British Prime Minister Tony Blair has received an overwhelming reception from black churchgoers at the start of the week as he fulfilled a public engagement at the Ruach Ministries Christian Centre in Brixton, south London.
Blair took the opportunity to say that Black and minority communities should keep faith with politics, and that they had a “crucial” role to play in helping to get more ethnic minorities to return to the polling booth.More than 200 Pentecostal Christians gave a three-minute standing ovation to the prime minister and continued to applaud and cheer throughout the entire speech. Blair commented that their welcome was “certainly the best part of the day so far”.
Research during the 2005 General Election suggested a sharp decline in the number of voters from minority backgrounds. As he urged faith groups to get involved in public life Blair said, “Don't be a bystander in democracy be a player.”
Blair’s appeal came as the May local elections in England approach, and he chose a conference on politics and society organised by the major churches within UK’s Caribbean and African communities as the stage to speak.
In particular, Blair emphasised that increased efforts had to be made to bring people back into politics and public life. He said, “Turnout has fallen across all groups, but particularly so amongst black communities.”
He told, “Research carried out during the General Election last year suggested that voter turnout amongst black and minority ethnic communities could have been as low as 47%.”This is of concern because, in the end, we make choices about the future of the country, together, in our local and general elections,” he said.
The prime minister continued: “The vote is precious. Because to exercise it is to say something important about the type of society we are. Because to be able to transfer power calmly, collectively, peacefully through the decision of the people is a great, historical achievement.”
“Voting is not just an instrument of people power, though it is certainly that. It is also an expression of our continued faith in the way we govern ourselves.”
Blair highlighted that faith had a crucial campaigning role in the British society: “People talk a great deal about the decline of religion and churches in our national life.”“Many people are unaware that almost half a million people from Britain's African and Caribbean communities walk through the doors of a British church every week,” he said.
“Churches such as yours have long been the bedrock of our local communities. This can be seen in your work in schools, your contribution to welfare, your support for the vulnerable and the most needy.
“You promote important values: respect, tolerance, family, trying to bring up children properly, caring for the less well off and ensuring that we all make the most of the talents we've got.
“The more representative your institutions, the more government will dance to the tune of the people. And also because, these days, government is not something that is done to people; it must be a partnership with the people,” Blair concluded.
