David Landrum

24 July 2009

What is it about your political beliefs that put you on the Left rather than the Right?

I have a cultural affinity with the traditional politics of the left due to my life experiences growing up in North Liverpool. In terms of ‘beliefs’, my political convictions are derive from my Christian belief. As such, issues that are impoartnt me include: equality of opportunity, family and marriage, freedom (not some sort of corrupted human rights discourse), and human dignity (for all at every age, including the unborn).

What do you consider made you Left wing?

I am from what was once described as the working class. Prior to the middle class liberalisation of the left, this grouping formed the essential power base for the Labour Movement. With a strong religiously-derived ethical focus upon personal morality, family, community and the dignity of labour, it represented a coherent identity for the bulk of the population until the late 1960’s. Following the fragmentary progressive inividualist revolutions of the liberal (i.e. the state is the solution) and neo-liberal (i.e. the market is the solution) experiments the working class were abandoned as a social group with any political or cultural importance (because as consumers rather than producers, theor labour now has no value). The residual traces of this once great identity have made me left wing.

How would you describe the sort of society you want Britain to be?

A society that is authentically warm to working people and their families. A society were the myth of secular neutraility has been exposed, and a genuinley free and open public square exists for a political discourse that is restrained only by respect for others and ingrained social sensibilities. A place in which the myth of progess has been replaced by social values and actions that spring from a knowledge of what constitutes the common good. More than anything, Britain needs to develop a society that sees: redemption (the opportunity to change substantially); and hope (positive dreaming) as social values.

What one or two changes would make the biggest difference to bringing that about?

The re-valorisation of the role of the Christian faith on public/political discourse. The centrality of relationships, families and young people in a conception of the common good that is hospitable and tends towards social solidaity rather than individulaism.

What most makes you angry about the way Britain is now?

In the face of the reality of a huge and rapid process of global de-secularisation, the still-running, still-failing, people-wasting, hope-sapping, broken ideologies of secularism make me angry. When will the penny drop? Something is drastically wrong. We simply cannot go on like this. What makes me angry is when intelligent, educated people (yes- middle-class, liberal elites) propagate catastrophically selfish ideas about human relationships (to support their own destructive lifestyle choices), live in denial or simply don’t care about the the consequences of their actions and ideas on less socially and politically empowered people.

Which person, event, era or movement from the past should we look to for inspiration now?

The Clapham Sect. Without doubt, the most effective group in British political history to have initiated deep and sustained positive change to the maximal number of people.

Position: Senior Parliamentary Officer, Bible Society

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