Navalny’s death shows we should cherish democracy
SOME of us remember where we were when Elvis died or, more than 60 years ago, when President Kennedy was assassinated. Last Friday lunchtime, I was in the car park at Woodhorn Museum, when I heard the terrible news of the death of Alexei Navalny.
Poisoned and locked up for years, held in solitary confinement; Alexei Navalny nevertheless remained a potent challenge to the monstrous regime of Vladimir Putin. A global superstar in the cause of Russian democracy, Navalny has now become a martyr for the revolution that the whole world, as well as the Russian people, so desperately needs.
With a touch of both Elvis and JFK, Navalny combined personal charisma, reckless bravery, an inventive mastery of social media and a ready sense of humour. A few days before his death, he was seen on video cracking jokes about the bad weather, apparently undaunted by his treatment in the worst prison camp in the Siberian Arctic.
However Alexei Navalny actually died, those who contributed to his tragic death also threaten our lives and our peace across the whole world. This was brought home by my very next meeting, last Friday afternoon, with Ukrainian people living in Northumberland, their local hosts and supporters and our Member of Parliament.
The meeting was important – to lobby for an extension of the threeyear visas which have enabled 220,000 people to escape Putin’s monstrous war, to be welcomed by families, supported by communities and enabled to rebuild something of their own lives right here. The various ‘Homes for Ukraine’ schemes have turned out well, to the great credit of all involved and in fact I thought our little meeting was itself a credit to parliamentary democracy, as well as to our local MP.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP and I are not political soul mates. I want an MP who will stand up for democratic regional devolution, an elected House of Lords, a republic rather than a constitutional monarchy, a property tax and a fundamental redistribution of resources. Someone who would help return us to the European Union and enable free movement of all people – as well as the dualling of the A1 for its whole length through Northumberland. Personally I have never voted for her; although I utterly respect that she has been elected as my MP. Moreover, because she has a duty to all her constituents, I was perfectly ready to invite her to the meeting; anticipating, correctly, that she would be quite willing to attend.
Ms Trevelyan attended the meeting, listened carefully, engaged well with everyone, provided some reassurance where she could, undertook to take some action and advised people about the further lobbying and advocacy which might be available to us.
Sat there, thinking about Alexei Navalny, I wondered whether a similar scenario might ever take place in Russia, but also questioned myself about how many British people actually engage effectively with their own MP.
One piece of advice Anne-Marie gave, which I’m certain is true, was to assure us that lobbying works. That the more issues are raised in Parliament, the more clamour and noise, the more that busy civil servants, and their ministers, are likely to take notice. Extraordinarily, as it turned out, the issue we raised with our MP last Friday afternoon was actually partly addressed by a ministerial statement made on Sunday morning. Even I wouldn’t have the nerve to claim responsibility for that one.
However, Friday afternoon’s discussion remains relevant and true. Parliamentary democracy works, Members of Parliament can help to empower people, even those who can’t vote for them, even those who don’t vote for them. Parliamentary democracy works, sometimes when we set aside rivalries and the issues which divide us and sit down together to talk about problems and work out ways of addressing them. Sometimes to suggest ways in which all of the players can be more effective advocates for their cause.
In a country where there is such cynicism about politics, where turnout at all sorts of elections is such a matter of concern, it is important that we help people to understand and use our own democracy. In a North East region which suffers the worst of social problems, pays some of the highest council taxes, yet often has the least share of public resources it is absolutely vital to empower people, to use our democracy well.
Alexei Navalny continues to tell the truth, via You Tube, every time we care to search for him. I believe that democracy will eventually prove the downfall of Putin in Russia, that a more democratic and accountable and fairly run United Nations will bring more peace and fairness to the world.
However, the cause of democracy across the globe will be aided immeasurably, when we start to practise it properly ourselves, from our safety, in democratic countries. When young people and older people learn about citizenship and voting – and how to negotiate to do good things, from the earliest years.
We could all spend a little more time in honing and developing our democracy as we prepare for the General Election ahead.