50 years of the Christian Socialist Movement. The event was held at Manchester Cathedral. Ed was joined by the Archbishop of Southwark, Most Reverend Peter Smith, and The Dean of Manchester Cathedral, The Very Revd Rogers Govender. Speaking at the reception, Ed said that CSM was at the forefront of Labour's renewal. In particular, he that CSM members voted for Ed on the first preference highlighted the organisation’s Labour Neighbours round of voting. project which was officially launched at the Party Conference. Ed said afterwards: “I want to encourage Speaking about the election of Ed as leader, CSM church leaders to play a greater role in the Labour Director Andy Flannagan said: "We're really excited at Party. In Government, we looked to support faith being part of the work of renewing the Labour Party groups and it is vital that we continue to work with and the signs from the new leader are very positive. them in Opposition. Against the background of cuts, We're looking for more people to join CSM and join us the Labour Party and churches must speak up for the on the journey." vulnerable.” To find out more information about CSM, log on to: A breakdown of the leadership election results showed www.thecsm.org.uk News in brief Labour Neighbours Calls to sign Human Trafficking directive Labour MPs, Douglas Alexander and Jon Cruddas The coalition Government has been accused of attended the launch of Labour Neighbours at this sending the “wrong signal” to human traffickers after year’s Party Conference in Manchester. Labour they decided not to endorse an EU directive designed Neighbours seeks to develop a new gateway for to co-ordinate European efforts to combat the trade in Labour activism through serving and empowering local sex slaves. The document includes a common communities. Ian Geary said: “Labour Neighbours is definition of the crime of trafficking, to make it easier to looking to revive Labour’s tradition of ‘service’, convict offenders in the EU's 27 member states. Yvette providing a gateway from community activism into Cooper MP said: “ It’s appalling that in the 21st century, political campaigning.” The launch was one of many slavery still exists.