Our democracy is being poisoned
AS IF we needed another reminder of how the men and women who put themselves forward to represent their communities can suffer appalling harassment, the AM responsible for our children’s education has been told she should be shot for her views.
Brecon and Radnorshire AM Kirsty Williams was out campaigning when a driver pulled down his window and said: “You Liberals, you all deserve to be shot.” He then mimed firing a shot. This is stomach-churning and comes just days after we reported how Labour’s Aberconwy candidate was besieged with sexist comments online.
A nastiness has been unleashed in our democracy that is toxic and will poison our society unless it is addressed.
We may have profound disagreements with one another on Brexit, the economy, immigration and the best way to manage the health service. But when passions are running high it is all the more important we debate with respect.
Simple courtesy is not a relic of a fusty and vanished age but a recognition of the dignity and uniqueness of every individual, a reminder of our shared humanity. Life’s experiences may cause us to look at the world through very different lenses, but we are all individuals who will experience heartbreak alongside joy and bewilderment as well as conviction.
The heat of politics must not melt away our empathy for one another. A democracy is in trouble the moment citizens start wishing they did not have to share the public square with people who are different from themselves.
The greatness of Britain is that this is a democracy that produced not just Churchill but Attlee. One was bestowed with the gift of inspiring incredible courage when we faced fascism; the other had a vision for a peaceful revolution which resulted in the creation of the NHS and a host of other social advances.
It is a glory of Wales that you can look at the Senedd and see men and women from radically different political tribes but who unquestionably share a commitment to a common good and the same core values. There is no question that if our nation was threatened by a true expression of evil that those AMs would unite to fight it as one.
We need different perspectives, priorities and passions in our politics and the best way to do that is to have the widest possible participation in our democracy.
The loathsome abuse and campaigns of intimidation do not just bring misery and fear into politicians’ lives but dissuade bright and brilliant people from the left and the right from getting involved or standing for election. We will all lose out if kind-hearted men and women decide they will steer clear of the Senedd or Westminster.
If the only people who do dare stand for election are thick-skinned streetfighting politicos who are every bit as aggressive as their online critics then our legislatures risk becoming bullrings. We can try and change the culture by thanking candidates for standing and let them know that the ideal of the common good is still cherished.