Elections 2021: PCCs are crucial on Labour's path back to power
We cannot forget the Police and Crime Commissioner elections this May…
I know, I know, it is fairly common to see articles in Christian forums about the importance of voting and I have even written several myself. Some think: ‘Don’t vote – it only encourages them’! But if nobody voted, then local and national governments would have no legitimacy and the UK would quite quickly start to mimic some of the more worrying regimes we see on the news. To not vote would also suggest that we don’t care about any of the issues that are on the ballot.
In May we have the first elections since the general elections in 2019. The first with a new Labour leader. The first since Brexit ‘got done’, and the first since COVID took away over 125,000 of our loved ones. There are elections at every level below parliamentary elections. This is a key time for the nation to take a temperature check of its current leaders and look at alternatives. And, over the last year, a significant number of important issues have evolved. Competence, truth, democracy, justice and even a direction on devolution are all arguably on the ballot.
As Christians, we have a responsibility to ensure the highest levels of democracy and participation in elections.
One set of forgotten elections happening on the same day are for the influential Police and Crime Commissioners across the UK. The PCC is the voice of the people within the Police and they hold the Chief Constable to account. They work with the Chief Constable to agree on budgets and priorities. They have their own budget which can be used to tackle and prevent crime and protect and support victims. They have their office and staff. They should all be working to Labour core values of social justice, fairness, protecting vulnerable people, equality, rights matched with responsibilities, and reward for hard work. Sadly, turnout in PCC elections is traditionally low. This is very disappointing for such an important position.
Interestingly, these elections currently have a unique element to them by way of a second preference vote (although this will likely change in due course). This supports a wider degree of democracy and helps to ensure your vote is more likely to count. As electoral areas can be over several parliamentary constituencies, it can also mean that – for once – your vote might count, even if you live somewhere where another party always sends someone to Westminster or controls the local council.
As Christians, we have a responsibility to ensure the highest levels of democracy and participation in elections. There is lots in the bible about the importance of endorsement by the people and therefore in electing the right leaders (for example Romans 13 and Exodus 18). We need to be doing everything we can to make sure that voter participation in these elections is good.
As Christians on the left, we also need to be thinking now about Labour’s path back to power in 2024. These elections can help this. These PCCs will be on a 3-year term so that they will also next be balloted in 2024. Labour PCCs around the country can be a beacon for what Labour values can do for communities. This can drastically help local councillors in tough seats and help labour groups hang onto and gain councils. Labour PCCs around the country are doing some great things. Supporting victims and particularly vulnerable people. Ensuring their service areas are as green as practical and with ethical supply chains and pioneering new and effective approaches to tackling offenders.
The message should be clear. Not only do our communities need PCCs with Labour and Co-operative values, but the Tories just cannot be trusted with policing and crime. They have run down, privatised, sold off and demoralised much of the criminal justice system. This is having very a deep effect on communities, particularly those communities already struggling, spawning misery and putting lives in danger. And don’t be fooled by talk of lots of extra police. Despite some increase in numbers, core budgets are still being cut leading to cuts elsewhere in the system. Police moral is at an all-time low with record numbers of experienced police officers leaving. The government did not even care enough about our police to prioritise them for the vaccine.
So if we want a fairer society where everyone feels safer, built on Christian Socialist values, then we should be campaigning and supporting these elections wherever we can.
Four Members of Christians on the Left are standing for PCC Roles across the country:
Alun Michael (South Wales) - Incumbent, Labour Candidate
Elizabeth Hughes (Suffolk) - Labour Candidate
Lola Oyewusi (Kent) - Labour Candidate
Tony Bunday (Hampshire & IoW) - Labour and Co-operative candidate
Please be praying for all of them!
Tony Bunday is the Hampshire and IoW Labour and Co-operative candidate for the Police and Crime Commissioner elections on the 6th May 2021.
Having worked within the criminal justice system for most of his working life, he is now a Specialist Advisor for the Care Quality Commission and an Associate Hospital Manager at an independent hospital. He lives in Southampton and attends a local church.
