Meeting held on Monday 18th March 2019
17 people were present. Three sent their apologies.
With Brexit date only 11 days off, uncertainty was expressed amongst the group about what we would do if we were MPs. Another referendum may lead to remaining in EU, but carries dangers of civil unrest as “the will of the people” is seen to be thwarted. The LP supports having a general election. But what, exactly, would be the policy on BREXIT of either major party? Some ‘remain’ MPs appeared to be afraid of exercising their own judgement for fear that their constituents will object.
Brexit has divided political parties, and society at large. But we wondered whether Brexit was the cause of so much devision or whether existing divisions in society were largely what caused Brexit. Parliamentary debate seemed particularly unable to have a healing role in relation to such divisions, but merely exacerbated them. On the other hand, the Select Committees are much more intelligent than the Chamber, in facilitating constructive dialogue. We admired the work that had been done in Ireland (re abortion) and France (re response to Gilet Jaune), and also the attempts of Yvette Cooper to work across political parties here. We felt that any extension of the Brexit date (which is now inevitable) must be accompanied by a more collaborative approach, like Select Committees, in parliament.
While Parliament is incompetent to manage Brexit, it is even more so in relation to Climate Change. Was the need here to panic people in power so that they take action; or should we highlight and celebrate a love of the earth in order for people to understand the necessity for immediate and radical action. A “Dunkirk spirit” was suggested, but we noted that that presupposes an enemy. Should we be casting those who profit from fossil fuels (for example) as public enemies? Or is it a National Unification Project that is needed? We were encouraged by the actions of school children at recent demonstrations, and of Extinction Rebellion, but recognised the danger that debate of the issues become binary (ie for or against radical action). We would welcome citizens’ assemblies where different views are welcomed.
We also traced the roots of social division to the rise of individualism which celebrated personal greed and denied any sense of society or care for others. While such division remains, and also in the context of Brexit, the fear of right wing populism was a very real fear amongst some of us.