We know what a one nation society would look like here in the United Kingdom and we know what one nation means for our economy and public services. But how would a Labour government tackle the biggest challenges of diplomacy, security, development and climate change?
To discuss Britain’s future role in the world the Labour Campaign for International Development brought together the party’s leading voices on foreign affairs on Monday evening. The discussion between Douglas Alexander, Mary Creagh, Caroline Flint and Ian Lucas was backed by a wide range of partners from across the Labour movement, including Progress.
The message from the panellists was clear; this election represents a major choice about the kind of country we want to be.
An outward looking, internationalist approach to politics has always been at the core to Labour values. Douglas Alexander began his remarks on Monday by reminding the audience of just how much the Labour and the anti-poverty movements have in common; both are broad coalitions of faith, community, trade union, economic and intellectual strands united by a common purpose of building a better society both here and overseas.
One of the proudest movements of the last Labour government took place when these two traditions came together in the Make Poverty History Campaign in 2005. The combination of a monumental campaign across the UK and a progressive government in Downing Street led directly to the cancelation of the debt of the world poorest countries.
It was a Labour government that set up the Department for International Development as a powerful, independent voice at the cabinet table. It was Labour secretaries of state – Claire Short, Baroness Amos, Hilary Benn and Douglas Alexander – who led a Labour government’s work to lift three million people out of poverty each year and helped send over 40 million children to school.
That is a powerful put down to those who say that politics does not make a difference.
And it is that same internationalist approach that will be on the ballot paper in May. Each of the speakers on Monday showed exactly why this election is a time for those to who believe in ending global poverty to make their voices heard.
Tackling climate change is inseparable from issues of poverty and security. And with the United Nations summit in Paris, 2015 will be a vital year for getting a global deal to cut carbon emissions. But as Caroline Flint told the audience that means having a government that not only gets the green agenda, unlike the Tories, but can actually deliver progress here and abroad, unlike the Greens.
If Britain is to be a progressive force in international relations it is also essential that we have a government that understands the social causes of many of the most complex global challenges.
As Mary Creagh told the audience, pandemics like Ebola do not appear at random but flow directly from choices about public health services in developing countries. Equally economic development that does not put the role of women and girls front and centre is not a serious endeavour. So too if it ignores the importance of decent work and labour rights. And as Ian Lucas outlined, in an increasingly uncertain world, the ability to work collaboratively on the global stage is essential for both national and international security.
That is why our Labour values of solidarity, cooperation and universal public services are not set of ideas that only apply domestically but something that will have a concrete role in a Labour’s approach to foreign affairs.
What we learned on Monday was that a Labour government would build a cross-government strategy for development, climate change and security – with global collaboration, social justice and equality at its core.
And that is what a one nation foreign policy looks like.
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Charlie Samuda is chair of Labour Campaign for International Development. He tweets @CharlieSamuda
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