Features
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO HAPPEN?
We asked a range of people in public life what they most want to happen in the next 10 years. Here is a selection of their views, from many different perspectives:
Terry Jones
Director, author and member of Monty Python
Oona King
MP for Bethnal Green and Bow
I would like to see a progressive centre-left government that introduces a comprehensive and effective Equality Bill, coherent parliamentary reforms and a proportional electoral system. I want a ministry of justice and a Supreme Court for the UK, and a written constitution.
Lord Lester
Human rights lawyer
Ian McCartney
Minister for pensions
Shaka Hislop
Premiership team Portsmouth goalkeeper
Julie Mellor
Chair of the Equal Opportunities Commission
Ken Loach
Film director
Promotion for Bath City, an end to racism and an increased minimum wage - it seems those in the public eye have much the same concerns as UNISON members. Using our birthday as an excuse, we went knocking on famous doors - and asked what they thought the most significant event of the last decade was, their greatest personal achievement, their hopes for the future, and how they view unions. Enjoy! And please feel free to answer back...
Face to face
What have the most important events of the last 10 years ? Was it the election at long last of a Labour government? Free elections in South Africa? England beating Germany 5-1?
You may agree, or have your own, probably highly personal, answer. But what's certain is that as UNISON members look back at the decade since the union was formed some landmark events on both the political and social landscape stand out.
We asked a group of prominent UK citizens - politicians, artists, sportspeople, and writers - to share with us their highlights. Our question: what was the biggest public or social event in the ten years since UNISON was formed?
The aim: not only to remind ourselves what has been achieved - but also of all that still needs to be done to achieve the better society we all want to see in our lifetimes.
Goodbye to the Tories
Many people we contacted - and not all of them in politics - did contend
that the Conservatives' fall from power was the single 'biggie'.
"The most significant political event in Britain in the last 10 years is without a shadow of doubt, the election of a Labour government in 1997 after 18 long years of Tory destruction of the public good," says writer and columnist Polly Toynbee.
"Ousting the Tories from government and casting them into the political wilderness has been the most significant event of the last 10 years," says Peter Tatchell, human rights campaigner.
We probably can't be too hard on Secretary of state for education Charles Clarke, who saw the 1997 result as laying "the basis for rebuilding an open and confident society", or Minister for pensions Ian McCartney, who feels it was "the rescue from the brink of oblivion of the Labour Party" for agreeing.
The end of apartheid
But UK electoral politics, while important, is just one part of the bigger
picture. It was change in another country - South Africa - that figured
larger in the memories of other of our interviewees.
American writer Paul Crooks saw the fact that for the first time ever all races voting in democratic elections as "the greatest achievement of the last 10 years"; and Shaka Hislop, goalie with Portsmouth FC, tells us, "The official end to apartheid in was without doubt the greatest event of the last 10 years. I recently read Nelson Mandela's autobiography, which has strengthened my belief that apartheid is (alongside the holocaust) the social injustice of recent history."
The issues of race and justice are, of course, aren't just relevant to people half a world away. The tragic murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence brought many of these problems into focus here in the UK, and Stephen's campaigning mother Doreen Lawrence, OBE, has no doubt of what that means:
"The biggest political change that has taken place in this country is the change in race relations. For a long time the Race Relations Act only covered certain sections of society - leaving it open to abuse by those who wished to discriminate. 2000 saw the Amendment of the Race Relations Act that brought in line all public sectors, including the police, for the first time. Also crucial were the changes that are taking place in the police force in their training around Stop and Search."
The anti-war movement
And some people feel that the really big events
of the last 10 years were either much more recent than Mandela or Blair's
election, or have happened but just aren't recognised yet.
The events leading up to the Iraq War earlier this year stand out in the mind of award-winning film director Ken Loach, of Cathy Come Home and My Name Is Joe fame.
"The most significant event of the last 10 years was the anti-war demonstration in February, the greatest political gathering in our history. The reasons put forward for the war [were] so transparently false they have fooled no-one. Maybe Blair's only success is to have re-awakened our dormant radical spirit."
It's all in the genes
Coming at the question from quite a different angle - maybe unsurprisingly
- is Monty Python star, writer, and director Terry Jones.
"I think the most significant social or political change that has taken place in the last 10 years is something that we don't really see the effects of yet, but will in the course of time - it's the decision to allow the copyrighting of genes.
"What the ultimate effect will be I have no idea, but the idea that business can own life itself is something so deeply offensive that only evil can come of it," he worries.
Jones may well be right in the wider perspective. What do you think? Why don't you drop us a line and tell us what you think was the most significant social event of the last 10 years? Any celebrations of Arsenal wins obviously don't count! (I saw that - Ed.)
Contact the article's author
One UNISON member looks back - and forward Margaret Greer is a social worker in Hammersmith,
west London, and has been a dedicated union activist for over 14
years. Many UNISON members will remember her a capella rendition
of Frank Sinatra's 'My Way' which she sang at national delegate
conference 1999 as a farewell to outgoing general secretary Rodney
Bickerstaffe.
Question: What was the biggest social or political achievement
of the last 10 years? However, things take time to get better. The Conservatives had 18 years and it's only been seven since New Labour came into government. Things are frustrating, there are a lot of things to do, and they need to keep to there manifesto which brought them into government. We need to stick to the goals. The murder of Stephen Lawrence brought home the innocence of one so young cut down in his prime due to the colour of his skin. This lead to a change of how society see others of and ethnic background and the impact will never be forgotten. The amendment to the Race Relations Act has brought this to the forefront of society, however Stephen Lawrence and his family still have no justice. Question: And for you - what was your greatest achievement
in the last 10 years? I also attained my social work qualification at university; I have a network of family and friends, which I hold dear to my heart, one special nephew and eight godchildren. People continue to enlighten and touch my life. Question: What do you want to see happen next in our society?
There is a need to address the distribution of wealth and clear the debts of countries across the world. As part of that the so-called super powers need to redress their contribution to world poverty and the earth's environment. Question: What is the role of unions going to be in the future, in your opinion?
I would encourage anyone to join a trade union. You don't have to be politically minded, but you should educate yourself in the political arena and trade union movement. Empowerment is knowledge and knowledge is empowerment. |
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